She blinked at him. ‘You can, but I can’t promise to answer it.’

‘What’s such a beautiful and intelligent woman like you doing here all on her own?’

‘That’s a simple one. I’m getting away from it all.’

‘Family?’

‘No. Only my elderly father. You?’

‘Two boys. You saw them at the dive centre.’

‘Nobody else?’

He shook his head. ‘I’m divorced. My ex returned to Norway after the legalities, ten years ago.’

‘Ah, I see. Sorry to be blunt. Just, best to know . . . you know?’ she said.

‘Are you?’

‘Not at all. I did fall in love a long time ago.’ She hesitated. ‘I was very young, sixteen. It broke my heart. I promised myself I’d never go through that pain again.’

‘And now, do you still feel the same way?’

‘I . . . I don’t know.’ Something seemed to have changed. She wanted to be honest, but couldn’t find the right words.

Harry drove her back to the port. ‘Thank you for a wonderful evening. I haven’t enjoyed myself so much in, I don’t know, twenty years,’ she said.

‘I would invite you for a nightcap, but with your birthday dive tomorrow morning, it wouldn’t be sensible. So, I’ll walk you to your room, and leave you to get a good night’s sleep.’

Outside her room, he asked, ‘You do have your key?’

‘Yes,’ she said, lifting it from her pocket.

‘Then I will kiss you goodnight, if I may.’

With her back against the door, she tilted her face up and closed her eyes. She felt vulnerable, yet at the same time, totally safe in his embrace. His lips brushed hers, lightly at first, then she felt his hands slide behind her back, and he gently pulled her closer as he kissed her again. As passion gathered, their chemistry strengthened and melded to become an ever-brighter flame. A fiery spark ignited a blaze of passion and suddenly she longed for him to stay the night, and she understood that was his desire too.

‘I want you to stay,’ she whispered.

‘You know I want to. With all my heart, I want you.’ He kissed her again and his body hardened against her. ‘But the dive, we need to conserve our energy and get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow is the only chance you’ll get and I know you’ll regret missing it. So, let’s make a date for tomorrow evening, shall we?’

She melted against him, ached for his body. His lips came down on hers once more. She wanted him so badly she was almost trembling.

‘If I stay another moment, I won’t have the strength or will power to leave,’ he said, kissing her lightly on the mouth. He turned and started walking away and she willed herself from calling him back. She let herself into the room, went straight to the balcony, and watched him drive away.

*