As soon as filming wrapped for the day we headed for food. On the walk to the restaurant I linked arms with Karla and told her all about the last few weeks and my recent reunion with Paula and Samuel. She expressed both shock and surprise at the turn of events. She was also unexpectedly supportive when I told her about mine and Trev’s reconciliation. I think she knew it was inevitable something would happen, with us spending so much time together.

I was touched when Trev pulled out my seat for me at the restaurant, unused to such boyfriend-ly gestures. In the past year, I’d missed out on things like having someone hold a door open for me or offer to carry my bags. It really was the small things that made a difference. The way he looked at me with such love and adoration somehow made me feel more comfortable in my own skin.

I felt accepted, and it was a new and pleasant feeling.

Trev’s and my reunion, combined with that of my brother and sister, made me realise something so basic that had always eluded me. I’d subconsciously felt unworthy. Although I sought love, there was some part of me that felt like I didn’t deserve it. After all, if the people who brought me into the world didn’t want me, then why would anyone else? Equally, if they could cast me aside, disown me . . . Well, now I have a better perspective.

Trev invited me to come on this trip because he wanted the chance to win me back. He’d gone out of his way to prove to me that we deserved another shot. It wasn’t the fact that I had his love that gave me this new sense of self-worth. It was that he’d worked for it, made the effort. Persisted.

I watched him talking to Lee, my heart so full of love I felt like it might burst. Trev’s eyes were a vivid blue against the hint of a tan he was developing. We’d been spending a lot of time outdoors, and though he was naturally pale, he was one of those lucky people who didn’t burn.

I couldn’t take my eyes off him the entire meal, how his forest-green shirt draped perfectly across his toned shoulders, how his belt fit around his trim waist. He was the opposite of me in every way and it had always been one of the main reasons why I was so attracted to him.

“So,” said King. “I’ve gotten us all ringside seats for the circus tonight.”

I perked up at this, because in the midst of my googly eyed Trev fixation, I’d forgotten all about the circus. There was a giddy five-year-old inside me that became excited about all things circus related, mainly because there was the chance I’d get to see elephants.

“Do we have time for a quick shower and change of clothes?” Trev asked, his arm draped around my shoulders.

“Of course,” King replied. “We’ll collect you and Reya around eight. Sound good?”

“Perfect,” said Trev.

Back at the apartment, I showered off the day’s heat, dressed, and went out to grab a bottle of water from the fridge. I startled when someone came and wrapped their arms around me from behind, but as soon as I smelled Trev’s spicy cologne I relaxed.

“I feel like we haven’t had a second alone in days,” he murmured gruffly as he brought his mouth to my neck and sucked.

I stifled a moan and shifted against him. “That’s probably because we haven’t.”

His hand went to my thigh, then moved up my belly and higher to cup my breast over the fabric of my blouse. I pulled away from him, because I knew if I let him continue we’d end up having sex right there against the fridge. Everyone was out of the apartment, but I still didn’t want to take the risk of being walked in on.

Trev smirked when I stepped over to the opposite side of the counter, effectively putting a barrier between us. Karla and the others would be here to collect us soon. We didn’t have time for sex, even though just looking at him made me want to tear his clothes off. Besides, now that we finally had a moment alone I wanted to tell him about Paula and Samuel.

“Can we talk for a second?”

Trev’s attention went to my outfit, lingering for a second longer than normal. Then his eyes wandered over my face and hair and his expression grew lustful. “You look incredible,” he breathed, like he didn’t even hear the question.

I laughed softly. “I could say anything right now and you wouldn’t hear a word.”

“That’s because I’m sexually malnourished,” he shot back with a sexy smile. “Take pity.”

I resisted the urge to smile back and sat down on a stool, gesturing for him to do the same. “This is serious, Trev. I want to talk to you about what happened the other day.”

In a heartbeat his face lost its humour, replaced with an expression of regret. He raked a hand through his hair and exhaled heavily.

“I crossed a line, I know that. I thought I was doing the right thing but I fucked up. No matter how hard I try I always seem to fuck everything up.”

Frowning, I lifted his hand and laced his fingers with mine. His breathing turned erratic when I brought his hand to my mouth and kissed it softly. I met his troubled gaze then said, “You didn’t do anything wrong. In fact, what you did was incredibly brave. You sacrificed your own happiness in order to help me find mine. Taking me to my aunt’s house was probably the most selfless thing you’ve ever done.”

