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on a date without having to ask her? He didn’t like emotional stuff, so she knew he’d shy away from the words; but this definitely felt like more than a thank you. More like the fact that he wanted to be with her. Some time for just the two of them. Together.

      Unless she was projecting her own wants on him and seeing what she wanted to see...

      When she looked at her menu, she noticed that there were no prices. In her experience, this meant the food was seriously expensive. And it made her antsy.

      She coughed. ‘Dylan, there aren’t any prices on my menu.’

      He spread his hands. ‘And?’

      She bit her lip. ‘I’m used to paying my way.’

      ‘Not on this occasion. I’m taking you out to lunch to say thank you.’

      So not a date, then. She tried not to feel disappointed.

      ‘Just as you took me out to dinner,’ he reminded her.

      ‘But when I took you out, it wasn’t somewhere as swish as this.’

      He sighed. ‘Emmy, if you’re worrying about the bill, then please don’t. I can afford this. My business is doing just fine—and, thanks to this new contract, it’s going to be doing even better. I couldn’t have got this contract without your help, so please let me say thank you.’

      ‘Can I at least buy the wine?’ she asked.

      ‘No. This one is all on me. And, I don’t know about you, but I’ve got to the stage where I fall asleep if I drink at lunchtime, so I was going to suggest champagne by the glass.’ His eyes crinkled at the corners. ‘But I might let you buy me a crêpe later.’

      A crêpe. Which would only cost a couple of Euros, whereas she was pretty sure the bill here was going to be nearer half a month’s mortgage payment for her. ‘I feel really guilty about this.’

      ‘Don’t. I’m doing it because I want to treat you. So enjoy it. What would you like for lunch?’

      Protesting any more would be churlish. Emmy scanned the menu. ‘It’s all so fantastic, I don’t know what to choose. I’m torn between lobster and asparagus.’

      ‘We could,’ he said, ‘order both—and share them.’

      Now it was starting to feel like a date again. And that made her all quivery inside. ‘Sounds good,’ she said.

      She actually enjoyed sharing forkfuls of starter with him. Especially as it gave her an excuse to look at his mouth as much as she liked. And she noticed he was looking at her mouth, too. As if he wanted to kiss away a stray crumb and make her forget the rest of the meal.

      Oh, help. She really had to keep a lid on this.

      After that, she had crayfish with satay and lime, and he chose lamb.

      ‘Look at this. It’s beautifully cooked and beautifully presented,’ she said. ‘I can see exactly why they have a Michelin star. This is sublime.’

      He chuckled, and she narrowed her eyes at him. ‘What’s so funny?’

      ‘That you’re such a foodie—and, um, in the kitchen...’

      She rolled her eyes. ‘Yeah, yeah. I’m never going to live that monkfish down. You’ll still tease me about it when we’re ninety.’

      Oh, help. Had she really said that? Implied that they were going to be together forever and ever?

      ‘Yes. I will,’ he said softly, and it suddenly made it hard for her to breathe.

      She fell back on teasing. Just to defuse the intensity before she said something really, really clueless. ‘I could point out that this is a bit of a pots and kettles conversation, given that you’re clearly a foodie and you’re about the same as I am in the kitchen.’

      He laughed. ‘I admit my monkfish would’ve been just as terrible. But you’re right. This is sublime. Try it.’ He offered her a forkful of lamb.

      ‘Mmm. And try this.’ She offered him some crayfish.

      ‘So are you going to tell me that lunch in Paris was the best idea ever?’ he prompted.

      ‘That,’ she said, ‘depends on the dessert.’

      They scanned the menu when they’d finished. ‘How can you not order madeleines in France?’ she asked with a smile.

      ‘When there’s chocolate soufflé on the menu,’ he retorted, and she laughed.

      Again they shared tastes of each other’s pudding, and she enjoyed making him lean over to reach the spoon—especially when he retaliated and did likewise.

      ‘That was fantastic,’ she said when the meal was over. ‘A real treat. I admit, yes, it’s the best idea ever. Thank you so much.’

      ‘My pleasure. I enjoyed it, too.’

      And his smile reached his eyes; he wasn’t just being polite.

      They spent the rest of the afternoon browsing in little boutiques. Again, he held her hand; and again, neither of them commented on it.

      Emmy bought a box of shiny macaroons for her mother. ‘And I think we should go to a toy shop, so we can bring something more than just a beret back for Ty.’

      Dylan smiled. ‘He probably hasn’t even noticed we’re gone. Unless that’s just a flimsy excuse for toy shopping, Ms Jacobs.’

      ‘It’s a really flimsy excuse,’ she said with a grin. ‘I love toy shops.’

      ‘I’d already noticed that,’ he said, ‘given how much Tyler’s toy box seems to have grown recently.’ He checked on his phone to find the nearest toy shop, and when they looked along the shelves Emmy was thrilled to discover a soft plush teddy bear with a beret and stripy shirt. ‘This is perfect,’ she said, and gave Dylan an arch look. ‘Beret and stripy shirt. Hmm.’

      He laughed. ‘Don’t you dare call it Dylan.’

      ‘Spoilsport,’ she teased.

      ‘You know, we’ll have to bring Ty to Paris when he’s a little older. He’ll love seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night,’ Dylan said.

      Making plans for the future, she thought. Neither of them had said it. This was too new, too fragile. But she was beginning to think that there was a future...

      * * *

      When they’d finished shopping, Dylan allowed Emmy to buy him a coffee before they headed back to the Gare du Nord to catch the train to London.

      Back in London, Emmy shivered when they came out of the Tube station and pulled her pashmina closer round her. ‘I wish I’d brought a proper coat with me, now. It’s colder than I expected.’

      ‘Have my jacket,’ he offered, starting to shrug it off.

      ‘No, because then you’ll be cold. And it’s only a few minutes until we get home.’

      ‘I’ll call a taxi.’

      ‘By the time it gets here, we could’ve walked home,’ she pointed out.

      ‘OK. Then let’s do it this way.’ He put his arm round her shoulders, drawing her close to him.

      Oh, help. Her skin actually tingled where he touched her. And the whole thing sent her brain into such a flutter that she couldn’t utter a word until he opened the front door and ushered her inside.

      Her mum greeted them warmly. ‘Did you have a good time?’

      ‘The best,’ Emmy said. ‘Oh, and these are for you.’ She handed her mother the bag from the patisserie. ‘How’s Tyler?’

      ‘Asleep, and he’s been absolutely fine all day.’ She hugged them both. ‘I’ll call you tomorrow.’

      ‘Thanks

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