‘Thank you, I thought I’d better make an effort,’ I said with a mischievous smile. ‘Seeing as I’m supposed to be your fiancée.’

‘I’m flattered,’ he said, taking the cool bag from me and guiding me towards the escalator with a hand in the small of my back. ‘But you’d never have to dress up for me; I liked you the first time I met you with mud on your face.’

I glanced sideways at him. ‘Did you?’

‘Don’t you remember how tongue-tied I was?’ He groaned lightly. ‘Even Gran noticed. I think I introduced myself to you twice.’

I stepped on to the escalator in front of him, which meant I didn’t have to hide the huge smile on my face until we reached the bottom. I thought back to our first meeting in Betsy’s kitchen, my first day at the vineyard. I’d been an emotional wreck then, not knowing what to do with my life. So much had changed since then.

‘You’re looking very nice too,’ I said, as we headed towards the taxi rank outside. ‘I’ve never seen you in a tie before.’

He looked smart and sophisticated, totally at ease amidst the bustle of London. On the other hand, all I needed to complete my country-bumpkin look was a stalk of wheat.

‘It feels like a noose.’ He ran a finger around his collar. ‘Which is appropriate as I’ve been called into a board meeting at four o’clock this afternoon. The sealed bids for the project I’ve been working on are due in any moment and if it hasn’t gone well, my neck will be on the line.’

‘Oh. That sounds serious.’ I blinked at him, trying to hide my dismay. My radio interview was at three o’clock and I’d hoped that he’d be able to accompany me to the radio studio. I guessed now that wouldn’t be possible.

He took my hand as we exited through the big glass doors and the smell of diesel, the rush of people and the din of the traffic took my breath away. I had a sudden recollection of my last day in London, when I’d been travelling in the opposite direction, heart thudding as I left my job, my flat and my boyfriend behind. I blew out a breath to bring myself back to the moment. But that life was over and the one I’d created was on my terms, my choice.

Jensen glanced at me. ‘You okay?’

We joined the queue at the taxi rank and he set the cool bag down.

‘Bit nervous,’ I admitted, nibbling my lip. ‘But nothing compared to Pippa.’