‘Sorry about the outfit,’ he said, catching me staring. ‘I had an appointment which ran over. I could either change and be late, or be on time in a suit.’

‘I love a man in a suit,’ I said, still drinking him in.

Sam laughed and I snapped out of my trance, placing my hands on my burning cheeks. ‘Did I just say that aloud?’

‘Yes. I’m glad I meet with your approval.’

‘Oh, Sam, you know you do. And now you’ve just gone and ticked another box.’

That intense look was in his eyes again. He reached out his hand as though he was going to touch my face or my hair. Too intimate. I quickly stepped back into the hall. ‘Come in. I’ll introduce you to Mum.’

Sam followed me through to the kitchen diner. ‘This is my mum, Julie. Mum, this is Dr Sam Jones.’

Mum stood up and shook his hand. ‘Thank you so much for doing this. You do realise that you’re now trapped here until you give a conclusive diagnosis.’

Sam smiled. ‘I’m sure I can help you but I might have to pretend I can’t so you can trap me here forever.’ He looked at me as he said that and my stomach fizzed. ‘You have a lovely home, Julie.’

‘Thank you. I like you already. Please take a seat. Jemma was about to make drinks. Tea? Coffee?’

‘I’ll be bouncing off the walls if I have any more caffeine today. Just some water for me, please.’

The smile he gave me made my legs feel like water. I’d gone and done it, hadn’t I? Instead of pushing any fledgling feelings aside while he came to terms with his grief, I’d done the opposite and fallen for him big time. Trust me to pick someone emotionally unavailable this time instead of physically unavailable. It wasn’t like it was forever, though. I just needed to give him some time and, if the looks he was giving me were anything to go by, he was definitely keen; just not ready. I could wait.

Sam placed his pad, a pen and various other documents on the dining table. ‘Jemma’s told me about your diagnosis but I’d like to start completely afresh if that’s okay. Imagine I know nothing about you so that we don’t miss anything.’

‘Fine by me,’ Mum said.

‘The best starting point is to ask you what you hope to get from this session with me.’