‘A woman could get used to this,’ I said as I paused to take in the scene. Jake looked as edible as what he was cooking in his dark jeans and shirt, glancing over his shoulder at my entrance, a slow and sexy smile appearing on his face. He was working hard on his next novel and was letting me read each chapter as he went along, and it was clear we were inspiring the characters and the setting too – he was writing a Christmas love story set in New York, and I knew it was going to melt every romance reader’s heart when it was finished. Just like he had melted mine.

‘Good. I want you to get used to it,’ Jake replied. He left the cooker and came over to drop me a kiss on the lips. ‘Mmm, you look lovely and smell good,’ he murmured, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me into his chest. This time, he gave me a longer kiss as I hooked my arms around his neck. ‘I missed you,’ he added, leaning back to look into my eyes.

‘You saw me this morning,’ I replied, laughing a little bit.

Jake shrugged. ‘I was thinking about you a lot today; my characters kissed and I really wanted to kiss you.’ He brushed his lips with mine. ‘And then my mind wandered even further…’

‘Oh, did it?’ I said playfully back. I raised an eyebrow. ‘How long until dinner is ready?’

‘It can simmer for twenty minutes or so…’

‘Good. So can I.’ I took his hand and pulled him towards the bedroom with me.

Jake laughed. ‘I love it when you’re naughty.’

‘No,’ I said, looking over my shoulder at him as we walked into our room. ‘I’m a good girl, remember?’

We stopped and Jake took my face in his hands. ‘You’re my good girl,’ he said huskily. His lips found mine, hungry and eager to taste. Then he pulled back suddenly, leaving me breathless. He stepped back and raised an eyebrow. ‘I want to see you in nothing but your ring.’

I started to pull my sundress up and over my head, but I paused and looked at him. ‘Ring?’ I wasn’t wearing any.

‘Turn around,’ he said gruffly.

I slowly spun around to look at the bed and I gasped. I’d been so suddenly horny for Jake, I hadn’t even looked at the bed. It was scattered with red rose petals and in the centre was a red box that made my eyes widen. ‘Cartier?’ I managed to gasp out. I had always dreamt of owning a piece of jewellery from there.

‘You didn’t remember what today was?’ Jake asked, walking over to the bed to pick the box up.

‘Um… no…’ I said, my heart starting to pound.

Jake shook his head. ‘I’m glad one of us is romantic in this relationship.’