‘I’m sure you know this place is not mine. And it’s early actually.’ She self-consciously brushed her fingers through her hair and tucked a few errant strands behind her ears. Glancing down, she quickly realized the front of her robe was open, her silk pyjamas exposed, and she wasn’t wearing a bra. She wrapped the robe around her body and tightened the sash.

Then looked up and met Rob’s gaze. As if reading her thoughts, his eyes flicked ever so briefly along her body, his gaze lasting a moment too long.

Swallowing hard, Hannah crossed her arms. ‘Why are you here?’

He shrugged and turned on his heel, striding silkily through the apartment like a tiger.

‘I wanted to see you,’ he said, non-committal, as he strolled over to the window, taking in the expansive view of the park beyond the glass. ‘Quite the vista.’ And again, as if he owned the place, blithely lifted the sash window, letting in some fresh morning air.

‘Yes,’ she replied distractedly. ‘But again, what are you doing here? And why now when you were in the city last month and I didn’t hear a word?’

He turned to face her, and his expression transitioned from playful to serious.

‘First of all,’ he began, ‘I owe you an apology for being the biggest idiot in the world.’

She stared at him, not sure what to say to this and also how he had deftly side-stepped her question. Though she could probably guess exactly what Zoe would say if her friend were here.

‘I know I messed up, and it kills me that I hurt you. I realize now what I did was inexcusable. That message …’

‘Why did you need me to spell it out though?’ Hannah asked, perplexed. ‘Surely you must have known what that little stunt would do to me professionally?’

He sighed. ‘I honestly wasn’t thinking at the time,’ he admitted. ‘I was just on top of the world and I wanted to share that with you. With everyone.’

He certainly sounded sincere. As she stared into his baby-blue eyes, all the great times they’d had together came flooding back. Then remembering how he could so easily turn on the charm when he wanted something, Hannah headed into the kitchen and placed a pod in the Keurig, determined to keep her composure. Forget the tea, she was definitely going to need coffee for this conversation.

‘That message was weeks ago though,’ she reiterated. ‘And you said you’d be in town for the tournament last month. I know you were. So why not come and see me then? Why now?’

Rob’s eyes softened and he did the puppy dog eyes thing.

Don’t fall for it, she warned herself.