Oh no, Jo thought. There it was again. The Clooney eyes. Or was he more like McDreamy? Or Rock Hudson? Whatever, he had the power to disarm her, especially when she was several glasses of wine down and really ready to catch up on her missed sleep from the night before.

‘I’d have thought you’d be itching to get back to your own work,’ she said.

‘I’ve been working this whole time,’ he replied. ‘This has been absolutely invaluable for me. I definitely have a real idea of where I’m going with the book now, and the research has added so much to it. I’ll definitely have to give you a mention in the acknowledgements.’

Jo couldn’t help but beam with pride. ‘If I ever, ever get my work published,’ she said, ‘I will return the favour. I promise.’

He smiled and waved to the waitress to order his final drink of the night.

‘Last chance?’ he said, with an impish smile.

God, if she wasn’t careful, she could get into a lot of trouble with this man. The alcohol had lowered her defences, and his kind words had all but knocked what remained of them to the ground. ‘Might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb,’ she said.

‘That’s a solid attitude!’ Ewan enthused, and he put in the order.

The waitress was back quickly with the drinks and stood awkwardly at their table after she had handed them over. ‘I probably shouldn’t do this,’ she said. ‘But there’s a customer over there by the window who has been dying to ask you to sign his book all night. He’s a huge fan. If you would rather not, then it’s no problem. I’ll let him know to leave you to enjoy your evening.’

Jo watched as the expression on Ewan’s face transformed into a broad smile. ‘Of course I’ll sign his book. Send him over, it would be lovely to chat to him.’

‘You’re very kind, Mr McLachlan,’ the waitress beamed. ‘I wouldn’t normally ask, but he’s such a big fan. He’s been singing your praises so much all night, I’ve even downloaded a couple of your books to read and I hardly ever read a book.’

‘That’s very kind of you,’ Ewan said. ‘I appreciate it.’

As the waitress walked across the bar to tell Ewan’s superfan that he could absolutely get his book signed, Ewan took a sip from his glass. ‘You don’t mind, do you?’ he asked.

‘Not at all,’ Jo said. ‘It’s exciting. Does this happen a lot?’