‘He’s a really good boy on long journeys but it’s only fair to give him plenty of exercise too,’ Isaac said. ‘We seem to be in the midst of a lot of fields and a little industry. I’ve looked on Google Earth and there are tracks between the fields so Doggo can stretch his legs.’

Outside, the air was cold enough to nip at Lily as they crossed the car park and she pulled up her hood. Isaac took her uninjured hand once they were out of sight of the hotel, tucking it in his pocket with his. Doggo’s lead made a soft zzzz each time it extended or retracted as Doggo investigated whether French dogs left the same scents as their English counterparts. Periodically, he looked back as if to check up on the humans following his lead – literally – and acknowledged their good behaviour with a wave of his tail.

Isaac took a big lungful of the frigid air. ‘This is great.’

Lily glanced at him in surprise at his tone of great contentment. ‘Really?’

His grin glinted in the small amount of light coming from the moon and stars that was all they had now they’d walked away from the hotel and turned away from the main road that had been running parallel with them. ‘I love to travel but I haven’t had a holiday this year because of the Juno. Now I’m out of the bar, in the country, sharing the evening with a beautiful woman. And about to embark on an adventure.’

She felt her face heat up, pretty sure she knew what he was referring to but said casually, ‘Driving to Switzerland?’

‘That,’ he agreed. Then he paused to turn to face her, dropping her hand in order to pull her in to him. ‘But the beautiful woman once offered to share a Christmas adventure with me and I’m really hoping it’s going to be soon.’ His voice was low, his arm tightening around her as he brushed his warm lips over her cheek, then her mouth. ‘The more I think about this trip, the more I like it. Not just because while you guys are doing your own thing I’m pretty much getting a free holiday and can be walking or snowshoeing but—’ he paused to kiss her again, his lips warm despite the crispness of the evening ‘—because I get to spend a lot of time with you.’

Her heart redoubled its rhythm. ‘But we’re kind of …’ She hesitated, trying to envisage beginning something while the others were in such close proximity.

‘Our style is being cramped?’ he asked, kissing her lightly again. ‘I’d noticed. Don’t worry. I don’t expect to conduct our sex life in the public gaze.’

It wasn’t possible for Lily’s face to feel any hotter. ‘You’re a pretty straightforward guy, talking so matter-of-factly about a sex life that hasn’t even begun.’