‘This is truly impressive. No wonder you get all the history questions at Trivia Night right.’

Danny invited her to sit on the sofa. Around the room Nicole saw intricately woven wall-hangings and photos of fishing villages and ornate temples, and pictures of what she assumed was a school, with children playing soccer in the dirt. If Danny took the photos himself, he was a very good photographer.

Her gaze stopped on a photo of Danny outside the school surrounded by a bunch of barefoot children, their grins beaming. The name of the school was written in two languages, though the English was mostly obscured by Danny’s head. There were dozens of photos of the same school on every wall.

‘I’m in awe,’ she said. ‘I might have to rent this space from you as my own personal library if I ever need to do any research.’

‘You’re always welcome,’ he said. ‘Free of charge, even. But, that’s not what you came over for, is it? Books?’

‘Actually, yes,’ Nicole said. ‘I came to give you this. A thank you.’ She held out the gift she’d brought, but suddenly felt foolish. Pillars of the Earth would pale in comparison to the texts they were surrounded by.

‘There’s no need to thank me.’ Danny put the gift down and looked deeply into Nicole’s eyes. ‘Is everything all right?’

Danny’s steady gaze unsettled her more than she was prepared for. ‘Yes.’

‘Good.’ He leaned closer to her, the distance between them suddenly very small.

He reached his hand up and touched her cheek.

Nicole’s breathing quickened. The force of the pull towards him was nothing she’d ever experienced before. Such physical desire – thrilling, frightening. He moved his hand behind her head. She couldn’t move. She wasn’t sure she wanted to. Gently he pulled her towards him, his soft lips tasting hers.

A strange sensation, a wonderful sensation, shuddered up between her hips as Danny drew her closer.

She raised her hands to his chest and felt his heart pounding. Just like hers. She gasped.

He slowed his kisses, ever so slightly, and she pulled back, breathing heavily.

Danny leaned forward and gently she pressed her fingers into his lips, stopping his advance.

‘I didn’t mean to …’ He had trouble catching his breath.

‘It’s okay.’ Nicole smiled. ‘I just think maybe we need to take this slowly.’ She reached out and squeezed his hand.

‘I can do slow.’ He turned her hand over and kissed her palm. ‘Pancakes?’

Nicole frowned.

Danny hauled himself off the sofa. ‘Pancakes are slow. Ish. And I haven’t had breakfast yet. Will you join me?’

They moved around his kitchen, cracking eggs, pouring milk, whisking batter. Each time their hands touched, Nicole felt the heat tingle over her skin.

‘Here,’ Danny said. ‘Add this.’ He handed her some cinnamon.