I frown. “Why would I do that?”

“Tuesday,” he whispers, and it’s the only explanation he gives as he cups my jaw.

I lift myself up on my tiptoes and reach for him. His lips find mine and I feel my insides unfurling under his touch. If I spend the rest of the day by the side of a road, the intermittent zip of a car in the background while I kiss the man in front of me, it might turn out to be the best day I ever spent.

As we kiss, he flips us around so I have my back to the trunk. He presses his hips to mine, pinning me to the car, his urgency more evident today than it had been last night. I dig into his hair, my fingers exploring, and I have that same floating sensation as when we danced in the walled garden. He growls into my mouth, and the vibrations spread across my body, bringing the blood to the surface of my skin. Every inch of me wants him.

He pulls away suddenly and steps back. As he pushes his fingers through his ruffled hair, I scan his face for doubt. What I find is focus. “We need to get back in the car. Or we’re going to get arrested.”

“Do the British police arrest people for kissing?”

He moves around the driver’s side, and I mirror him, opening the passenger door.

“No, but I’m afraid of what I might convince you to do if we keep going.”

I have to press my lips together to stop myself from smiling. I like that he feels a little out of control with me. I can’t imagine it happens a lot for Ben.

We slide into our seats and resume our journey in comfortable silence. The countryside is beautiful, but it creates an ache for home inside me I haven’t felt for a long time. I glance across at Ben.

Ben. Ben. Ben.

When I was with Jed, I don’t ever remember feeling as special as I do with Ben. The way he looks at me, like he’s stunned he’s lucky enough to be near me. The way he kisses me, like he just can’t get enough. The way he holds me, like I’m precious. I’ve never felt that before.

Ben’s words echo in my memory.Don’t say yes to anything you don’t want.

Did I everwantJed? Or did he just want me?

One thing I know for sure is that I want Ben.

My phone beeps with a message and I open it.

“It’s the duchess,” I say, skimming the message. “She’s inviting us to dinner with her and the duke on Saturday at their town house.”

I glance across at Ben, but he’s unreadable.

“I’d be happy to continue our ... fake engagement if you want to go,” I offer.

“I can’t ask you to do that,” he says. “I’ve already taken up too much of your time. You’re meant to be focusing on work.”

“For a start, you didn’t ask, I offered. And second, I like the duke and duchess. If you didn’t know already, I kinda like you too. An evening with the four of us sounds fun.”

He shakes his head. “Always wanting to please someone.”

My stomach sinks into my seat. It wasn’t the reaction I was expecting.

“Is it whatyouwant?” Ben asks.

“I just said so, didn’t I? But if you want to take some other woman with a straightforward coffee order, then ...” I shrug. “I guess that’s life.”

Ben’s gaze stays on the road. “If you’re sure you’re happy to do dinner on Saturday as my fiancée, I would appreciate it. It’s the last time I’ll ask, I promise,” he says.

“Happy as a clam,” I say, ignoring the bit about the last time. I don’t want to think about saying goodbye to Ben. “On one condition. You drop the idea of paying me for this weekend.”

He growls, but nods. “And then what?” he says.

“Then whatwhat?”

“When do you go back to New York?”