‘Oh Noah.’ I reach over Hugo and take his hand.

‘But I didn’t mean am I right like that, I meant am I right for you? Do you want to try a second date?’

I nod. Slowly. Then squirm so that I’m on my knees and can raise myself up and lean closer to him. Put my hands on his face. ‘I think you might just be. You could be right, just this once, Noah Adams, you could be right.’ And then I kiss him.

It’s all a bit awkward, snogging over the top of a dog that has collapsed onto its side and is snoring loudly. It also makes me giggle, which kind of kills the sexy vibe a bit.

‘Did you ask me out again?’

He nods.

‘Just so I’m sure.’

‘And did you just say yes, or maybe, Rosie? Just so I’m sure.’

It is my turn to nod. To smile. To stare into his eyes and understand what Mum meant. ‘We couldn’t take this thing one step further, could we?’

He grins. The dirtiest grin ever, his eyes shining, his dimples so deep they make me want to touch them.

‘You have no idea how desperate I’ve been to hear you say that since we went into that flaming lingerie shop. It’s been torture!’

‘That was your idea!’

‘I know.’ He groans. ‘Worst one I’ve ever had! We couldn’t go again some time though, could we?’

I shake my head. ‘You’re so rude.’

‘Rude for you.’ He’s already on his feet, taking my hand, drawing me over the sleeping dog. Leading me towards the stairs. ‘Are you sure?’

***

‘Wow, that has to be the best first date ever!’ I say and stop staring at the ceiling. I roll over onto my side so that I can look at Noah properly.

He smiles. ‘Unrepeatable.’

‘Were you being serious about keeping Hugo?’

‘Definitely! Well, how can I not want to take care of him?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘He’s played an important part in all this; he’s my guardian angel.’ He grins. ‘I don’t think you would have agreed to meet up if you hadn’t had Hugo with you, would you?’

‘Maybe not.’ I smile. How did I ever think I didn’t want to date Noah?

‘And he persuaded me to get back in touch.’

‘Persuaded you! He’s a dog.’

‘Shhh. Keep your voice down, he’ll hear.’ He rolls over onto his side. Strokes the hair away from my face. ‘When I saw Hugo again all I could think about was you, how I’d walked away from the best woman I’d ever met. How I’d walked away from the one proper chance of falling in love with somebody who I was prepared to risk breaking my heart again for. He knew. He looked at me, looked at my phone. He wiggled his eyebrows.’ He does a fair imitation of a Great Dane wiggling his eyebrows, and I laugh.

‘You’re mad!’

‘I must be.’

‘You are right though—’