‘You?’

‘Shake, shake, shake your booty, KC and the Sunshine Band. You’ll have to get used to Mum’s music taste if you’re going to date her daughter! Though I think she’s more into Bob Marley at the moment.’

‘Was it better than Tina Turner?’

‘Nowhere near,’ I say, blushing.

He chuckles. ‘She was right.’

‘Who was?’

‘Tina! You are simply the best.’

‘My God, you are smooth.’

‘I’m being sincere, can’t you tell? Have I told you yet you look beautiful?’

‘Not yet.’

He twirls a strand of my hair in his fingers. It sends a tingle to my scalp. A shiver down my spine.

‘You look amazing, Rosie. You’re gorgeous.’ He smiles, breaking the moment that might have turned into a kiss. Damn.

‘Even with the paint.’ He grins. ‘Good enough to kiss, but I’m trying not to lose control.’

‘Selfish.’

‘Not yet. I want this date to be a good one, you deserve a good one.’ He leans in then, and drops the sweetest kiss on my lips, then draws back again. ‘You have no idea how hard this is.’ He groans. ‘Pity me!’

I laugh. Put my hands on his knees, let my thumbs drift over his inner thigh. ‘Were you really desperate at the party?’

‘This far,’ he gestures with thumb and finger, ‘from dragging you off and stripping you naked.’

‘Do you still want to do that?’

He nods.

Suddenly it hits me that I am not afraid of sleeping with another man. I am not worried about how I will cope with a penis I have not met before, or whether I will do things wrong. Noah will make sure it is right.

‘Well maybe we should then?’

He chuckles. ‘You’re totally out to ruin my plan, aren’t you?’

‘Plans are made to be changed, or something like that.’

‘True.’

‘Needs must!’

‘Oh my God you are such a turn on, stop teasing, I’m going to have to hold a cushion over my crotch!’

I snigger. I can’t help it.

So we pay the bill, and call a taxi.

***

‘Surprise!’

This is not how I expected our arrival at Noah’s place to pan out. I had visions of clothes strewn up the stairs, of passionate kisses, of tripping up as we took our knickers off.

Not this.

A dog.

I stare at Noah. ‘This was your plan all along, to come back here!’

‘Well yeah, just not quite as quick. You kind of fast-forwarded things.’ He holds his hands up. ‘Not that I’m complaining.’

‘But, but …’

Hugo is sitting in the hallway, on his favourite cushion. He has a bow tie around his neck, and a resigned look on his face.

‘What on earth?’

He whines, so we both go over and sit down beside him, and he wags his whiplash tail and gazes at Noah adoringly.

‘Was it safe to leave him here on his own?’

‘Ophelia was here, left as we came up the driveway! I wanted to make sure he’d be okay. He’s on his best behaviour!’