I am confused. Very confused. I also feel that my mother has set down the gauntlet as they say. She’s in a feisty mood today, and if I refuse to dance with Noah, she might get even worse. And what did she mean by ‘settlement’?

‘Oh look, there’s Donald! Give me a moment, darling, you circulate, I’ll come back and explain properly later. I’m sure we’ll get a moment before you go. Donald, Donald!’ She waves madly and is off at the double. I don’t know how she balances and manages to look fabulous in those heels. I think I need to ask for lessons.

‘Wow, I thought you were direct, sexy and a force to be reckoned with, I can see where you got it from now.’ Noah puts a mock startled look on his face, and I laugh. ‘Great cocktails though.’

I take a big gulp of mine, then realise the error of my ways. By the time I’ve stopped spluttering Noah and I seem to have been squeezed against the wall by the crowds queueing for the buffet.

‘You look like you need another?’ He expertly lifts two more glasses off the tray of a passing waiter, and I drink the second one a little more cautiously.

‘I haven’t got a clue what’s in this, but it’s pretty potent!’ It is, I’ve not eaten all day and it has gone straight to my head.

I look at Noah and all of a sudden all I can smell is him.

His grey-blue gaze is fixed on me.

‘Okay?’

‘Fine.’ I whisper back.

I want to kiss him. I have to kiss him again. Just once more.

‘Dance?’

‘I’m okay here.’ I don’t want to move. I don’t want to end this moment, in case I never get it back again.

‘You’re swaying.’

‘I like this track.’ I can’t help myself.

‘Cool.’ He offloads the glasses, and both his hands are on my waist.

I really want to kiss him. I want, I need, to know if that feeling I got when I assaulted him in the park, used him as a Gabe diversion, was real. If our kiss in the bar was as eye-wateringly good as I thought it was.

I’ve dreamed of that moment our lips touched; I’ve fantasised about what would have come next if Gabe hadn’t stopped and talked to him. I’ve tormented myself and convinced myself it just seems like it was incredible because he’s forbidden fruit. I can’t have him, and that has to be why I think it was so good.

‘I like your mum, she’s cool.’

‘I know.’ His shirt is so light, I can feel the warmth of his skin beneath my palm, feel the beat of his heart. ‘She is.’

‘And beautiful, like you. I meant that, when I said it earlier. I wasn’t just flirting.’

His eyes have darkened and it’s so sexy I honestly feel like I’ve stopped breathing. How can he make me lose the power to breathe just by looking at me?