‘I wanted to become a vet,’ she went on, ‘but my marks at school weren’t good enough. I never was one to study. I’m a practical, hands-on kind of person.’

‘I don’t think it matters what you do in life, as long as you enjoy what you’re doing.’

‘You obviously enjoy being an architect,’ she said, and he smiled.

‘Does it show?’

‘You seem a happy man.’

‘I love my work,’ he said. ‘Too much, some people would say.’

Even his own mother thought he was way too obsessive.

But that was his nature. Adrian could never do things by half. When something interested him, he became consumed, body and soul.

This woman interested him, in ways no woman ever had before.

This in itself was intriguing. What was it about her that made her so interesting to him? Yes, she was very pretty, but he met lots of pretty girls. She wasn’t super-clever, or super sophisticated, or super sexy, as Felicity had been.

Aside from being a brunette, Sharni was different from every woman he’d ever dated. They’d all been highly educated career girls whom he’d met through his work. Felicity had been a top interior designer. Before that, there’d been a female architect or two, a corporate lawyer, a computer expert and one super-smart marketing manager.

There’d not been one veterinary assistant who lived in the bush and blushed when caught in the act of looking at a man.

‘You’re staring at me,’ she said in a low voice.

Adrian smiled. ‘Well, that makes us even. You’ve stared at me a good deal today.’

His counter-attack clearly flustered her. ‘Yes, but you know why.’

‘Are you saying you only find me attractive because I remind you of your husband?’

She blinked her surprise at his directness. ‘Who said I find you attractive?’

‘Your eyes told me. The same way my eyes are telling you I find you attractive.’

Her cheeks went pink. ‘Please don’t flirt with me, Adrian.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because I…I can’t handle it.’

‘Are you saying I’m the first man to pay you this kind of attention since your husband died?’

‘I haven’t been with another man since Ray, if that’s what you’re asking. I don’t go out. And I don’t date.’

Her admission stunned Adrian. Five years of living by herself. Five years without male company, or sex of any kind. It wasn’t natural. Or healthy.

‘I find that terribly sad, Sharni.’

‘Life is sad,’ she said, and took another sip of wine.

‘You are coming out with me tonight,’ he stated firmly.

Her eyes widened before meeting his over the rim of her glass.

‘Am I?’

There was enough wavering in those two words, and in her eyes, to satisfy Adrian.

‘Absolutely,’ he said, just as their meals arrived.

‘COFFEE or tea?’ Adrian asked.

Sharni looked up from where she’d been devouring the last bite of the simply delicious almond and plum tart.

Roland was standing by their table, patiently waiting for her decision.

‘Coffee, please,’ she said after dabbing her mouth with the white linen serviette. ‘Cappuccino.’

‘I’ll have a short black,’ Adrian told the waiter who swiftly departed to do their bidding.

Sharni could see why Adrian came here often. Not only was the food great, but the service was very quick.

‘So where would you like me to take you tonight?’ he asked.

Sharni sighed. She should have known he’d come back to that sooner or later. He’d very cleverly lulled her into a false sense of security over their meal by stopping the flirtatious talk and steering any conversation onto more impersonal topics such as food, politics and the weather.

Now, his eyes were back on hers again, their focus disturbingly intense. But oh-so-flattering.

He was right. She did find him attractive. How could she not? But Adrian’s charm for her was not just physical. It was the way he made her feel, as if he found her the most fascinating female in the world.

There was no use pretending she didn’t want to go out with him tonight. But the prospect was accompanied by a measure of fear. What if he tried to seduce her? What if he succeeded?

For the last five years Sharni had lived a sexless existence, that part of her body having totally shut down. She hadn’t had a period since she’d lost her baby, various doctors suggesting her lack of hormonal activity was caused by shock and grief. To be honest, she hadn’t given sex a second thought in ages.