‘Really?’ I asked, as nonchalantly as I could. His cologne was ridiculously distracting. I wanted to nuzzle his neck – maybe even lick it. I hoped it would taste as good as it smelled. Crap – I was in serious trouble.

It was my turn to order, and I hadn’t even read the menu. I’d been too busy fantasising about licking someone’s neck. ‘Gin and tonic for me,’ I said, defaulting to my favourite. I snapped the menu closed, nearly catching James’s nose inside. He ordered some kind of whisky I’d never heard of – neat – and returned to our conversation without missing a beat.

‘Yes, really. There’s something about you that captivates me, Sarah. I noticed it that day, and believe me, I am noticing it again tonight. I’d like the chance to figure out what it is.’ I pretended I wasn’t flustered, picking some non-existent lint from my dress.

I mulled over what he’d said. Did I want him to have that chance? And if so, where did that leave Josh?

I’d done a side-by-side comparison of the two before, but until then, the silver fox was mostly a character comprised of fantastical traits I’d dreamed up. Seeing him again, witnessing his charm, unfailing confidence and blatant sexiness, the comparison took on more meaning.

There was Josh, with his boyish good looks, self-deprecating humour, youthful wonder, and the fact that I felt like me when I was with him, and James, who on top of everything else I just said, was more sophisticated, worldlier, more accomplished – and, dare I say it – more of a man, really.

But, I wasn’t sure I was ready to risk my friendship with Josh for a fling with the handsome silver fox. I cared about Josh; I liked him as a person. And I was pretty sure that even if he didn’t end up wanting me that way, he wouldn’t want me running off with the silver fox either.

So, you see the dilemma?

James had started a conversation with Marie, who sat on his right, and to my left, Gerry was teasing Duncan about the naked woman on James’s boat, so I was mercilessly left to my own convoluted thoughts. When the drinks arrived, I snatched mine up greedily. I would need some Dutch courage if was going to handle James’s advances with any sort of maturity or grace, especially as I rarely exhibited those traits in everyday life.