Minnie hesitated. She was tempted, but something about his cocky demeanour made her want to say no. Besides, it was New Year’s Day. In her experience it was never a good idea to say yes to anything on her birthday.

‘I’m sorry, I can’t,’ said Minnie briskly. ‘I need to get home and have a shower, and I need to find out what happened to my boyfriend. He’ll be worried about me.’

‘Sure,’ Quinn said, dropping his eyes to the ground and ruffling a hand through his thick hair. ‘Maybe another time?’

‘Maybe,’ said Minnie, picking up her bag to go.

‘You’re not seriously annoyed about the name thing, are you?’ Quinn asked. ‘It’s only a name.’

‘Maybe to you,’ said Minnie, shaking her hair out so that it covered more of her face.

They walked down to the main door of the club and Quinn opened the door to the street for her.

‘Listen, if you can’t do breakfast, can I at least get your number?’ he said. ‘If nothing else I need to get that membership card from you.’

‘Membership card?’

‘The First of January Club.’

‘Right. Well, you can find me pretty easily. There aren’t many Minnie Coopers on Facebook who don’t have cars as their profile picture.’

Minnie looked up at him. He was standing right next to her in the doorway, propping open the door for her to go through. She felt her arms prickle with goosebumps and she hugged them closer to her chest.

‘You don’t have a coat?’ he said.

‘I lost it on the way here.’

‘Let me lend you mine, you’ll freeze.’

‘No, I’m fine.’

Minnie tilted her head to one side; he hadn’t moved from the doorway. She felt strangely unnerved by his physical proximity. She was so close to him she could feel the heat radiating from his torso. She found herself breathing him in, the smell of hot skin and pressed cotton. She unconsciously wet her lips. It was a momentary gesture but he saw it and smiled. Minnie frowned then quickly ducked beneath his arm and skipped out onto the street. This man was clearly used to women wilting beneath his gaze. She doubted he’d ever been turned down for anything, least of all breakfast.

‘Well Happy Birthday, Name Stealer,’ she said as she turned to go.

‘You too, Birthday Twin,’ said Quinn, leaning against the door frame, his cheek dimpled in amusement.

Minnie darted across the street and up the small side road away from the club. She fought the urge to look back, to see if he was still watching her. As she crossed out onto the main road, the previously bright sky suddenly clouded over and giant raindrops began to fall.

1 January 2020