“I thought it was fitting, since we met in Greece. Did you get to the Acropolis?” James asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Oh, no, not on this trip, unfortunately. The only time I had in Athens was a rather harrowing taxi ride to the airport. I’ve been before, though. I’m guessing not much has changed in only a decade. You know, it being an ancient ruin and all.”

He smiled. “They have made a bit of progress on the restoration, but they also have the most incredible museum now. It’s definitely worth going next time you’re there.” Or you and I could go together. See how my mind gets ahead of itself?

“That museum, do they have many original artefacts? Aren’t most of them here?” I asked.

“About half and half, so there are a lot of replicas in Athens, I’m afraid, but I know Greece is actively campaigning to take ownership again. Valentina will likely know how they’re progressing.”

Ah, Greece. Glorious, beautiful, heart-filling Greece.

It was only days before that I’d been eating horiatiki and basking under the Greek sun. I was already missing it. And Josh, I realised with a jolt. But I didn’t want to think about Josh, especially as James chose that moment to cover my hand with his and give it a gentle squeeze.

Was holding hands cheating? Could you cheat on someone who wasn’t really your boyfriend, someone who had called you his “travel buddy”? The whole situation was too confusing for words and I wanted Josh out of my head immediately.

Thankfully, the familiar cupola of the museum appeared ahead of us and thoughts of Josh receded into the background where they belonged. James pulled into a parking space and turned off the engine, then turned towards me.

“Sarah,” he said, a glint in his eye. God, he was sexy. I tried not to hyperventilate.

“I thought I could wait until later, but that is not going to happen.” He reached over and cupped my chin in his hand and pulled me towards him. His mouth was warm and soft against mine, and he tasted faintly of the wine. I responded to the kiss as though we were somewhere private and not in the middle of London. How far away was Paddington, anyway? Perhaps the Marbles could wait.

We broke the kiss with shy smiles, and he rested his forehead against mine. “Sarah, you take my breath away.” I do? There I was having to steady my breath every time he merely glanced at me and, apparently, I was having the same effect on him. Me!

“And as much as I’d like to skip out on Valentina, she’s a good friend and she’s promised us something special.”

I was siding with skipping out, but then again, I do hate to be rude. “Then we shouldn’t keep her waiting,” I replied before giving him a quick smack on the lips and climbing out of the car. I didn’t know who this super-confident Sarah was, but James seemed to like her. I didn’t mind her either.