‘Freaked us out is the perfect way to describe it,’ he assured me. ‘I should have told you how I felt, that I wanted us to carry on what we had started when we got back to London, but I got in my head when I saw you and Davis. I guess it made me think about my mum and dad. How she had trusted him, and how he’d hurt her. I thought maybe I was making the same mistake.’

I touched his lips with my fingertips this time. ‘I never had any attraction towards Davis Mulberry. In fact, the opposite. He’s probably the last man I’d ever want to kiss. I’m getting to see a slightly better side to him now I’m working with him but that’s as far as it will ever go. You do believe me, right?’

‘I do, baby. I think I knew deep down that was true but maybe I was scared and it was easy to blame that, to blame you two when it was me that wanted to run.’

‘What about when you said you thought I’d been with you to help my career?’

‘That was so wrong of me. I knew you’d never do that. As soon as I said it, and saw your face drop, I hated myself.’ Jake reached out and brushed my hair back off my shoulder. ‘Can you forgive me for that? And you don’t believe what Davis said about me and relationships, do you?’

‘It never made sense with how you were with me. And he admitted he said it to wind you up. I do trust you.’

‘Even after what my father has done?’ he asked me quietly.

‘I told you, you’re not your father, okay?’

‘God, I want to hold you and never let you go.’

‘Hmm, sounds good to me.’

I leaned in and our lips met eagerly. Jake’s hands moved to my waist and he pulled me into his chest while I rubbed his shoulders with my hands, enjoying the way our tongues explored one another. I pulled back and Jake made a protesting sound. ‘I haven’t had the full flat tour. Can I see your room?’ I asked boldly but I wanted to be back in his arms properly.

‘You want to?’ Jake asked me, his eyes dropping to my lips in a hungry way. I liked that look.

‘How can I get a proper feel of the place otherwise?’ I asked him playfully.

‘You’re right. It was very remiss of me not to give you the full tour.’ Jake picked up our two wine glasses. ‘Let me show you.’