“I was born here in London—Surrey, actually—and we stayed until I was five, and then every year or so we moved to a new European country—Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands. I didn’t settle back in the UK until I went to university.” So, I had picked it. I skipped my usual self-congratulations, however, because James’s description of his childhood had left me cold.

I couldn’t imagine moving around so much in my formative years. I’d gone to one primary school, which had fed into one high school, and I had friends I’d known since I was five.

“But this is home now, right?” I asked, concerned. Everyone needs a home, somewhere to come back to after the whirlwind and excitement of travel.

I took a tiny sip of wine as I waited for his reply. James was sitting on one glass, because he was driving, and I had limited myself to two, because I wanted to maintain the façade that I was a sophisticated woman, which tipsy Sarah is not.

“London is, yes, although I’ve lived in various places. Paris was a favourite.” Paris was a favourite city of mine too, to visit. The longest I had stayed there was a week. Maybe James will take me to Paris. I put my inner voice back in her box. Wangling an invite to Paris was hardly good manners on a first date.

“And what about you? Have you considered living outside of Australia again?” he asked, his sky-blue eyes staring into mine. Something was making my mind fuzzy. It was either the wine or those eyes, but my fuzzy mind was a millisecond away from saying, “with you?”

I recovered in time to respond like a normal adult person. “To be honest, I haven’t really thought about it.”

His smile was unreadable. Did it mean, “you’re adorable, you unsophisticated Aussie,” or, “I’ve got a villa in France I think you’d like?” Either way, I wanted to change the subject—again.

“So, you said something about taking me to one of your favourite places?”

“Yes, but I’m going to keep it as a surprise until we get there.” He winked at me again and, believe me, he could pull off a wink without being cheesy. In fact, such was its power, I felt a tingling warmth ignite between my legs. I wondered what the protocol was for inviting a silver fox back to my sister’s flatshare for mind-blowing sex. That would be okay, right?

James signalled for the bill. Although I usually went Dutch on a first date—and second and third and fourth dates too—I knew James was not the sort of man who would expect that, or even want it, so I sat quietly while he settled it.

“Thank you for lunch,” I said when Maria left the table.

“You’re more than welcome.”

“Paulie is something of a genius, I think.”

“Did I hear my name?” Suddenly the big man was beside us. How was he so stealthy? James and I stood, and I collected my handbag from under my chair. Paulie shook James’s hand again while James thanked him for lunch.