From anyone else it would have sounded cheesy, but believe me, he pulled it off. Talk about taking someone’s breath away! Mine caught in my throat. And was that stirring in my loins? Without thinking, I reached for my earlobe, and gently caressed it. And as soon as I realised I was doing it, I stopped. I’ve read enough romance novels to know exactly what signal a fondled earlobe sends.

When I regained my composure – and we are only talking microseconds here – I replied the way I had been taught to respond to a compliment. I said, ‘Thank you.’

He immediately countered my thank you with, ‘But men have told you that many times before.’

Was he asking me or telling me? If he was telling me, he was wrong. And I’m not fishing for compliments, here. I know I am reasonably attractive, but I certainly don’t look like a Victoria Secret’s model – or any kind of model for that matter. Let’s just say that Gisele Bündchen’s job is safe from me.

I hadn’t responded to his comment – my ability to banter was taking a beating. ‘Not really, no.’ Wow! Good retort, Sarah. He seemed amused, and not in the charming, ‘I’m on your side’ way – more like in the, ‘you’re cute, little one’ way. I sipped on my drink and chewed my straw a little.

Gary chose that moment to ask James a question. I wondered if he was saving me, or just seeking out interesting conversation. Regardless, I took the opportunity to talk to Gerry. I needed a breather from the silver fox.

‘Hey, Ger.’

‘Hey, Sar.’

‘So, how’s this trip going?’

She shook the ice in her drink and smiled at me. ‘Really good, don’t you think?’

‘Yeah, but I meant, how is it going?’ I looked over her shoulder at Duncan, who was chatting with Marie and Hannah. ‘Isn’t it hard being in a long-distance relationship?’ It was a big question, but I had wanted to ask her since I’d met her and there had never really been a good time. She and Duncan lived in different places and only saw each other occasionally, and they seemed great together, but I wanted to know if it was for real. It mattered to me, because I liked them together. Okay, and because I wondered if a long-distance relationship could really work.

‘How do you mean?’ she replied. Maybe there was a translation issue; I was going to have to spell it out.

‘I mean, how does it work with you two living so far apart?’

She looked thoughtful, as though she was phrasing the ideal response in her head. ‘It is hard sometimes, but we make it work because we want to be together, and for now, we can’t be in the same place – to live.’