Her gaze settled on a row of little trophies. They were lined up on a wooden shelf by the windows, which were draped with red and white chequered curtains. ‘What are these?’ asked Lucy, sitting up and pointing at what was clearly his prize collection.

‘They’re sports trophies from school,’ explained Rory. ‘I used to be quite the sportsman when I was younger, don’t you know. PE was definitely my favourite subject!’

‘Sweet! A young athlete,’ said Lucy, wandering around the room to look at his old photographs, books and the pictures that hung slightly lopsided along the walls. There was a little framed pencil drawing of the farm, signed ‘Rory, age 10’, hanging by the bed. ‘Did you do that?’ she asked, laughing. As Rory nodded, she said, ‘Wow, you were so talented even back then!’

‘You’re too kind,’ he said, taking off his jumper and T-shirt in one fell swoop, revealing his muscular torso and dark, hairy chest. ‘So, what do you think?’ he asked.

‘I think I want to rip off the rest of your clothes!’ said Lucy, running her fingers down his chest and breathing in his musky aftershave, as always a stream of electricity darting through her from head to toe.

Rory laughed, ‘That isnotwhat I meant!’ taking both her hands in his as he faced her and kissed her lightly on the lips. ‘What do you think of the place, of my family?’ he asked, sincerely waiting for her opinion.

‘I adore them; they are just the loveliest people I could ever hope to meet. And I love the farmhouse, I just wish it was morning already so we could go and explore! I am dying to see it all in the light of day.’

‘Well that’s just as well,’ said Rory, ‘because if I get my way you’ll be coming here an awful lot more as time goes on, not to mention spending a lot more time with my family!’

‘That’s good,’ said Lucy, as she kissed him, and they lay back on the bed and tried hard not to make any sounds that might give away their late night activities to the rest of the household.