Then, naked in her double bed, Max was massaging her back with long firm strokes. Boy, was that good. She’d been really achy after a full day on her feet serving in the café, and from the last week’s painting, cleaning, cooking, chocolate crafting and more.

She could feel the tension starting to ebb away, her muscles beginning to relax and respond to his touch. Mmm, he was rather good at this. This was going in such a lovely, blissed-out, sensual direction.

She came to. It was getting light. Half-past seven on her wristwatch. What the …?

Emma opened her eyes. Max was there beside her, all warm, naked, and manly.

He must have sensed her movement, opened his eyes, saw her looking, smiled. ‘Morning, beautiful.’

‘Hi, gorgeous.’ But she couldn’t remember, what had happened before she fell asleep, had they? Curiosity got the better of her. ‘Uh, last night … did we?’ She’d been so looking forward to it.

‘Nope. I was giving you a massage and you fell asleep on me.’ He gave a wry grin.

‘Oops.’ How embarrassing.

‘Snoring and everything. I think you even dribbled at one point.’

‘Noooo.’ How mortifying. ‘I was just so shattered, though.’ She hid under the covers for a second. The shame. She resurfaced to find him laughing.

‘Had you for a second there, didn’t I?’

‘You swine.’ She launched a pillow at him.

‘I must admit, though, I really do need to rethink my foreplay technique if that’s the end result.’

‘Hah, well in that case you might just need to get some more practice in.’ She was grinning back at him now. They had time on their side. It was a Sunday. Yes, she had chocolates to make as always, but the shop didn’t open till midday on Sundays.

And he did get some more practice in – and it did not send her even remotely to sleep this time. In fact, he woke up every little nerve ending in her body and it was rather bloody amazing.

Max had to leave just after 9.00 a m., as he had to get down to a new building project in Jesmond. He’d missed breakfast, saying it was worth it with a cheeky smile, and mentioned there was a handy little coffee shop near the site which did the most amazing banana milkshakes, so he’d drop by there.

Emma found herself heading downstairs to the shop for the day with a big smile on her face, but already she’d started wondering when she might be seeing him next, and there was a strange sense of fear too. It had been so long since she’d opened up her heart. Yes, the sex was pretty damn amazing, but was she beginning to like this guy too much? Had she just got carried away with it all?

The next evening, she was in Bev’s kitchen, a glass of Pinot Grigio to hand.

‘Good weekend?’ Bev asked.