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‘Well, I shan’t let him down.’

‘I know that.’

He ordered a cognac, but she declined.

‘I think I need a very clear head around you, Gabe.’

‘Pity.’ He smiled.

‘Anyway, I have to go and work on the proposal.’

‘Liar,’ he said. ‘You fell in love with the place—you would have done that this afternoon. It would have taken five minutes.’

‘True.’ She smiled.

‘Do you need pictures of the waterfall? I could arrange for someone to go there early tomorrow.’

‘No need for that.’ She shook her head. ‘I’m sticking with Tuscan hot springs.’

‘How come?’ Gabe frowned, and her blush darkened.

Her voice was low when it came. ‘I don’t want others there.’

Gabe nodded, as if he got it, as if he too felt that snap of possession at the thought of a film crew trampling over their place.

They stared at each other from across the table, and they might as well be back on the helicopter, connecting again.

Gabe broke eye contact, and she pulled her hand away.

‘So—’ he lightly said, as if the air wasn’t crackling between them ‘—multi location! That’s going to add to the budget…’ He tutted, because it was a bit wrong, though for all the right reasons, well, their right reasons. ‘I’m glad.’

It was a nice note to end things on, a safe note to end things on, and Stella stood to go.

‘There’s something for you…’

‘You were so sure I’d come back to your room?’

‘I was about to say there’s something for you, just give the concierge your name.’

‘Oh.’

‘Best wishes, Stella.’

‘And to you.’

He did not offer to walk her out and she stood for an awkward moment, unsure how to simply turn and walk away.

‘Oh, and Gabe? One last thing.’ He nodded but didn’t look up, not even when she lowered her head. ‘You didn’t take… I very willingly gave.’

Stella walked away from their second goodbye and he didn’t halt her, he didn’t call her back, and she should be relieved really, to walk across the foyer. To not have to start at the very bottom of missing him again.

Only she didn’t want it to end.

‘Stella Harper,’ she said to the concierge. ‘I believe something’s been left for me.’

‘One moment.’

‘There’s no rush,’ Stella said, actually hoping he’d take ages if it meant one more glimpse of Gabe. As she waited, her eyes scanned the foyer and looked to the doors of the lounge as if willing him to appear.