She was ready with a retort about a bed to herself, but the touch of Nick’s warm skin against hers felt too good. ‘I can take care of myself,’ she replied, letting her hands explore his arms, his chest, his neck. She stroked a thumb across his smiling mouth before covering his face with the palm of her hand. In one quick move, she had pushed Nick over and climbed on top so their positions were reversed.

The mattress shook as Nick laughed, but he didn’t laugh for long as she kissed the breath out of him. He groaned as she explored his body, making it fit hers, forcing his movements to match her own until she was satisfied.

Sliding off him, Faith propped herself up on her elbow and looked down at Nick.

‘How’s your head now?’ he asked.

‘Better.’

‘You’re one amazing woman, Faith,’ Nick said. ‘I’ve never met anyone like you.’

‘I’m not like Erin?’

‘No, not at all. Erin was …’

‘Go on,’ Faith encouraged. ‘I want to hear.’

Nick’s eyes narrowed as he gave the question some consideration. ‘She was easy-going, thoughtful, forgiving. Without doubt she was the kindest soul I ever had the privilege to know,’ he said. Seeing Faith raise an eyebrow, he added quickly, ‘I’m not saying you don’t have those qualities. You were ready to set aside our plans last night and go to whoever it was that needed you. You’re kind, and you’re loyal.’

Faith was proud of the fact that she had refused to share the sordid details of April’s predicament despite Nick’s probing the evening before. ‘You didn’t mention easy-going,’ she said.

Dimples appeared in Nick’s cheeks. ‘I’m sure Justine would agree that you can be quite … forthright?’

‘I don’t suffer fools.’

‘I’ll take that as a warning,’ he said, lifting his hand to cup her cheek. ‘I like you, Faith, and although you’re trying hard to disguise it, I suspect you like me too. It could do us both good to get to know each other better.’

‘We’ll see.’

Letting his arm drop back onto the pillow behind him, Nick’s supplicant pose was deliberate. ‘I’ll take that as progress,’ he said. ‘Now, as I recall, I was told I could only stay over if I left early. Have you done with me? Do you want me to leave?’

He was testing her and she didn’t know how to respond. ‘Don’t you have work to do?’

‘I need to confirm the schedule with my drivers, and I have my first pick up at five, but I’m otherwise free. I was planning to go for a long run if you fancied joining me?’

‘If you’re looking for a running partner, you’ve come to the wrong place,’ she said, recalling she had once thought April a better match.