His eyes flickered between mine, his features drawn in confusion, like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “But they were awful to you. You were so upset and it was all my fault—”

“Yes, I was upset, but the following day I had a phone call from Paula.”

Trev brows jumped high into his forehead. “Your sister?”

I nodded. “Everything’s been so busy that I haven’t had the chance to tell you. She wanted to apologise for not standing up for me. I invited her to come see me after my gig that night and she came. She brought Samuel, too.”

“And what happened?” Trev asked, his eyes alight with interest. This was what I’d missed in the years he’d been gone. Focused attention. No distractions prohibiting my best friend from listening.

“We talked. We talked for hours. And that never would’ve happened if it weren’t for you.”

His face transformed with a wide smile. “That’s fantastic, Reya. I’m so happy for you.”

I smiled right back. “Well, I have you to thank for it. Back when we first met, I used to think all you ever cared about was yourself, but that wasn’t true. Now I know you care about me, too. I know that when you say you love me it isn’t just empty words. You really mean them.”

He swore and squeezed my fingers tight. “Fucking hell, Reya, of course I bloody well mean them.”

I stared at him then, remembering the therapy session I overheard back in Paris. “You’ve always loved me, haven’t you?” I said, the full realisation dawning on me.

Trev gave me a curious look. “What do you mean?”

I glanced away, unsure how to explain. I worried if I told him I eavesdropped he might feel angry or violated, which he had every right to. Even though it gave me huge insight into his thoughts and feelings, I still knew I never should’ve listened.

I chewed on my lip as I brought my gaze to his. “I have a confession, and I completely understand if you get angry.”

His muscles tensed for a second, his expression apprehensive. “Why would I be angry?”

I tried to muster as much apology into my voice as I could manage. “First off, I’m sorry, I never should’ve done it, but when we were in Paris I overheard some of a Skype call you had with your doctor.”

I studied his face for a reaction, but he’d gone very still. “What did you hear?”

“I heard you talk about the reason you kept me in the friend zone for so long. You knew you couldn’t maintain a romantic relationship and you didn’t want to lose me so you made sure we stayed only friends.”

Trev’s eyes flickered back and forth between mine. I had no clue what he was thinking, but then he surprised me when he said, “So this is how you know I always loved you.”

“It makes sense.”

He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear before cupping my jaw. The look he gave me was so hot it sent shivers down my spine. “You made me happy. And yes, the idea of losing you terrified me. Also, yes, I have always loved you. At least, it feels that way. I know it doesn’t make sense, but I can’t remember a time when I didn’t. That seems like another life.”

I exhaled a long, shaky breath, my heart hammering as I asked, “So, you’re not angry?”

Trev’s gaze softened. “No, I hate to admit it, but I probably would’ve done the exact same thing. I always want to know what you’re thinking. If I could get even a tiny glimpse I’d take it in a heartbeat.”

“Man, I’m so glad I got that out. My guilt was twisting me upside,” I breathed.

Trev bent forward and whispered, his lips over mine. “If that’s the case I know a way you can alleviate some of that guilt.”

I smiled wide. “I’m all ears.”

Screw being walked in on. Maybe we did have time for sex after all.

* * *

I was a little dishevelled by the time the gang arrived to take us to the circus, but I managed to fix my hair and smooth out my clothes before we left. King’s sister’s circus was called The Circus Spektakulär and operated in a forested area just outside the city. It almost felt magical as we walked through the fairy-lit pathway that led to the tent, surrounded by tall trees and the night sky above. King greeted the girl on the ticket booth, whose name was Lola, and she appeared delighted to see him. I swear she would’ve pulled him through the window for a hug if it had been allowed.

The tent was packed and thanks to King’s connections we had fantastic ringside seats. Trev barely took his eyes off me the entire time and I couldn’t stop thinking about our quickie back at the apartment. Needing some sort of contact, I took his hand in mine and rested it on my thigh. His attention turned heated just as the house lights dimmed, signalling the start of the show.

We were treated to clowns and acrobats, lion tamers and stuntmen. I thought the Running on Air cast would fit right in with this lot, seeing as though they all shared a similar interest: risking their lives for the sake of their passion.

I bent close to Alexis, who was sitting on the other side of me, and asked, “Which ones are your friends?”

“King knows all of them, but one of his best friends is on next. He’s a fire breather,” she said, and winked with giddy excitement. “Just wait till you see.”

My brows shot up as King grumped, “I heard that.”

Alexis grinned happily. “I know you did.”

