‘I did not but I’m sure I would love them,’ he said as I shuffled them away under my skirt. ‘You kind of gave yourself away by not having your phone. Everyone has their phone and takes photos, they just don’t post them. It’s kind of an unspoken agreement. Besides, if you’d been here before, we would have met before, and there’s no way on this earth I could have forgotten.’

A tickle of anticipation forced a smile onto my face.

‘I don’t know about that. You did hit your head this morning.’

‘True.’ He grinned and my stomach flipped. ‘But I am very sure this is our first time.’

My cheeks flamed as I stared at my cushion cover clutch bag, saying nothing.

‘Your boyfriend must be looking for you,’ Evan said, clearing his throat. ‘I guess I should go.’

‘But my boyfriend isn’t here,’ I said quickly. ‘I’m here on my own.’

His eyes lit up, warm, brown and liquid. ‘Really?’

I gave a cautious nod. ‘Would you believe me if I said it’s a long story?’

He covered my hand with his and it felt as if I’d licked my fingers and stuck them into a plug socket. An unanticipated jolt caused by an incredibly reckless act.

‘Yes,’ Evan replied, his voice and his eyes soft. ‘I would believe anything you told me.’

My heart pounded, my knees went weak, and various other parts of my body reacted in ways I hadn’t felt in so long, it really did feel like the first time.

‘I am going to get a drink,’ I announced, wondering if the bartender might be so kind as to hose me down with soda water if I asked nicely. ‘Can I get you anything?’

Evan pulled at his collar again then straightened his perfectly tied bow tie. ‘I’d better come with you,’ he said. ‘Just in case you run into any more trouble.’

‘I thought we agreed I can take care of myself?’

‘Oh, I know you absolutely can,’ he said, holding out his arm and leaning into a shallow bow. ‘But I also want you to know, you don’t have to.’

‘Be still, my beating heart,’ I whispered before sliding my arm through his and venturing off to find the bar.

‘What’s happening in here?’ I asked, while we waited for the bartender to pour one glass of champagne for him and one Diet Coke for me. Ball or no ball, it was still far too soon for me to consider alcohol. Several tall tables lined the edge of the room, each one bearing an iPad on a stand. ‘Is this room sponsored by Netflix or something?’

‘The Netflix and Chill room is downstairs,’ Evan said, raising his eyebrow as I laughed. ‘You think I’m kidding?’

I thanked the waiter for my drink and gulped down the first mouthful.