‘I’m so sorry, I couldn’t help it, I was bumped. Are you sure I can’t get you something to wipe your arm?’ Again, she was blushing, but she was still looking at him intently. She seemed modest and shy, so what the hell was she doing in a place like this?

‘Why don’t you have a drink with me? That’ll make up for it.’ Tony didn’t take his eyes off her face.

The barmaid had seen what had happened and went to get another glass of wine for the woman and a fresh whisky for Tony. ‘Here you are,’ she said, as she put them down on the bar top next to them.

Tony handed the new glass of wine to the woman, who was still gushing her apologies and blushing profusely. She showed no recognition of who he was. That was unusual, because most people knew him, if not personally, then from the stories in the magazines or newspapers.

People either watched their tongues in front of him or told him what a pleasure it was to meet him. This woman said nothing of the sort. Instead, she put the wine glass to her lips. Tony noticed they were full and well-shaped, and formed a perfect Cupid’s bow. He felt his stomach churning, and a deep stirring inside. The more he looked at her, the more he wanted her. He didn’t want to break the magic by speaking; he had never felt like this before. No woman, especially one that didn’t know who he was and wasn’t draped over him, particularly took his attention, but this awkward-looking shy, embarrassed woman did.

He put his hand to the bottom of her wine glass and tipped it towards her lips, so that she took a sip, and smiled at her. He knew he said something but wasn’t sure what. They were just looking at each other. It was a feeling he couldn’t comprehend, and still he waited to see if anyone would come up to the bar and claim her as their wife or partner. Thankfully, no one did.

She raised her long dark lashes, lifted her head and looked him squarely in the face. When she smiled, her whole face lit up. She was truly beautiful. Tony smiled back, displaying a perfect row of white teeth. He was mesmerised.

She put her glass down and mumbled something to excuse herself from the bar. He smiled again as he saw the blush return to her cheeks. Then she started to walk away, and for the first time in his life Tony didn’t know how to stop a woman from leaving him. Usually he had the opposite problem – he couldn’t get rid of them!

He watched her walk away, back towards her friend who still sat at the table with her husband. His mind was in turmoil. In different circumstances, he would have simply given his most charming smile, introduced himself and whisked them off to the club, but he had a strange feeling that approach wouldn’t work.