‘Look at you mixing with the rich and famous,’ Jack teased.

‘Oh, you’re a fine one to talk. If you don’t behave, I might start introducing you as the Honourable Jack Coulsdon-Hart.’

‘You wouldn’t dare.’

I looked up and met his gaze, closer to it now with the five-inch heels.

‘Do you really want to try me on that?’

A smile tilted one side of his lips upward as he looked back at me, the gaze unwavering.

‘I’m in two minds. Part of me thinks you’d never dare, but there’s another part of me that knows somewhere in there is a woman who would not hesitate in doing that, just to show me not to take her for granted.’

I gave him a quick raise of my eyebrows, knowing that I would never do that to him anyway. But it was fun to pretend, even though I was pretty sure he knew the truth.

‘Would it really bother you?’

‘Tonight? Not really. I don’t think anyone would even remember.’

‘I’m pretty sure quite a few people would. You’re fairly hard to forget.’

‘Was that a compliment?’

‘It was an observation.’

Moments later, we were ushered into the theatre itself for the actual screening. My stomach twisted suddenly with nerves. I’d lived with this book a long time and got to know the characters so well. They felt like friends. I always knew that handing them over in a sale of the dramatic rights meant that they were no longer mine, but I’d never been in the position before to see the outcome of that. Now I was about to and could only hope that Bella’s love of the book, and her endeavour to keep it as true as I’d been led to believe she wanted to, had been enough to convince the money men at the studios to do so. Either way, I was about to find out, as the lights dimmed around us and the curtain rose.

‘I know you’re really trying not to cry because of the make-up,’ Jack whispered close to my ear as the lights came up, ‘but I’m hoping those are happy tears you’re keeping back.’

I nodded, unable to speak. My worries had been unfounded, and the book had been turned into the most beautiful film, with Bella portraying the heroine of the novel in the best and most sensitive way I could have ever hoped for. My agent and the fabulous team from my publisher all came towards me, clapping and looking as pleased as I was with the outcome, exchanging more hugs and frantically dabbing at make-up in the hope of keeping it in check before filing out.

‘What did you think?’ Bella rushed towards me, her face suddenly looking younger and slightly insecure. ‘Did you like it?’

‘I really did,’ I replied honestly. ‘I absolutely loved it. You did an amazing job and totally captured the heroine as I imagined her when I was writing the book.’