The ringmaster was King’s half-sister. It was bizarre because she was well into her sixties, with bright, dyed-red hair and a thick cockney accent. She was the last person I expected to be related to someone as urbane, well-spoken and obviously upper class as Oliver King.

“Damas y caballeros, I give you Jack McCabe,” she announced, and a slow rock song started to play. It had a thick, heavy bass line that seemed to compliment the tall, muscular man who stepped into the ring. He had long hair, eyes so dark you’d swear they could see right into your soul, and a body like an avenging angel. Now I understood Alexis’s giddy excitement. A chill came over me just looking at him.

He blew fire from his mouth like it was air. I trembled at the billowing flames and noticed the scarring that marred a portion of his shoulder and back. He held a torch in each hand, moving them dexterously around his body, making figure-eight shapes in the air. Next he drew the torch along his arm, creating a trail of flame on his skin. I swallowed and held Trev’s hand a little tighter.

He swore low under his breath, “Fucking hell. That’s got to hurt.”

I shook my head. “He must use something to protect his skin.”

“It’s a fireproof gel,” King informed us. “The same as stuntmen use in movies.”

“Ah, makes sense,” I said. “Your friend is incredible.”

King’s lips twitched. “He is, but don’t go saying that to his face. Jack’s not great with compliments.”

Alexis laughed. “Yeah, the best response you’ll get is a caveman grunt.”

I returned my attention to the stage, unable to take my eyes off the swirling flames. I was only distracted when Trev rubbed his thumb along the inside of my wrist, the small movement causing my muscles to tighten. I hated how hectic these last few days had been. I felt like I just wanted to lock us both away in a secret room so we could be completely alone. I wanted the chance to show him how much I’d missed him.

The past two years, a piece of my heart had been missing and now that I finally had it back I knew I wouldn’t ever let it go again.

My attention went back to the ring when the fire breather started to speak. It was kind of impossible to ignore his deep, masculine voice. He had a distinct Irish accent, and his gravelly tone set my pores tingling.

I shivered when Trev bent close to whisper, “My masculinity’s feeling a little threatened right now.”

I shot him an amused look. “Your masculinity’s made from graphene and we both know it.”

He chuckled and joked, “I’m not so sure. I could probably go gay for King’s bestie.”

“Again, please don’t say that to his face,” King added, leaning forward to look at us with a hilariously impassive expression.

“I’d like to welcome my brother to join me on stage,” said Jack the fire-breather. “He’s the newest addition to our circus and he might be familiar to some of you. Please give a round of applause for Jay Fields.”

“Hold up. Jay Fields?” Trev asked, shooting King a questioning look.

“That’s what he said, isn’t it?” King replied with a casually arched brow.

“You failed to inform us that one of the most famous illusionists in the world right now is in this circus?”

King shrugged. “Fame is neither here nor there.”

“He’s eternally unimpressed,” Alexis put in. “Don’t take it personally. Also, you’re just as famous as Jay, so—”

“Not in America,” Trev said.

“You’re an industrious young man. You’ll crack America one day,” King told him, like a father telling his son to chin up. Trev didn’t appear amused, which was thoroughly amusing to me.

The lights changed from white to red, and “The Monster” by Rihanna and Eminem started to play, cutting short our conversation. A tall, dark-haired guy—though not as dark as Jack—walked into the ring, and I recognised him instantly.

Jay’s fame had come quickly. Within the last few years he’d become just as well-known as David Blaine or I dunno, Penn and Teller. Just well . . . cooler. He had tattoos covering both his arms and possessed an affable wisdom that made you believe he knew exactly what you were going to say before you even said it.

The curtains that hung over the entrance to the ring worked as a blank canvas for what I could only describe as a performance art piece. It was like shadow theatre, or shadow theatre’s distant cousin. Jack blew flames from where he stood in the middle of the ring and they reflected off a projector screen to create a shadowy inferno against the curtains. I exhaled an impressed breath as Jay flipped cards into the air, dozens and dozens of them. The paper fizzled to ashes on contact with the flames, creating a shadow image of snow falling from the sky.

Jack threw another flame, and the shadow of his hand against the projector looked like a dragon breathing fire, just like the monster in the song lyrics. Then Jay miraculously produced two white doves out of thin air. Jack extinguished his flames as the doves flew overheard, their feathery wings a symbol of hope to crush the monster.

