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And you noticed when it was gone.

‘I think it’s cruel,’ she said, and he glanced over.

‘Do you, now?’

‘You show me something lovely and then take it away. You said you were going to…’

‘Stella…’ he warned.

‘I won’t break.’

‘Oh, you would,’ he said, then winced a touch at his own response, but she was too naïve to get that one and so he took her arm and they talked as they lazily walked.

‘I’d hurt you,’ he said.

‘How?’

It was odd to be talking about sex without actually saying it.

To challenge each other when the game would never be played.

‘Because you leave tomorrow.’

‘Yes.’

‘I’m a bastard, Stella. I’m being nice here because it’s temporary.’

‘So, this is an act?’

‘No, but I do know that it’s unsustainable. I don’t want anyone close, and so I won’t message you or send flowers, or any of the things you might want me to do.’

‘You’re so arrogant,’ she told him, and she saw his eyebrows rise and, even if she couldn’t see his eyes, knew she’d surprised him. ‘Why do you think I want it to be you?’

‘Because we’re hot for each other.’

So, so hot.

‘No,’ she interrupted, and those eyebrows moved again. ‘Yes, of course, there’s that, but maybe it’s…’ She gestured to the blue, blue sky and the turquoise waters and the sheer escape of this day. ‘This is a one-off. You’re only here because your grandfather’s dying, I’m here for work. We’ll never cross paths again.’

‘And that appeals?’

‘Yes,’ she admitted. ‘Very much so.’

‘Why?’

Because it gave him no time to reject her, to feel him grow bored, to watch as he changed his mind.

It left no time for him to make her feel unwanted.

Of course she would not be admitting that to him.

‘Why?’ he asked again.

‘I’m not telling you.’

He took off his glasses, met her eyes, demanded with grey-silver she reveal more, but Stella shook her head.

‘You don’t get all my thoughts, Gabe.’