Thea’s brain was still on super-speed. She had time to realise that if he got up she might never get this close to him again. On the other hand her ankle hurt and she should really find out if she’d broken anything before even considering following up on this opportunity. ‘Not really. I wonder if you could just have a feel of my ankle. It hurt as I fell. It’s probably fine, but I’m a bit of a coward and I’d rather you checked if it was broken before I look. If I see it out of kilter I might be sick and this floor has suffered enough.’ By now she could see paint, looking like yoghurt, splattered across the newly sanded wood. She had a horrible feeling she was lying with her head in it, too.

‘I should get you up and have a proper look.’

‘Just do a quick reccie. I’m afraid I’m one of those people who have to put the plaster on before I look at the cut.’

His hand on her leg and ankle didn’t recoil from broken bone. In fact, it appeared to be telling her there wasn’t much wrong at all, as it glided smoothly up and down. The feel of his warm palm on her leg was comforting, extremely pleasant.

It obviously didn’t have the same effect on him. Here she was, practically naked, giving him the perfect excuse to get his hand above her knee and he hadn’t done it. What could you do with a man like that? Just as well, she told herself, she hadn’t fallen off the ladder and hurt her ankle on purpose, to get herself in this position.

‘I don’t think anything’s broken, you’ve probably wrenched it,’ he said. ‘I’Il get up so I can help you up.’

A whimper escaped from her.

‘What’s the matter? Have I hurt you?’

‘No,’ she breathed, looking into his eyes, wondering if he would ever get the message and kiss her. A lot of men would be smoking the post-coital cigarette by now. He was aware of her lying under him, he must be, and he hadn’t got up himself either, but why hadn’t he done anything else?

He sighed deeply and the corner of his mouth lifted in the beginnings of a smile. Thea closed her eyes, waiting – hoping – to feel his lips on hers, knowing she’d die of embarrassment if she didn’t. She’d practically asked him to kiss her.

His lips brushed hers so gently that it was almost a tease. Then he applied just enough pressure for it to qualify as a kiss but no more. It dawned on Thea that he was kissing her out of politeness, to save her the embarrassment of lying underneath him, offered but unwanted. He took his mouth away maddeningly soon.