Walking towards the building, I saw a man heading towards the doors and when I got closer, I recognised who it was. I paused on the pavement, hoping he hadn’t seen me. But as he went to open the door, he looked my way and froze also.

‘Freya,’ Jake said, letting go of the door. He turned and waited so I reluctantly walked towards him.

Jake looked nothing like his usual cool, composed self I realised as soon as we faced each other, just a couple of feet between us. His facial hair was unkempt today like he needed to shave, there were circles under his eyes and his skin looked pale despite the warm week we were having. His shirt had a button undone and the laces on his shoes were untied. I felt a weird urge to hug him. It looked like he needed one in the same way I did. My body seemed to want to lean into his, although I made sure it didn’t.

‘Hi, Jake,’ I said softly, wishing he would smile at me and look at me like I was the only woman for him like he had done before. But there was no smile or softness to him this morning. He looked on edge and almost angry. Back to the intimidating man he had been before that electric kiss we’d had against my hotel-room door.

‘I had an interesting chat last night with Davis Mulberry,’ he said coldly. ‘You didn’t think I deserved to know that not only are you working with that twat now, but clearly, it’s been him you were after all along? And now you’ve got your happy ever after finally!’

I stared at him dumbfounded. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘Davis was Freya this, and Freya that, singing your praises, saying he wants to end our feud, that I inspired his latest book and he was wrong all along about romance. He’s now in love and going to dedicate his book to the woman of his dreams…’ Jake ran a shaky hand through his hair. ‘So, we didn’t mean anything to you? Now you’re with Davis, and I’m supposed to be pleased for you both?’

I was thoroughly confused. ‘Davis told you we’re together and he’s going to dedicate the book to me?’ I had to check in case Davis had actually turned out to be a worse man than I’d ever thought he could be.

Jake stared at me then shook his head. ‘He was after you the whole time in New York! Of course it’s you that he was talking about.’