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“Mateo,” Theo says softly, running his fingers through his mussed-up hair. “Is everything okay?”

I like the way he doesn’t lose his temper or act like a dick when he’s talking to members of his staff. Even when they interrupt what might be the best kiss of my life.

“I’m so sorry, sir. I meant to catch you when you came in, but I was dealing with a guest.” Mateo offers him an apologetic smile. “I need to let you know about something which happened earlier.”

“Okay.”

Mateo looks at me, and I get the message, he wants to talk in private. “It’s fine, I’m heading into my room anyway. You two go ahead.”

Theo lets out a long breath. “I’ll come back in a minute,” he tells me.

“It’s all good.” And it is. It isn’t his fault that every time something goes wrong he’s the one who has to step up.

I step inside my room as the two of them start to talk, the low hum of their conversation quieting as the door closes. I slide my shoes off, then pull off my tights because the central heating in this hotel is hot, then I walk over to look at myself in the mirror.

Oh god, my hair is a mess. And my lips look like they’ve been stung by a bee. But I’m still grinning at my reflection like she’s responsible for that kiss.

A minute later there’s a knock at the door. I pad over to answer it.

“Hi.” Theo smiles at me, though it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m sorry about this.”

“You should learn to stop apologizing,” I say. “I already told you it was okay.”

“I’m a Brit. We learn to apologize before we learn to walk.” He reaches out to trace my bottom lip. “I need to make about a hundred fucking phone calls. And then I have to track down my father and attempt not to scream at him. I am so fucking…” He shakes his head and I start to laugh because we both know he was about to apologize again. He leans forward, until his brow is pressed against mine. I can feel the warmth of his breath on my skin. “It is with deepest, deepest regret that I have to leave you here and go and do that,” he tells me. “The kind of deep regret I’m probably going to die thinking about.”

“You have a way with words, do you know that?” I whisper. “And if it helps, I’ll probably think about it for the rest of my life, too.”

This time when he laughs the crinkles form around his eyes. “God, I wish I could leave it all behind sometimes.”

“You can come back whenever you finish,” I say. “I’m pretty sure you have a master key.”

He shakes his head. “I might have to drive to Norfolk. I don’t know. And I know you’re tired, you were yawning half of the way home. You should get some sleep. And I have a stupid damn charity lunch tomorrow that I have to go to. A hotel thing. Are you free in the evening?”

“Actually, that would work out well,” I tell him. “I’m booked in for a church service tomorrow anyway.”

“Booked in?” He frowns. “Does Jesus require Ticketmaster now?”

It’s my turn to laugh. “I’ve no idea. It’s just one of those carol services you have to sign up for because it’s always standing room only.”

He nods. “Well you go to church, I’ll go donate a lot of money to charity, and we can meet up tomorrow night. Can I have your phone number? I’ll send you a message once I know what time I’ll be done.”

I recite my number and he taps it into his phone.

“Maybe this time we can get through the whole night without me getting interrupted,” he murmurs.

“Third time’s lucky, right?” I say.

He laughs. “I’m the lucky one. You giving me yet another chance.”

I exhale softly. “I’m thinking you might be worth it.”

For a second he says nothing. Just stares at me like he’s trying to take every piece of me in.

“I have to go,” he murmurs.

“Then go,” I say, smiling.

He runs a fingertip over my lower lip. “You make it very hard.”