‘And what does a bodyguard look like?’

Melissa was thinking of a Rambo-type character, but Ray definitely didn’t look like Sylvester Stallone.

‘Well . . .’ She stalled. She didn’t want to offend him and scare him off just as she was getting to know him.

‘I do more strategic work,’ he said, saving her blushes. ‘My company engages me to look after high-worth individuals and I put together plans based on where they are going and what the risks might be.’

Melissa was impressed. She didn’t even know that was a thing.

‘So who do you guard, like?’ she asked. ‘Would I have heard of any of them?’

‘Probably,’ said Ray. ‘But I can’t tell you. It’s totally confidential. I wouldn’t be much of a security consultant if I told anyone who asked the details of what I was doing, would I?’

Melissa wanted to say that she wasn’t just ‘anyone’, but she took his point. And Ray had suddenly become even more attractive. Who else had a boyfriend who did secret work as a bodyguard?

‘So do you work in an office, then?’ she asked.

Ray shook his head. ‘I work contracts, so I’m on duty when the clients are away from their homes. I travel with them to make sure everything is secure. Then, when they’re safely back home, so am I.’

‘And the money’s good doing that, is it?’ Melissa couldn’t believe she’d just asked him such a personal question, but he didn’t seem at all fazed.

‘You won’t find me complaining,’ he said. ‘It can be a bit inconvenient being away so much, but the pay more than makes up for it.’

Melissa really wanted to see him again. She started taking a little bit more care when she got ready for work, picking out her newer blouses and adding an extra coat of mascara so that her eyelashes curled better. Each night when Gary called time and Ray had failed to show, she had to make a conscious effort not to be disappointed. There was no reason for him to come back, she told herself, except to see her. She let herself hope that she would be a big enough draw on her own.

And it appeared that she was, for there he was again, turning up just as they were calling time. Melissa’s heart leapt but she tried to keep her face neutral. It wouldn’t do to let him know just how pleased she was to see him.

‘Whisky?’ she asked, even though she probably shouldn’t be serving him now, but Ray shook his head.

‘No, thanks,’ he said. ‘I don’t like to rush my liquor. I wouldn’t say no to a quick after-work cup of tea, though.’

He winked at her. His eyes were almost exactly the same honeyed tone as his hair and they drew her in despite her best intentions.