Slowly, feeling like a zombie, I threw my things into my suitcase, annoyed with myself for napping with Jake yesterday when I should have been packing, and then I had a lightning-fast shower. I tried really hard not to think about him while I stood under the hot water but how could I forget our steamy shower together? I cursed the man for being so hot. I knew it would be a long time before I forgot how his touch had driven me crazy. Or how much of a wrench it had been to leave his embrace. How good his arms felt around me. How much his kisses had thrilled me. And how when he’d looked at me, the rest of the world had disappeared. He’d made me feel things I wasn’t sure I’d ever feel in real life. The stuff of a romance novel.

Or so I had believed at the time.

It had all been fleeting, though. It was gone in a flash. Pulled away from me like ripping the duvet off a bed when it’s time to change the sheets.

And now I was back to believing romance was officially dead. And I’d never find the kind of love I read about in books.

Maybe I had been right after all – it just didn’t exist.

My hair was still damp as I pulled on a dress and boots and packed my hand luggage but I didn’t care. I went down to the lobby in a daze, checking out at reception then walking towards the doors to wait for Jake and the car I’d booked to take us to the airport. I sighed under my breath though when I saw Hayley sitting in one of the chairs with her laptop. She waved me over as soon as she saw me. How did she look so perky at this time and after the party as well?

‘I was waiting to see you and Jake before you leave… Ah, there he is.’ She waved over my shoulder. I tried not to but I looked back and my eyes met Jake’s briefly. His face was expressionless so I kept mine the same. He reached my side and I forced myself to keep my gaze on Hayley although I desperately wanted to know if he was looking at me. ‘I’ve arranged the meeting with your publishers, Jake, and added it both to your calendars. I’ll need you there, Freya, in case they want any information about the conference before I got here. Get as much rest as you can once you get back so you both can be on your A games in that meeting. I will get you a great deal, Jake, after the success here.’ Hayley smiled with satisfaction. ‘Hadn’t you both better be getting to the airport?’