He put his hands gently on her face, and Minnie had that funny feeling she’d had so often before, that Quinn Hamilton might be about to kiss her. This time she was right. He leant over and gently pressed his lips to hers. His mouth was tender but firm; his hand stroked her hair down around her cheek. Her skin fizzed with electricity and Minnie had to reach backwards for a wall to support herself.

After a few blissful minutes, Quinn pulled away, sniffing the air, his nose wrinkly.

‘Do you smell curry sauce?’

‘It’s me. It’s all over my trousers – it’s been an eventful evening.’

Minnie shivered. She’d got so cold her body was finding it hard to warm up. Quinn rubbed his hands up and down her arms.

‘Maybe I’ll just have a quick shower to warm up and de-curry? Then I’ll be right with you. Hold this thought!’

The hot water scorched her skin and she watched her belly go pink under the stream. The heat was heavenly. Quinn knocked on the bathroom door. Minnie turned, nervously clutching her hands around her body. Was he coming in? Would he be that bold?

‘Oh I, er, I just wanted to check you didn’t actually call the police,’ Quinn called out.

‘Oh, no,’ she called back. ‘I didn’t. That’s just what I shout when I think a burglar is chasing me down the street.’

‘OK, good, just checking. Sorry to disturb.’ His voice sounded nervous. Minnie smiled to herself.

What was going to happen now? Was she going to go out there, kiss him again and pick up from where they’d left off the last time he’d been in her flat? She closed her eyes under the water. She wanted that, of course, but she also felt nervous – could anything live up to the expectation?

She dried herself in the shower and crept through to the bedroom. She wanted to get changed rather than talk to him with nothing but a towel between them. She threw on her warmest clothes; a green polo neck and yesterday’s jeans, then she went through to the living room. Quinn was sitting on the sofa with Lucky on his lap.

She sat down next to him, suddenly acutely aware of the empty Malteser packets, and the looming face of Margaret Thatcher on her TV screen where she’d paused The Iron Lady.

‘Minnie, I am so glad you called tonight. These last few months without seeing you … ’ He trailed off and put a hand up to her face, pulling her gaze to meet his.