I turned and there Dylan was. I looked up at him, not quite believing who I was seeing. He looked even broader and taller than I remembered. His dark beard had grown slightly wild and he looked as tired as me, dark circles beneath his dark eyes. There was a bruise on his cheek, turned yellow with age. And he was handsome, so bloody handsome, dressed in a thick black polo neck jumper and blue jeans.

We took each other in, oblivious to everyone around us.

‘Dylan!’ Cole said as he hugged his brother. ‘Did you know I was coming?’

‘Asher mentioned you’d made an appointment with his PA,’ Dylan said, his eyes still on me.

‘Mum’s stewing. You could have called,’ Cole said in a low voice only Dylan and I could hear.

Dylan dragged his eyes away from me and turned his attention to his brother. ‘I’m sorry. I should have got in touch. I just needed to get away. I was planning to explain during the meeting tomorrow.’

Cole shrugged. ‘It doesn’t matter, no explanation needed. Just good to see you again. So you came right here?’

Dylan nodded, his eyes on me again. ‘I got in touch with Asher to see if he had any work for me. He’d mentioned some land he had.’ He looked towards Asher, who was busy getting us all drinks. ‘It worked out pretty good.’

I tried not to stare too hard at him, but it was difficult. I’d really thought I’d never see him again.

‘You’ve been staying here, in the house?’ Cole asked.

‘Officially, yeah. But I’m at the farm mostly.’

‘Farm?’ Cole asked.

‘The land Asher owns. It’s not a working farm any more. You’d love it.’

Asher walked over then with three glasses of champagne on a small tray. ‘For my British guests. We haven’t been introduced,’ he said as he handed my glass to me.

‘Gwyneth,’ I said, taking a quick sip of my drink. I needed the alcohol to calm my nerves, aware of Dylan’s eyes never leaving my face.

‘Gwyneth makes wildlife documentaries,’ Cole said. ‘She’s very talented.’

Asher’s eyes lit up. ‘My wife will be delighted to hear that. She adores wildlife documentaries. I must tell her.’

He left the three of us alone again as he looked for his wife in the crowded room. Cole looked between Dylan and me then drained his glass. ‘Right, better get a refill,’ he said, walking away and leaving us alone.

Dylan and I stood in the crowded hallway facing each other, the smell of sawdust and whisky filling the air.

‘I’m sorry I just walked out like that,’ I started.

‘Without a word,’ Dylan said, voice hard.

‘I left that note. But you never called!’

‘What note?’

‘Before I left, on the bed! I left my number on it, told you to call me.’