‘Yes, I have seen Luc naked, for your information, but only during an argument ages ago when he was making a point in a very childish way. The low-down, as you’re going this low, is that he’s physically perfect, as you might expect given the face. Six-pack, those nice little dimples between each hip and the curve of his butt cheek as he walks. His skin’s more than just tanned; it’s quite a smokey colour on his body. Good chest and nice arms, not excessively built up but well defined. You can see the different layers of muscles. Strong thighs, broad and flat at the top. And that line of hair that goes up from groin to the base of the stomach, like an invitation. You know?’ She smiled into her empty glass.

‘Waiter!’ Natasha called. ‘Bring us four more of these, please.’ She pointed at the empty glasses on the table. ‘That’s quite the picture. Thank you.’

‘You did ask,’ Ava said smugly.

‘I did, and your answer confirms everything I thought. You’ve thought about every inch of him. In detail. You’ve run it through your mind. No hesitation, no uncertainty. It’s all flattering. Some of it was actually quite nauseating. Did you stop to wonder how he felt about having you in bed with him?’

Ava considered it.

‘It was his idea that I stayed. There was no point either of us sleeping on the couch, so it seemed like the natural thing to do to share the bed. He’s just got out of a relationship with a goddess, so it’s pretty obvious the only emotion he’d have had looking at me would have been pity.’

‘God, you’re stupid!’ Natasha said. ‘I mean, I love you, you know that, but you are outstandingly dense when it comes to your personal life. How the hell did you ever become a detective?’

‘Excuse me?’

‘You haven’t noticed the way he looks at you? How possessive he is around you? How angry he gets when you’re in danger? I’m willing to bet quite a lot of money on the fact that he didn’t sleep at all. I reckon he just lay there staring at you all night, maybe stroking your hair a bit, or …’

‘That’s enough! Did the leg waxing also strip out your intellect? Luc has never made a pass at me. He’s never implied that he’s interested in me. After two nights in his bed, I can tell you that he didn’t lay a finger on me. If we weren’t such good friends, I might actually have been insulted; although, to be fair, I’m not looking my best …’

‘Well, the leg forest would have put me off, too.’

‘Fuck you,’ Ava said, taking the next drink off the tray before the waiter could set it on the table.