I’m no nearer an answer when I pull up outside his flat and honk the horn. I look around curiously. At one point this must have been a well-off area because the houses are beautifully proportioned, but then it must have fallen victim to the steady encroach of bedsit land, and here we are. Windows are dirty with sheets hung up at them rather than curtains. Rubbish blows idly round in the faint breeze and two dogs are fighting nearby over an upturned rubbish bin.

Movement catches my eye, and I turn to see Jesse coming out of the door of the block of flats. He’s dressed in faded jeans, a pale blue shirt, and blue and white seersucker striped Vans, and he’s wheeling a suitcase. He grins at me, and I can’t help the uptick of my lips. I’ve tried many times but it doesn’t work. There’s just something about him that makes me smile.

Then I notice the man following him carrying a suit bag and my smile falters slightly. He’s stunningly beautiful, and the laughing conversation they’re having and their body language displays a familiarity with each other. I’m so busy staring ahead and trying not to analyse why my spirits have sunk that it takes Jesse three gos at calling my name through the window.

I lower it. “Shit, sorry. I was daydreaming.”

His brow quirks and he grins. It’s glorious at such a close range. “No problem. I just wondered for a second whether I was expected to run behind the car all the way to the Cotswolds.”

“I’m not discounting that option yet,” I say wryly, just to hear him laugh. He has a wonderful laugh. Rich and full and almost dirty.

I open the door and climb out, going round to the boot and opening it. “Stick your case in here,” I say briskly, watching as the other man ambles over. He’s dressed in old jeans and a navy T-shirt and he’s wearing flipflops, but he moves like he’s on the catwalk. I blink and Jesse laughs and nudges me.

“I know,” he whispers. “It happens everywhere.”

I turn to him. “I’m not looking at him like that,” I start to say, trying to explain that I’m not leering at his boyfriend. It would be impossible when all my senses still seem to be tuned to Jesse’s wavelength despite the all-round hopelessness of that silly yearning. Luckily, he saves me the humiliation.

“Charlie has this effect on everyone. Good job he’s oblivious.”

“Don’t you mind?”

He blinks. “Why would I mind?”

“Isn’t this your boyfriend?”