‘Now, Jake, get out into the conference hall; there is an hour left so circulate and make sure this buzz continues. Freya, go with him. I’ll go to my room and do some work then I’ll see you both at the dinner and party tonight. I’ve booked a flight home tomorrow a bit later than yours so we’ll be back in London soon and we can get that new deal on the table.’ She strode off, on her phone before she even left the room.

Jake quickly reached out to squeeze my hand. ‘We did it.’ We smiled at one another. I liked the word ‘we’ more than I probably should have done.

* * *

The next hour was crazy. The conference hall was packed and noisy and everyone wanted to speak to Jake about what had happened in the meeting room, both readers and authors. I didn’t get a chance to chat to Liv or Tessa; I was walking around with Jake taking photos of him with people, posting online and it was exhausting after Jake and I had stayed up so late the night before. I found myself stifling a yawn.

‘You look shattered.’ Jake appeared by my side after he’d finished with a group of readers, speaking close into my ear, his hand just grazing the small of my back.

I quickly darted out of his reach in case anyone noticed him touching me. ‘Careful,’ I warned him. ‘Anyone could see, plus Hayley is here.’

‘You need a nap before dinner and the party or you’ll never make it through; I feel the same,’ Jake replied, stepping back from me.

‘I’ll go straight to my room once we’re finished.’

‘Why don’t we make an escape now, say we have work to do?’ Jake lowered his voice further. ‘We could nap together.’

‘Are you serious?’ I hissed.

‘It would be far more enjoyable to nap in your arms.’

‘But…’

‘We won’t be able to be alone later now, will we?’ he reasoned. Now Hayley was here, I knew he was right. We looked at one another. Even in this crowded room, there was no denying the sparks between us. How could I refuse his suggestion?

‘Let’s go,’ I whispered. We left the hall together and thankfully, no one blocked our path or questioned our slightly early exit. We headed across the road to our hotel and through the lobby towards the lifts.

‘It was torture not being able to touch you all day,’ Jake said after he’d pressed the call button. He touched the small of my back then and I didn’t pull away. ‘I can’t wait to lie down with you.’

I shook my head. ‘You’re insatiable.’

‘You don’t like it?’

‘I didn’t say that,’ I replied.