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Was that all he had to say on the matter? ‘Yes,’ she snapped, taking her phone from his hand and shoving it into her bag. ‘Why do you care? It’s not like you’d ever really be interested in me anyway.’

‘I am.’

‘What?’ She blinked, not quite sure if she was imagining things.

‘I am interested.’ Caleb ran a hand through his hair, which did devastating things to her equilibrium. ‘But I don’t do relationships.’ He said this so firmly that Hannah wasn’t quite sure whether to nod in agreement or run for the hills. ‘I didn’t think you’d be up for anything casual.’

‘Oh, well that makes sense.’ It didn’t. Hannah’s anger dissolved into a puddle of awkward embarrassment. What the hell was she going to say? Actually, you’d be fulfilling every teenage fantasy of mine if we got together, but I was also lying about me being a fun-time gal! I’m trying, but every now and then I ruin it. By picking out matching stripy bedlinen and crockery – which was why Patrick dumped me.

‘No pressure. I’m open to it, if you are. We could have fun together during this job, and then go our separate ways. Think about it – friends with benefits. But if you’d rather stay friends that’s totally cool by me too.’ Caleb said it so casually, as if he were suggesting they try a local delicacy.

Have you tried the new Friends with benefits? Deliciously spicy – but has a hell of an afterkick! Or you could go for the standard Friends-only dish. No spice, in fact no flavour at all… Something old Hannah might feel safer picking.

She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t tempted. After Patrick, a casual fling focused purely on pleasure sounded almost irresistible, mainly because she’d know from the start not to get her hopes up. But wasn’t that the problem? She always got her hopes up.

Silence stretched between them, and she thought her opportunity had passed when he shrugged and asked lightly, ‘Anyway, mine is – what’s next?’

‘I guess I could think about it?’ she mumbled, confused by his sudden demand for an answer.

Caleb laughed. ‘Great. But I actually meant that would be my mantra: What’s next?’

‘Oh, I see.’ She wanted the floor to swallow her whole.

What’s next? As a motto, it suited Caleb. After all, he wasn’t the type to dwell on pretty balconies and watch the sunset; he was far more likely to jump from one. But if she indulged in her fantasy, it would only end in humiliation and heartache.

Or would she, for once, be able to be the laid-back, confident woman she’d hoped to become? And would it be worth it?

‘Well, in the spirit of what’s next, I think we should go have lunch at Bondi,’ she said decisively, shaking off both the indecent proposal and her own desire to say yes. She needed to think. ‘There’s a place I’ve been wanting to try.’ She didn’t admit that, like the harbour climb, it had been on her Sydney bucket list for months. A brunch place that was so hip, it was an influencer’s wet dream. She’d begged Patrick to take her there for ages, but he’d already covered it on his socials, so he hadn’t seen the point in going again.

Why had she put up with him? Now that she thought about it, she’d had plenty of reasons to dump him too, and she hadn’t.

‘Great, it’s a date!’ replied Caleb, his enigmatic gaze lingering on her mouth for a moment longer than it needed to.

‘Oh!’

Caleb ran a hand through his hair, the biceps of his arm bunching against his t-shirt in a very distracting way. He had the leather jacket slung over his other shoulder too – like an old-school James Dean pin-up. ‘Let’s see where life takes us.’

‘Hmm,’ she said thoughtfully, trying to hide the fact she was currently flip-flopping between thrilled excitement and absolute panic. ‘Sounds good.’

‘Lead the way, you’re in charge.’

She didn’t feel in charge.

Chapter Eleven

After riding to Bondi, they parked the motorcycle a couple of blocks away from the beach down one of the backstreets. Caleb had deliberately driven more slowly through the busy streets around the coastline. He’d not wanted to frighten her again.

Was it a mistake to suggest a fling with Hannah? Caleb had seen her panic and confusion, and it had reminded him of the nervous teenager who’d blushed every time their hands or shoulders had brushed during their revision sessions.

The Hannah he remembered wouldn’t have dreamt of casual dating, she’d been too prim and conscientious. But her long speech about wanting to live in the moment and remain independent had been everything he usually wanted in a partner, and he couldn’t deny that he was attracted to her. So, why shouldn’t he shoot his shot?

She’d admitted she was considering it, but he didn’t want to push her either way. The job and road trip was an added complication, and he didn’t want her to feel pressured because of it. He had to tread carefully, seem keen, but not too intense – be casual and relaxed about the whole thing. Usually, that would have come easily to him, but the more time he spent in Hannah’s company the more he wanted her. Patience had always been his weakness. That, and little blondes with exceptionally large purses apparently.

It still surprised him that she’d believed he wouldn’t be able to recognise her. Obviously, Hannah’s appearance was different from when they’d been at school together, but so was his. He’d had long grungy hair for a start, and a straighter nose.

Hannah was beautiful now, but he suspected that had more to do with her confidence and maturity than anything else. Yes, she’d been an awkward teenager before, but so had he. Hardly anyone was hot in high school, and when he’d gotten to know her, he’d thought her pretty, in a cute sort of way.

‘Did you read the itinerary Jackson sent you?’ he asked curiously, swinging his helmet lightly as they began strolling down the street towards the ocean.