“Let’s do it. Let’s go to New Zealand.”

“Wonderful,” he replied, those eye crinkles intensifying. He raised my hand to his lips and kissed it with a smack, and we shared a smile across the table. I would have to call Lins in the morning to ask her to take Domino again. I hoped he’d forgive me for being such a bad “furrent”.

By the time the first course arrived, our conversation had shifted to the sights of Sydney, and I started mentally cataloguing all the places I wanted to take him to. I couldn’t believe that someone who’d visited Sydney several times hadn’t even been to Taronga Zoo—or Bondi.

The mud crab was delicious, by the way, and I thought of Paulie in London praising Sydney’s seafood. With good reason, Paulie, I thought. Then the moment the plates were cleared away, a tall, elegant woman, who looked about fifty, appeared next to the table.

“Hello James,” she said.

Seriously, does he know everyone?

“Antoinette!” He stood and planted a warm, friendly kiss on her cheek. She smiled at him just as warmly.

“Matt’s not in tonight, but I called him, and he said to spoil you with dessert later.” Then she reached out a hand across the table. “Hello, I’m Antoinette, the maître d’ and a friend of James’s.” I appreciated that she didn’t load up the word “friend” with adjectives like “old” or “good” or “with benefits”. It meant we weren’t going to have to play that awful game of “I know him better than you” that some people seem to enjoy.

I smiled up at her and shook her hand as I said, “Hello,” and James said, “This is Sarah,” at the same time. Antoinette was a pro and didn’t miss a beat.

“Sarah, it’s a pleasure to have you here.” Then she turned back to James and included us both when she said, “I hope you enjoy the rest of your meal.”

When she left the table, I leant closer to James so I could talk about her discreetly. “Well, she seems lovely.”

“She is,” he replied, just as quietly. “There have been quite a few nights when Antoinette, Matt, and I have closed the restaurant, sitting right here and solving the problems of the world over a bottle of wine—or two.”

The thought made my stomach twinge in a pang of jealousy which surprised me, especially as I hadn’t detected any sort of agenda in our brief conversation with Antoinette. It must have registered on my face, because James placed a hand on mine. “We’re just friends. Besides, her husband is an ex-rugby player and about twice my size.” He winked at me and I laughed.

He’s here with you, Sarah. Please get a grip.

When the main course arrived, I had to resist the urge to photograph it—the plating was just spectacular—but when you’re on a proper date with a grown man at Aria, it’s not the time to pad your Instagram feed.

The John Dory tasted even better than it looked and I savoured every bite as we chatted about our respective visits to New Zealand. Although my one trip had been on a budget, I’d been completely taken by the physical beauty of the South Island. It didn’t matter that I saw a lot of it from a bus window; I’d fallen in love with New Zealand back then and I couldn’t believe I was going again—and in a few days!