He laughed. ‘It is a bit like that, isn’t it? I’ve already worn this shirt twice, and I had to scrutinise it thoroughly before putting it on. Looks clean, smells clean – it’s clean enough.’

‘I like it.’

‘Thanks.’ And then he did the one thing I hoped – and dreaded – he would do. He took my hand in his.

I was suddenly fourteen again, and the boy I liked was walking me home from school – and he was holding my hand. I scoured my foggy brain for something to say – damned hormones. Josh beat me to it. ‘I’m looking forward to meeting Duncan’s old boss.’

‘Oh, really?’

‘Yeah. I was talking to Duncan about him, and it turns out he just travels the world, making money, spending money. The guy is seriously loaded.’

‘That whole “having a yacht in the Caribbean” thing wasn’t a dead giveaway?’ I don’t think he detected the sarcasm in my voice.

‘He’s rich, he travels all the time, no ties – the ultimate bachelor lifestyle.’

I could hear the awe in his voice, and before I realised what I was saying, I replied with: ‘You’d love that.’

‘Doesn’t it sound incredible?’ Did he really just ask me that? ‘I mean I haven’t even met the guy yet and he’s practically my hero.’ Way to make a gal feel special, Josh. I couldn’t believe he was extolling the virtues of a life spent in bachelorhood, while making a play for me. I wished he wasn’t holding my hand. And on that subject, why the hell was he?

By the time we arrived at the restaurant and were shown to a large table in the back, I had worked myself into a bit of a lather. I was really pissed off with Josh.

Duncan’s friend had yet to arrive, so we spread out around the table, leaving a space for him next to Duncan. I didn’t want to sit anywhere near Josh, but he wangled in next to me, and it would have been too obvious something was up if I’d moved. I pretended to absorb myself in the menu looking over the vast array of roasted meat. There was the ubiquitous goat. It was fast becoming a favourite.

Then I heard Duncan say, ‘Here he is. Everyone, this is James.’ And when I looked up from the menu, I could not believe it. Duncan’s friend was the silver fox from Santorini. Holy fuck.

I must have looked like a stunned mullet – whatever a mullet is. I was vaguely aware that Duncan was introducing everyone in turn. When he got to me, he said, ‘This is Sarah.’ I didn’t even manage a hello, just an odd kind of nod.

The silver fox, however, held out his hand and said, ‘Sarah. So lovely to see you again and to finally learn your name.’