The beauty of the piece stunned me, and when I looked at Trev his attention was rapt. It was surreal to see him so impressed, since usually he was the one inspiring awe. There was something incredibly open about his face right then and I couldn’t help it. Without thinking I grabbed him by the shoulders, pulled his mouth to mine, and kissed him with everything I felt inside.

The music thundered around us, the audience clapping and expressing their delight at the brothers’ display, but all I could think about was Trev. I felt his groan vibrate through my chest and wrapped my arms tight around him.

We were both breathless when we broke apart, and Lee, who was sitting at the very end of our row, let out a rip-roaring whistle. I flushed as Trev gave him the finger.

Trev pulled me into his arms, and whispered in my ear, “If you don’t want to get fucked so hard you can’t walk straight, you should probably lock your door tonight.”

My stomach quivered at his low, sexy threat as I twisted in his arms to whisper back, “I’m sharing with Leanne, remember?”

Trev’s disappointment was palpable. “Pity there’s no roof garden.”

“There’s a balcony.”

His eyes glinted wickedly. “In that case, I’d be happy to explore your exhibitionist side.”

I turned away from him to watch the rest of the show, though it was hard to concentrate with Trev’s hand moving over me. He explored the dip of my spine, the curve of my hip and swell of my thigh.

When the show ended, Karla and Lee went to ‘find the bathrooms’, which I was pretty sure was a euphemism for sexy times. I had a sneaking suspicion they liked to spice up their sex life by doing it in public places, but there was no judgement from me. To each their own.

King led the rest of us through the backstage area to an open, grassy field where there were about a dozen trailers camped out. To the end of the field, a bunch of people had gathered, and I recognised most of them from tonight’s show. They all sat around on deck chairs and blankets, drinking beers and eating barbecue food.

“Are they having a party?” I asked Alexis, who stood beside me.

“Yes, it’s Jack’s girlfriend’s birthday. Her name’s Lille, lovely girl. He’s putting on a surprise fireworks display for her.”

My brows shot up at that. “No way! That’s so cool.”

“Yes, and annoyingly romantic,” Alexis added.

I chuckled. “That, too.”

Trev stood on my other side, holding my hand like he didn’t want to let go, when two women approached us with wide smiles. One was tall and blonde, the other short and brunette.

“Alexis! King!” the brunette called out. “It’s so good to see you both.”

“You, too,” said King. “Can I introduce you to some friends of ours? Matilda, Lille, this is Trevor and Reya. Trevor, Reya, this is Matilda, Jay’s wife, and Lille, Jack’s girlfriend.”

“Hi,” I said, giving them each a little wave. “Can I just say, both of your other halves were amazing tonight? That performance was like nothing I’ve ever seen.”

“Yeah, the problem is they know how good they are,” Matilda joked, her attention wandering to Trev. Her eyes narrowed in thought as she tapped a finger to her lips. “I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before.”

“Should I be worried?” Trev asked jokingly, charming smile in place.

Matilda smirked. “I hope not.”

“Nah, you might have seen my TV show, Running on Air?” Trev went on.

“Oh yes!” Lille exclaimed as she nudged Matilda in the arm. “We have seen it. That’s the one with all those guys who do parkour, remember?”

“Right,” said Matilda, bobbing her head. “That’s how I know you. Your show is fantastic. Edge of the seat stuff. Jay loves it as well.”

Trev’s charming confidence wavered for a brief second at that news, like he’d just been told his idol knew his name. “Oh, uh, really?”

“Really. He says it’s one of the best things on TV right now.”

I chuckled when I looked at Trev because he appeared about to expire. Then, to make matters worse, the man of the hour himself came to join us.

“King, I heard you might be stopping by,” came Jay’s booming voice as he approached. The two men shook hands, tattoo-free and debonair next to extensively and impressively inked up. They were the last two people you’d expect to be friends.

“My sister’s been complaining that it’s been too long since I visited,” King explained.

“That lady always gets what she wants,” Jay chuckled as he turned to greet Alexis and gave her a brief hug. When his attention fell on Trev and me, he didn’t miss a beat. Unlike his wife, he didn’t have to wrack his brains to remember how he knew Trev.

“Trevor Cross, as I live and breathe, how the fuck are ya?” he said, like they were old pals. Then he surprised everyone when he pulled Trev into a man hug. Trev was so stunned I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing. Jay greeted him like a friend he’d known for years, though being on TV did have that effect. People felt like they knew you.

“I thought that was your ugly mug I spotted in the audience,” Jay went on. “It’s great to finally meet you.”

