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She walked around to the other side of the darkened bar and, extracting Daniel’s usual bottle of brandy, added a generous amount to a freshly polished glass. Pushing it towards him, she leaned one elbow on the surface between them.

“So, what happened, Tiger?”

“I crashed and burned, as you so decorously put it. I wined and dined her and said all the right things. I swear, at one point, she was going to melt into a puddle, but when the moment came—when we were really into it—she forgot my name and said someone else’s.

Amber’s face screwed up into a grimace. “Ouch! Dare I ask who’s?”

“Joshua bloody Fox. The monk of Tottenbridge.”

Amber sucked the air in between her teeth. “That makes sense. He’s way more her style. No offence, Daniel, but she’s always struck me as too wholesome for you.”

“What do you mean? I’m everybody’s style, you know that. One only has to try a small sip to want an enormous glass of this.” He drew his arms down over his body, and Amber erupted into giggles.

“Apart from her,” she said.

Daniel huffed, his body slumping into the bar stool.

“Apart from Kitty.”

Amber’s eyes sparkled. “I mean, how could she resist?”

“Precisely. In all seriousness, though, I’m at a loss for what to do. None of my usual tactics has worked. I’ve never tried so hard.”

“Maybe that’s a clue for you. But why do you care so much? I’ve never seen you fretting so hard over a woman before. Usually, it’s onwards and upwards and into the knickers of the next.”

Daniel gave Amber a withering look.

“Maybe I’ve turned over a new leaf. Hung up my raffish ways.”

“I seriously doubt that, darling. She’s got under your skin, that’s all. It’s like a cold. You’ll get over it.”

“I don’t want to get over it.” Daniel took another sip of his drink.

“Well, I can’t stand you mooning around here anymore. If you’re going to come to work early, at least make yourself useful and order some wine. I’m going to check the champagne delivery.”

Amber reached out and gave him a friendly clap on the shoulder.

“You’ll be fine.”

She walked away towards the bistro room, and Daniel drained his glass. If he was going to be okay, why did he feel so terrible? Usually, if someone was such hard work, he’d lose interest, but nobody had ever challenged him the way Katherine Cameron did. There was something different about her.

He’d thought it was because she was unattainable, but now he wondered. Was it more? Could he have feelings for her? All he knew was he couldn’t stop thinking about the time they’d spent together, and the thought of her with Joshua Fox made his blood boil.He needed to convince her to give him another chance, but how?

Kitty still wanted to be friends. Okay, he could be a good friend. That seemed to have worked for the vet.

Daniel reached into his pocket and brought out his phone, sending a text to Kitty.

Daniel:I’m sorry for being a selfish prick last night. I’d love to stay friends. But I have a favour to ask. Still come to the ball with me? I need you to make me look good. D x

He hit the send button and thought of her face. The memory of her body lying under his. Last night, in her dress, she looked devastatingly gorgeous, and she’d wanted his touch in the restaurant. But then…the insult she’d delivered. What was a man to do?

Daniel’s phone buzzed on the bar, and Kitty’s name flashed on the screen. The speed of her reply was a good sign. She must be about to start her final interview. That he was in her thoughts in the middle of a momentous occasion pleased him.

Kitty: Sure. I’ll still go with you. I’m sorry, too. x

A smile grew on Daniel’s lips as he put his phone on the bar. He was officially back in the game, and he’d drawn the score level.

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