I feel so tense I could explode. I’m so angry I could kick something. I’m angry at Gabe, and I’m angry at me for falling for his chat online.

And yet he didn’t seem like that. He wasn’t overly charming, he wasn’t flirty. He just seemed nice. Normal.

He just … Oh shit, what did I so nearly do? ‘What’s he doing to his kids, his family?’ I don’t wait for an answer. ‘Dad did that.’ I point wildly in the general direction Gabe has taken. ‘He didn’t give a monkey’s arse about us.’ Okay he probably didn’t go out looking for people on Tinder, but he did take every opportunity he could when he was working. He just did whatever he wanted. Took whatever was offered. In my heart I know he did. Even though at the time in my head I was always giving him excuses.

‘Un-fucking-believable. Gavin. Bloody Gavin. I’m going after him, I’m going to tell him who I am, show him his poxy messages.’ I need to hurl every insult I didn’t throw at Dad at him.

‘Rosie, hang on.’ Noah catches my arm. ‘Just hang on a sec, let’s think this through.’ He puts his hands on my shoulders. ‘He’s got his kids with him, I mean his daughter, she’ll …’ He pulls me closer. ‘She’ll understand, or at least hear it. It’s not fair, is it?’ His voice is soft, and when I look up, his gaze is even softer. Worried. ‘We need to do this right.’

I deflate abruptly as his words sink in. ‘You can let go. I won’t run after him.’ My words slightly muffled against his torso. He’s right. I also can’t stay in his arms. I’m getting all hot and bothered again; the blood is pounding in my cheeks and all I can think about is nestling in for a while and letting him hold me while I hang on like I never want to let go.

It’s not right. I can’t. I wriggle. ‘Promise. No way would I want to upset his kids.’

He lets go. I make a big fuss of brushing myself down and straightening myself out so that I’ve got time to get my pulse rate down to a normal level.

Kissing Noah was so such a bad idea.

His skin is so smooth, like velvet draped over a hard rock. Oh hell, I’m going all mushy and dramatic.

I’m all over the place with the shock of seeing Gabe, with knowing he’s not just some stupid guy who doesn’t turn up for dates, knowing he’s a married man. With the kick in the gut that he’s yet another man just like my dad. With kissing Noah.

I need to get control.

‘Get a grip, Rosie.’ I mutter under my breath.

‘Are you okay?’ Noah tucks the hair behind my ear which makes me flinch away.

‘Fine.’ Oops that might have been a bit snappy. ‘Sure, thanks. I am fine, just in shock.’

‘I’m sorry you had to … It was bad enough the git did what he did to you, without you finding out he …’