“I really think that I’ve had enough,” Jackie stated without moving away from the door. It could have been taken as a flat refusal, had she not followed it with a bubble of laughter as she watched Stephen disregard her opinion entirely, untwisting the wire and exploding the cork from the bottle. He poured a froth of champagne into each glass, waiting for it to settle before topping both up. He held out a glass at arm’s length towards her, leaving Jackie no option other than to shut the door and walk over to take her glass.

“Here’s to you, then,” Stephen said, clinking his glass against hers.

“And to you, too. I think we’ve both done a pretty good job sewing up all the loose ends.” Jackie took a mouthful of champagne, feeling it pierce the sides of her mouth like icy needles before slipping in a cold cascade down her throat. “Ooh, that is delicious.”

She would have put her hand over the top of her glass, but Stephen moved too fast for her. He filled it to the brim once more. “I don’t think that we’ve done a pretty good job. It was entirely you. I’ve never felt such a spare prick in all my life. I admit that, on this occasion, I was wrong. One head turned out to be infinitely better than two.”

“That’s not true. I’m really glad you came.”

Stephen paused. “Are you?”

“Yes. I know now that I did need the moral support.”

Stephen moved towards her. “Listen, I hope you don’t mind me doing this, but I find it rather disconcerting talking to you with that speck of dirt on your face.” He reached up and brushed the side of her cheek gently with his thumb. The particle disappeared, but Stephen kept his hand inches away from her face, trying to judge what her reaction had been to his touch. He felt butterflies rise in his stomach when Jackie made no attempt to move away from his outstretched hand.

“Must have got there when I was at the window,” she said. “Has it gone?”

“Yes,” he replied. “Your face returns once more to its usual perfect flawlessness.” He inched his hand back and rested it against the peach-smoothness of her skin. Then he felt the pressure as her head tilted to his touch. That was enough. He didn’t need to know any more right now. She had showed willingness by that one almost imperceptible action. But he had to play this game so carefully. Everything depended on it—his job, the future. He dropped his hand to his side, noticing as he did so a momentary look of surprise on Jackie’s face. He smiled at her, knowing that she would probably take it as one of affection. Only he knew that it was indeed one of satisfaction.