‘I’ve always believed that rules are there to be broken.’ Alex’s voice was rough and his hands tightened on hers. ‘Jenny, I need to tell you a few things about myself. Things I’ve never shared with anyone apart from my sisters.’

She lay still, hardly daring to breathe, wondering what was coming. It was so unlike Alex to talk about himself. And it was obviously a struggle for him.

‘My parents had the worst marriage you can imagine,’ he said flatly. ‘They fought, argued and my father had a string of very public affairs which my mother chose to ignore.’

Jenny held onto his hand. ‘And you witnessed it all?’

‘Fortunately the girls and I were sent to boarding school from a very young age.’

Fortunately?

Her heart contracted as she imagined what it must have been like for a small boy to be sent away from home. Away from all family contact. ‘That must have been awful for you.’

‘Awful?’ He gave a bitter laugh. ‘Actually, it was an escape from hell. It was the holidays that were awful but I usually managed to wangle myself an invite to a friend’s house.’

Jenny looked at him helplessly. No wonder he was so fiercely independent. He’d been managing on his own from an age when most children were still utterly dependent on their parents.

‘Is that the reason you’ve never wanted to commit to one woman?’ she asked softly. ‘Because you think that all marriages are like your parents’?’

He shook his head. ‘No. I know that all marriages aren’t like that. Libby and Katy are prime examples. They’re both crazily in love with their respective partners. I just never thought that marriage was for me. Before today I never saw the point, to be honest. I always believed that marriage just forces people to stay together, who shouldn’t be together, and sometimes children are caught in the crossfire.’

Before today?

What did he mean, before today?

Squashing down the tiny bud of hope which started to bloom inside her, Jenny hardly dared to breathe. ‘What’s different today?’

Alex released her hands and cupped her face, looking deep into her eyes. ‘Today,’ he said softly, ‘was the day you tried to drive out of my life. Today was the day that I finally understood why people get married. Today I finally discovered what people mean by the word “love”. It’s what I feel for you, Red Riding Hood.’

Jenny stared at him, mute. He couldn’t be saying what she thought he was saying. She must have misunderstood.

‘Alex?’

Her voice was a wistful croak and he lowered his head and kissed her gently on her parted lips. ‘Jenny, I want to be that man in Daisy’s life. And I want to be the man in your life. One night isn’t enough, and three months won’t be either.’

She stared at him. He wanted Daisy? He wanted her?

‘Are you going to say something?’ His blue gaze was suddenly intense. ‘Last night you said you loved me, Jenny. Did you mean it? Do you mean it enough to marry me?’