I don’t. But I get it, seeing the look on his face. ‘You’re really close, aren’t you? It must be nice.’

‘We are, though we don’t always see that much of each other. But I know she’s there for me, and I think she feels the same. Her and Dan make a good team.’

‘So, it is possible.’

‘What?’

‘A happy ever after!’

‘Ahh, that.’ He studies his glass, then fixes his attention back on me. It should be unnerving, being inspected so closely, but it isn’t. He raises his eyebrows and gives me a twisted smile. ‘I guess it is, when all the planets align, and all that stuff. Possible, but not very good odds.’

‘I guess you can shift them in your favour.’

‘But fate has the final word. Another?’

I nod. Watch him at the bar. Not flirting. Despite the girl who is standing next to him making a comment. It’s odd. He just smiles politely then turns away. I’ve not really watched him when we’ve been out together, but now I think about it he has never flirted with anyone else. Smiled charmingly maybe, been polite. But never messed around, even though we weren’t on dates.

A man you can maybe trust not to cheat on you, a man who always leaves with the girl he arrives with.

His long legs covering the ground between us easily, his gaze never shifting from me.

‘So, enough about the serious stuff, my lovely Rosie-Posie.’ He puts the drinks down, and this time comes to sit next to me. ‘Shall we resume the lesson of the day? We’ve done the talking to death, so let’s do this bit. Part one,’ he turns so that he’s half-facing me, ‘the smile.’ I nod, the corners of his generous mouth lift. Just enough. ‘The first touch.’ He tucks a tendril of hair behind my ear and sends a delicious shiver of anticipation down my spine. His fingers trail with the gentlest of touches over my cheek, until the tip of his ring finger rests on my lip. He studies my mouth for an age. I dampen my dry lips. ‘Is it okay, if I …?’

I swallow hard and I know my lips have parted, I know I can’t stop myself from leaning in. But I can’t speak, I can barely nod.

And then he does.

He kisses me.

The contact is so gentle, so light at first it is more of a caress than a kiss.

His fingers cradle my cheek.

His body is warm against mine.

I’m holding my breath, waiting in case he pulls back. But he doesn’t. His teeth tease at my bottom lip, tentative at first then more demanding. And then his mouth covers mine properly.

It can only have lasted seconds, a minute at most, but I feel dazed.

I run my fingers through my hair and blink. His eyes are dark.

‘Oh Rosie.’ His voice is husky as he strokes his thumb over my lips, then moves away. He shakes his head. ‘You do know this will never work, don’t you? It can’t, not properly, not long—’