‘Thank you, yes.’ Her expression was a mixture of amusement and curiosity.

‘Champagne?’ he guessed.

She shook her head. ‘Sparkling water.’

Ben raised his eyebrows in surprise. ‘OK …’

He stood up and as he did so, he suddenly remembered Matt sitting alone at a nearby table.

‘Oh! Matt … I’m just getting some more drinks in. You’re welcome to join us?’ He desperately hoped Matt would decline.

Matt responded with a knowing smirk and a shake of the head. ‘Thanks, but I’m going to call it a night.’ He drained the rest of his beer and stood up. ‘Have fun,’ he added, patting Ben on the back as he left the bar with a purposeful stride.

Ben was as quick as he could be getting their drinks, not wanting to leave Bella unattended for long, just in case someone else took his place. He breathed a sigh of relief when he returned to a still-empty chair.

‘Thank you.’ Bella picked up her glass and took a long sip. Ben did the same, watching her over the top of his beer bottle, mesmerized. Everything about her was perfect, even her hands.

‘So, Ben,’ she began, her huge, exotic eyes drawing him in like a magnet. ‘Are you single?’

Ben spluttered on his beer. ‘Um, yes. I am. Definitely. Single.’

Bella smiled. ‘Good.’

‘Are you?’ he countered, suddenly nervous.

Bella dropped her gaze. ‘I am.’

‘Good. And do you get hit on by lots of men who aren’t single?’ Ben could feel his hackles rising on her behalf.

Bella looked back up at him with a half-smile. ‘All the time. That’s why it was my first question.’

‘Ah. Well, it looks like you got lucky with me then!’ Ben tried to keep his tone jokey but found he was uncharacteristically nervous and he didn’t quite manage to pull it off.

Bella seemed not to notice. She flashed him a wide, dazzling smile. ‘It looks like I did.’

They chatted easily for a while, before Ben motioned to Bella’s glass. ‘Another drink?’

She tilted her head, causing the sheet of shiny black hair to slide over her shoulder in a sleek wave. ‘I’d prefer dinner,’ she said, with a mischievous glint in her eye.

Ben grinned. ‘So would I.’ Simultaneously, they pushed back their chairs and stood up. Standing, she was even more of a vision. Tall and slim, dressed in a dark green silky wrap dress and high-heeled strappy nude sandals, she walked confidently in front of him towards the door, as if she knew that the eyes of every man in the room were turning towards her as she passed. Already, Ben could feel a swell of pride that it was him she was with.

As they stepped out into the cool night air, she reached over to take his arm, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. ‘Where are we going?’ she asked, as they fell into step with each other.

Ben wondered for a moment if he was dreaming this whole episode, it seemed so surreal. He wasn’t used to picking up women in bars. In fact, he had never picked up a complete stranger before. And yet, it seemed so right, as if he already knew her from somewhere. There was no awkwardness or hesitation. It all had a strange inevitability about it. His mind raced, as he tried to give off an impression of cool insouciance. ‘I know a great place.’ He gave her what he hoped was a knowing smile and steered her in the direction of his favourite restaurant, praying that Nigel, the maître d’ would have a table.