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“Yes, but I was thinking we need to do something a little sooner. Something that requires group co-operation and enables everyone to get to know each other better and make friends.”

“You could always set up a rugby match,” I suggested, and his eyes flared ever so slightly before a pleased smile tugged at his lips.

“How did you know I played rugby?”

For a very brief second, panic filled me to my core, but then I reminded myself that I only suggested the sport. I didn’t say, Hey, you were the star rugby player at school, weren’t you? Why not host a game?

“Um, I didn’t. Just took a wild guess since it’s a posh boy’s sport.”

Tristan chuckled low. “Is that what I am?”

“Aren’t you?”

He grinned. “Okay, so I might be a little posh. I played rugby at school and college, but it’s been a few years. Not sure I still have the skills.”

“Yeah, well, now that I think of it, rugby might not be the best idea. People tend to get very whiny when they’re forced to do physical activities.”

“And it can get pretty rough. I want people to make friends not enemies,” he pointed out, his grin fading into a handsome smirk.

“There is one thing that could work,” I said, an idea springing to mind. “A lot of the staff here play bingo at the town hall on the weekend. Lisa, in particular, is obsessed.”

“Bingo is kind of solitary, no?”

“It is if you play it the usual way. But I’ve heard of a thing called human bingo, where you have to mingle and get to know facts about each other. Instead of numbers on the sheet, you have personal traits and experiences of the other players. You know, like, ‘drinks three coffees a day,’ or ‘once climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.’ So, as they’re talking, and they find the person matching the trait, they can cross it off their sheet. Whoever gets a full line shouts bingo and wins a prize.”

Tristan was still smirking as he rubbed a finger along his bottom lip. Had I mentioned he had incredible lips? They somehow managed to be both masculine and sensual at the same time. “That doesn’t sound half bad.”

“It’s worth a shot. And if it doesn’t work, we can always try rugby as a last resort. Let them all beat the crap out of each other and get their grievances out of their systems,” I said jokingly. “Actually, no, we don’t want any lawsuits if someone gets injured.”

“Don’t remind me. I tore my MCL during a school game once. It took weeks to heal. It can be a rough old sport,” Tristan replied, and my heartbeat fluttered.

I’d known him when he’d gotten that injury. He was out of action until it had healed, and it was half the reason we’d ended up spending so much time together. He was at a loose end when normally after school he’d be at training. We’d sit on a stack of mattresses in the attic of his dad’s hotel, eat junk food and watch reality TV on my laptop.

Half a lifetime ago.

“You okay, Rinnie?” he asked, focusing in on my expression.

I wiped my face clean. “I’m fine. I was just thinking that a tear like that sounds really painful.”

“It’s a good thing I don’t play anymore. I stick to the gym and swimming to keep fit,” he said, and I couldn’t help noticing that he didn’t merely keep fit. Tristan had a physique that most men would be envious of.

“Yes, I can see that,” I observed then immediately wanted to tape my mouth shut. The bite of pear I’d just swallowed got stuck in my throat, and I had to cough to push it down. Heat rushed to my neck and cheeks as I inwardly cringed. He was way too disarming, and I was allowing myself to become far too at ease around him. He could still remember me at any moment. I needed to keep my wits about me. I frowned and stared at my lap. “Sorry. I didn’t mean—”

“It’s fine. I know what you meant,” he said easily, his eyes heating as he traced my features. Then his smile faded as some thought seemed to occur to him. He cleared his throat then checked his watch. “I need to get going, but please stay and enjoy your lunch.”

“Would you like me and Katy to look into the human bingo idea? We could organise it for later this week?”

“Yes, please do,” he said as he stood, his gaze meeting mine one last time before he added, “Good talk.”

With that, he left. I sat there with my pear half eaten and the rest of my lunch still untouched. Too many butterflies swirled around in my stomach, killing my appetite. I was playing with fire, of course, but I just couldn’t seem to avoid him. It seemed that although I didn’t intend to do anything about it, Katy was right. I might not be nursing a crush, but I definitely found my boss attractive, just like I had during our one month together all those years ago.

***

Katy wasn’t very enthused when I came to her with the human bingo plan, but then again, I suspected she was feeling salty after the speech I’d given her that morning. I didn’t regret it though. I’d been around long enough not to tolerate being wrongly judged, and when I felt someone was trying to label me in a derogatory way, I had no problem speaking up.

The only issue was that it could drive a rift between me and the people I worked with. I reminded myself that I only had to be around Katy for the next couple of weeks, and then my training would be complete. After that she’d be heading back down to her job in Cork.

“Tristan is quite keen on the idea,” I told her, and she sat up a little straighter.