Kelly grinned unwillingly. She might have known Jake’s poise couldn’t be shaken for more than a moment. Whatever the place, the time, the circumstances, he could simply walk in, be instantly at home, and everyone would act as though they’d been waiting just for him. Right now, for instance, he was the only one at this party not dressed up. He wore the battered denim jeans and jacket over a black vest that he kept for travelling. Far from making him look out of place, the effect was to make everyone else seem overdressed.

His hair was shaggy and unkempt, and his skin lightly tanned. In fact he looked as if he’d just got off a plane after a long flight. Exhausting too, probably, with plenty of turbulence, which tensed him up inside, although only Kelly had ever known that. But, hey, nothing a stiff drink wouldn’t put right! That was Jake for you.

Marianne had corralled him into a corner, fending off all-comers, and after only five minutes they seemed to be getting on very, very well. Kelly started to turn away, but then resolutely looked back. What he did could no longer hurt her. Besides, she had some serious flirting of her own to do, and a plentiful supply of men to help her do it.

She concentrated hard on enjoying herself, and it was an hour before she encountered Jake again, at the drinks table.

‘Just what do you think you’re doing here?’ she demanded.

‘You said it was nice to see me.’

‘I was lying.’

‘Oh, great!’ he complained. ‘I took an early plane back to join the party, and look at the welcome I get.’

‘It wasn’t a welcome. You weren’t invited. You ought to be shot for just marching in like this. I don’t want you here.’

‘Why not? It’s my divorce too.’ He sounded put out.

‘It’s a house-warming party. This is my new place.’

‘Oh, yeah? You’ve been here three months.’

‘It’s taken time to do it up,’ Kelly improvised. ‘And it’s a sort of Christmas party too-’