Lily laughed. Her low, husky chuckle always caught his attention. When somebody said something witty first her eyes would smile, then dance, before the chuckle escaped onto the air to touch a chord deep inside him. He leaned forward and kissed her.

It wasn’t really a decision. It was a compulsion; something to which he could only give in. Her mouth was warm in a cold face, sweet and tender. When he pulled back she looked at him unspeaking, her eyes soft and unfocused. He did it again. And she did it back.

Her arms slid up around his neck, her body slowly settling against his by voluptuous degrees. Pleasure rushed through him, sensitising his skin and heating his blood, sharpening his hunger for more. He ran his palms over the smooth contours of her back, her mouth moving sensuously against his, her tongue stroking and teasing as he returned the caress. He felt, rather than heard, a groan in the back of his throat.

Then his conscience brought him up short. Reluctantly, he paused. ‘I know I’m only temporary, but I am your line manager. I’ve always avoided this situation.’ He groaned against her skin.

Slowly, slowly, slowly, her embrace slackened. Then, smoothly, she stepped back with a regretful but understanding smile. ‘Of course. I remember how uncomfortable Sergio used to get at being hit on by girls working at Bar Barcelona. He said it was a minefield.’ She glanced out of the window. ‘Looks as if the hailstorm’s over. See you next time I’m on shift.’ Pulling her coat from the back of the chair she swung it around her and shoved her arms into the sleeves, stooping to give Doggo a farewell pat in passing.

Isaac watched, struck dumb by her decisive reaction, unable to frame a way of saying, ‘Hang on, I was still making up my mind,’ or, even, ‘I was hoping to be persuaded.’

At the door, she paused. ‘It didn’t seem to bother Tubb that Janice worked for him.’ She grinned and then she was gone, clattering down the stairs, leaving him staring at empty space and hearing the echo of the back door closing.

‘I just earned my moron credentials for an entire decade,’ he said aloud, hearing his own incredulity on the empty air. Doggo thumped his tail but remained in his cosy bed by the radiator. ‘She told me she didn’t have to rely on men, she proved it by making a move and I shut her down. And then she pointed out the absolutely bleeding obvious, that our boss is in a relationship with a member of his staff so relationships aren’t a problem here. This woman really writes her own rule book.’

Doggo regarded him pityingly.