He chuckled, a rich, deep sound. ‘That’s perfect.’

She looked at him in puzzlement.

‘I was going to tell you the same thing. Only it’s a studio I vanish into, not an office, and I make a lot of noise there.’

Pulling her towards him, he kissed her again, but didn’t take the embrace any further. He must have seen that she was still anxious about what she’d told him because he said quietly, ‘When we make love for the first time, I want it to be perfect. Not a hurried coupling, after which we separate for the night and I creep furtively across the garden.’ He smiled ruefully. ‘It won’t be easy to wait, because I want you very much, but I think you still need to take this slowly. Am I right?’

She nodded and raised his hand to her lips. ‘I do need that. It’s happened so quickly between us.’

‘But we’re officially an item now?’

‘We are.’

‘And you’ll let me tell you that I love you?’

Her breath caught in her throat as she looked at him. ‘I’ll be upset if you don’t, because I love you, too.’

‘That’s wonderful.’

They talked quietly, honestly, and they enjoyed silences too, fleeting touches, kisses. She felt young again, as if she’d reached the end of a long, dark tunnel and moved into the sunshine. And she’d never seen that look of utter contentment on his face before. It made her feel good that she could put it there.

She went to get them a snack, just cheese and fruit and nuts, and they picked at the platter as they chatted.

Happiness was welling up inside her. This quiet time seemed to bind them together more than anything else could. And the fact that he’d understood she wasn’t ready for passion yet gave her more hope than anything. How could you make a good relationship if you didn’t sense the other person’s most important needs and feelings?

When the clock chimed ten, Jez eased away from her. ‘You look as tired as I feel. I’d better ring Kevin to come and get me.’

They walked to the back door hand in hand, and blew kisses to one another as Jez turned at the gate to look back at her.

She went to bed still wrapped in a warm cloud of happiness, such as she hadn’t felt for years.

Andi felt uneasy as she got ready for work. Twice she stopped what she was doing to stare into space. Should she go to the club or not? She hated it there.

Only what choice did she have? She needed money to live. And she’d not enjoyed her previous job, either. Maybe most people were like that, hating their jobs, but doing them because you had to earn a living. Her mother was so lucky.

That made her stop to think again and brought tears to her eyes. No, her mother hadn’t been lucky. She’d lost her husband, then had to go through the terrors of breast cancer without his support. And Andi hadn’t been much use, either, she realised that now. She’d been too young, too lost in her own grief for her father. She’d never apologised for that lack of support, should have done.