He said it like he somehow knew they’d meet one day and it seriously confused me. It seemed to confuse Trev, too, when he rubbed a hand along his jaw and replied, “Er, yeah, it’s great to meet you, too.”

“Sorry to interject, but the way you said finally . . .” I butted in, unable to help myself.

Jay’s attention fell on me and it was a little overwhelming. There was a moment of silence as he shot me a look, and it seemed everyone else was wondering the same thing as we waited for him to respond.

He gestured to Alexis. “The lovely Lexie here is besties with Karla Cross, wife of the restaurant owner Lee Cross, brother to Trevor Cross. It’s like the six degrees of Kevin Bacon. I knew our paths would cross one day . . . excuse the pun.”

Everyone seemed to let out a breath that said, right, that explains it, because for a second I wondered if he really was psychic and not just faking it with mentalist tricks like he did on TV.

“Hold on a second,” Matilda interrupted, looking up at her husband in suspicion. “I’ve spent a lot more time talking to Alexis than you have, and even I didn’t know that. So, how did you?”

He shot her a cunning smile. “No offence, Watson, but what you don’t know could fill a phone book.”

She swatted him on the arm. “You cheeky little—”

He shut her up with a kiss, then said, “Cheeky big, Matilda, never little.”

She shot him a flirtatious scowl then seemed to notice something behind us because she let out a startled yelp. Quick as a flash she grabbed Lille by the arm. “Come on, Lille, I need to get you situated for your birthday surprise.”

“What, right now?” asked Lille, bewildered.

“Yes,” said Matilda, adamant. “Right now.”

“It was great meeting you,” Lille called to us as Matilda dragged her away.

“You, too,” I called back. “And happy birthday!”

When they were gone, Jay addressed us with a wink. “I knew all that from Facebook, just in case you were wondering.”

We all laughed as Alexis joked, “Who needs detective work anymore when there’s Facebook, am I right?”

A loud argument rang out from where Matilda had been looking and I turned to see Jack giving some red-haired guy a stern talking to. There was a box of fireworks at his feet.

“I’m not going to explain why dropping that box could’ve ended in you blowing your goddamn feet off, because I know the chemical components will go right over your thick head, but just imagine you’re holding a box full of gunpowder. Do. Not. Fucking. Drop. It. Again.”

Wow. Jack the fire-breather was scary when angry. The guy on the receiving end nodded like he was about to cry. Then he picked the box back up, held it like his life depended on it and scurried away.

“Relax, bro. You’re going to bust Ugly Sue if you don’t calm down,” said Jay, teasing his brother before looking back to us. “Ugly Sue’s what I call the vein in his forehead that gets all bulgy when he’s pissed.”

I think we all wanted to laugh, but when Jack approached our laughter fell flat. Thick waves of tension radiated off him and none of us wanted to be on the receiving end of it, like that other guy.

“The kid’s a bloody idiot,” he grumped. “Earlier I caught him flicking his lit cigarette butt to the ground right next to where I was storing the fireworks. And just now he drops them. If he sets himself on fire I’m blaming his IQ.” He paused, noting King’s presence as he reached out to shake his hand. “Hey bud. Good to see you.”

“You, too. Can I give you a Valium?” King asked, arching an amused brow.

“Ha, very funny,” Jack deadpanned before turning to Trev and me and giving us a quick nod of acknowledgment. It was as opposite to Jay’s verbose greeting as you could get, which struck me as odd since they were brothers. Jack brought his attention back to King, who seemed to be the only person he wanted to talk to right then.

“I’ve been working on this surprise for Lille’s birthday for months. Next year she’s getting a bunch of flowers and a box of chocolates.”

“There’s certainly less chance of exploding extremities with chocolates,” King agreed.

Jack dragged a hand through his long hair. “Right, well, I better get going before someone lets slip to Lille what her surprise is.”

“Go, we’ll talk later,” said King.

“Later,” Jack agreed.

I watched him go, then startled when I looked up to find Jay studying me closely. “Reya, wasn’t it?” he asked.

“Uh, yes, that’s my name,” I responded dumbly.

“Piano, right?”

I furrowed my brow. “Huh?”

He nodded at my hands. “Could be the guitar, but I’m sticking with my first guess.”

“Oh right,” I said, heart pounding. How had he known that? “Yes, I play piano. I’m a singer-songwriter, actually, but how did you—”

“You’re a singer?” Jay said. “Have I heard any of your stuff?”

I gave a self-deprecating shrug. “Not unless you’ve got a penchant for obscure YouTube videos.”

