This may not be a ground-breaking start to my new, improved life, but at least I’m doing something. I am going to do great things with the rest of my years on this planet. I haven’t quite decided what yet. But something. Something that doesn’t involve rocking chairs and knitting. Something out of the ordinary. This is my decision. I have no special skills. I’ve had no awe-inspiring experiences. My life, so far, has been singularly lacking in heady sensation. All that will change. I’m going to look at Jake’s leaving as some sort of unexpected liberation from drudgery. Honestly, I am. I gasp some hot air into my labouring lungs. But for now, I’m going to concentrate on keeping up with this bloody machine.

Jake and Neve were pulling hard, side by side on rowing machines, and Jake realised that he’d have to make certain adjustments to his concept of togetherness. He’d learned already that he had absolutely no way of beating Neve, so the only way to ever get to spend any time with her was to join her. When he was with Lyssa, he’d always felt guilty about the amount of time he devoted to his chosen sports. Now the boot was on the other foot and Neve seemed to suffer no such pangs. She was utterly single-minded in her dedication to her goal and no one, least of all a sulky boyfriend, was about to get in her way.

Neve was panting rather attractively, perfectly placed sweat staining her grey designer sports vest. She was a stunning woman. And stunningly competitive too. Jake’s arms were killing him and his chest was burning and tightening, but Neve was showing no signs of letting up. There was no way he could let a girl beat him. He gritted his teeth and kicked out.

‘We need to finish off the egg campaign tomorrow,’ he shouted over to her—more in an effort to distract her than out of a true desire to discuss work matters.

‘I did it this afternoon.’ Neve didn’t even glance up.

‘Oh,’ Jake said. He’d seen her with her head down at her desk, but it hadn’t crossed his mind to ask why. ‘Okay. We’ll look over it together in the morning and then pass it in to Alec for the once-over.’

Alec was the creative director. He was Pip’s boss and generally known as a hard bastard. Alec was the only person who could intimidate Jake without really trying. Perhaps it was because he always made him feel as if he tried too hard to impress him.

‘I saw him this afternoon,’ Neve said casually.

Jake stopped rowing—partly because he was about to die, partly because he was in shock.

Neve stopped too. She grabbed a towel and ran it over her neck and face. Suddenly, she caught Jake’s stunned gaze. ‘What?’