‘How long are you planning on sticking around?’ Kit asks, only for the phone on the desk to ring. I wait while he answers, listening in silence as he jokingly chastises the caller about a late delivery of sugar beet.

‘Where were we?’ he prompts, replacing the receiver in its cradle and rooting through the mess of papers on the desk until he locates a pen, which he uses to write something on the back of his hand.

‘You were asking me how long I was in New Zealand for,’ I remind him, and he nods, giving me his full attention once again. Kit looks quite unlike any man I have ever seen before, and the more I take in his broad shoulders, pale green eyes and easy, relaxed manner, the more I warm to him.

‘And?’ he presses.

I lift my shoulders in a half-shrug. ‘I was planning to stay for two weeks or so, but—’

Kit interrupts me with a laugh.

‘Two weeks?’ he exclaims. ‘Strewth! You’ve flown all the way here from England and you’re only staying for a fortnight? You can barely tickle the udders of this place in that time.’

I finish my Coke and start looking around the office in search of a bin.

‘Well, I’m not really here to sightsee,’ I counter. ‘I came to see Bonnie.’

‘Hell of a long way to come and a heap of money down the gurgler just for a visit,’ he says, not unkindly. ‘I’m guessing she must be pretty damn important to you.’

I emit a small, non-committal ‘Mmm’, and Kit leans across and plucks the empty can from my hands, crunching it effortlessly between his own.

‘Well, if it’s Bon you came for, I’d suggest you change your return flight,’ he says. ‘She told me she’d be away on her big OE for at least three weeks, if not longer.’

It feels as if he’s just slammed a door shut in my face.

‘OE?’

‘Overseas experience,’ he explains. ‘Sorry, Kiwi lingo.’

‘Right.’

I can’t even muster up enough energy to feel despondent. I feel as if I could lay down my head on this tatty old sofa and sleep until Bonnie returns from England – perhaps forever. Giving in to weariness, I slump back against the cushions, shutting out the sight of Kit, of his consideration and decency. I wanted this to be simple; I wanted to get in, meet Bonnie, get some answers, and get out.

I feel the sofa shift and open my eyes to find that Kit has sat down beside me. He’s far enough away that our legs aren’t touching, but I can still sense the heat of him.

‘Are you staying somewhere around here?’ he asks, and I respond with a limp smile.

‘In Queenstown,’ I say. ‘I got a taxi out here, but now I’m not sure what …’

I trail off yet again, and Kit’s expression softens.