Jay nodded and was silent for a second, his attention moving from me to Trev and then back again. “This your girl?” he asked Trev.

Trev’s grip on my hand tightened, his posture straightening and his voice sincere when he replied, “Yes, she’s my . . . everything.” He winced, then went on, “Sorry, I mean—”

“He means we’ve kind of just got back together recently, so it’s, um, complicated, but yes, I’m his girl.”

Fierce love shone in Trev’s eyes when he gazed at me.

“Glad to hear it,” said Jay, shooting Trev a serious look. “Keep this one. She’ll be good for you,” he paused to bring his attention back to me, “and Reya, with any luck I’ll be hearing your songs on the radio one of these days.”

I frowned at his statement, about to explain that fame wasn’t something I aspired to, when Alexis cut me off. “Come on, you lot, we’d better go grab a spot if we don’t want to miss Jack’s fireworks.”

Jay grabbed us some blankets from one of the trailers and we spread them out on the grass to sit down. Then Matilda came and offered us bottles of beer and bags of popcorn. I sat on the blanket next to Trev, starting to feel a bit of a chill. He must’ve noticed my shiver, because he draped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close.

Amiable chatter sounded around us but I stayed quiet, sipping on my beer and admiring the stars. I didn’t often take time to simply sit. Be still. Karla and Lee finally joined us, and if I wasn’t mistaken Karla had a twig in her hair and some grass stains on her backside.

“You think we’ll be shagging outdoors when we’re together five years?” Trev whispered, having noticed the same thing as I did.

His voice spread a warm heat through my belly, butterflies fluttering like wild at his question, because it indicated he was thinking long-term. And coming from someone like Trev, who was as hard to pin down as a golden snitch, that was huge.

There was some cheering when Jack emerged from the dark end of the field. He jogged to where Lille sat on a deck chair next to Matilda, pulled her up and laid a big sloppy kiss on her mouth. “Happy Birthday, flower,” he said. “I hope you like your surprise.”

Then he was gone again and a minute later, the sky lit up in an explosion of colour. The fireworks were like nothing I’d ever seen. They weren’t the typical shooting stars. Instead, Jack created planet shapes, love hearts and exploding circles. It was a symphony in light and it literally took my breath away. When the very last fireworks went off they spelled out the words “Happy Birthday, Lille.”

I glanced her way. She had her hand to her mouth and her eyes shone with happy tears as she gaped at the work of art Jack had created.

“You’re such a soppy little romantic,” Trev teased, watching me watch Lille.

“I just think it’s nice,” I replied, sniffling a little. “He said he spent months planning this for her. That’s love for you.”

Trev took my chin and pulled my face to his so our eyes met. “Are you crying?”

I blinked and sucked back the emotion, my response weak. “No.”

“Oh my God, you are. I fucking love you.”

I glanced away. “Shut up.”

“But it’s true.”

“I know that.”

“And you love me, too.”

“Are you trying to make me ball my eyes out? My heart can’t take so much romance in one night. First Jack, now you.”

Trev leaned in close and captured my lips in a soft, lingering kiss. My breath hitched when he pulled away.

“So, you’re into big gestures?” Trev asked.

“Only when they’re happening to other people, so don’t go getting any ideas.”

“Too late. I’ve already got at least five. Maybe five and a half,” Trev teased.

I shot him a curious look. “Where’s the half coming from?”

“It’s not fully formulated yet.”

“Well, keep it that way. You know I don’t like attention. When Karla organised for the waiter to sing to me on my birthday last year I nearly died of embarrassment.”

Trev gave a soft chuckle. “I’m sorry I missed it.”

I nodded and looked back to the sky. The fireworks had disappeared and only the faintest bit of light remained. When I returned my attention to Trev his expression was serious.

“I’m not missing any more of your birthdays. Not a single one,” he said, his tone adamant.

“And I won’t miss a single one of yours,” I replied.

Trev’s face split in a heart-stopping smile. “It’s a deal, Miss Cabrera.”

I smiled right back at him. “Pleasure doing business with you, Mr Cross.”

I held out my hand for him and he took it, but instead of shaking he pulled my mouth to his and kissed me like it might be our last. He gripped my face and I wrapped my arms around his shoulders as we fell back onto the blanket. I felt electric, warm and fuzzy and full of every good thing life could give.

My eyes might’ve been closed, but as our kiss deepened, behind my closed lids I saw an entire universe full of stars.