“You still angry with me?”

Lara looked up from staring into her wine glass and blinked at Simon. “Angry?”

“Lara, you haven’t moved for a full 5 minutes.” She smiled and set her glass down on the coffee table. Simon made himself comfortable on the sofa again and continued. “You know, earlier. When I stopped, I hope I didn’t offend you.”

Lara shook her head and leant back on a cushion. “No, far from it. I found it quite… Flattering I suppose.”

“Flattering? How’s that?”

“Out of all the men I’ve been with…” she caught sight of the cheeky look on Simon’s face, “which is not as many as you might think! Not many have wanted to get to know me first.” She paused and looked at the floor. “Except Patrick. I’m not exactly known for taking things slow.”

Simon smirked. “I know. We’ve all see you get it on with Luke in the hospital car…”

The sentence was swiftly cut short by a pillow colliding with the side of Simon’s head. “Oi! Anyway, I’m sure you have a fair few stories to tell.” Lara detected that he wasn’t eager to share and probed him further. “C’mon, you know all the sordid details about Patrick and Luke, it’s time you told me something about your ex’s.”

Simon sighed. “You mean Tally? Colette?”

“No… tell me about your special relationships, not meaningless flings. I’ve always had this theory about being able to tell a lot about someone from hearing about their past loves.”

“Oh, psycho analyst now are we?” Lara replied with a sarcastic glare. “Seriously though, there have only been 2. But we both know they ended in disaster.”

Lara took another sip of her wine. “You mean Claire and Jane? I can see your point…”

Simon nodded. “So, what does that say about me?”

“Total head case” Lara teased, “there’s no hope for you at all.”

Simon rolled his eyes and leant in for a kiss. “So this is pretty pointless then. Us, here…”

“Oh, I didn’t say that.”

They kissed passionately and drew their bodies into an embrace. After a moment, Lara pulled away. “How did it come to this hey? A few months ago we couldn’t stand the sit of each other, and now… what happened?”

“I guess my overwhelming good looks and boyish charm finally got the better of you.”

“Cocky.”

“I know, but you love it really.”

Lara raised an eyebrow and feigned annoyance. “Oh, do I now?”

“Mmm, hmmm.”

They had moved from the edges of the sofa and were now millimetres away from each other. They could both feel the tension between them. Simon finally spoke. “How come I never noticed you this way before?”

“We were too busy arguing I guess. We’re too similar. You’re the only person who can wind me up like you do apart from my sister!”

Simon smiled. “And then there’s our ever so delightful boss.”

Lara looked at him. “If you’re thinking about Harry at a time like this…”

Simon hit her playfully on the arm. “You know he’s going to go spare when he finds out.”

“Nothing’s happened between us yet.”

“Are you saying it won’t?”

“No…”

“Exactly.” Simon sighed and put his empty glass on the floor.

“I know what you mean though, but it serves him right. It’s about time he realises that he can’t follow me around like a lost little puppy and expect to get anywhere with me.”

“Now who’s the cocky one?”

“I’m joking. And Tally…”

“Let’s not talk about the Harper family, they do my head in!”

“You’re the one that brought it up.”

“I know, and I wish I hadn’t. I’ve kind of spoiled the mood now haven’t I?”

“No, I wouldn’t say that.” Lara paused and glanced at the clock. “It’s late, I should make a move.” She began to stand up and reach for her coat but Simon grabbed her round the waist and pulled her onto his lap.

“No, don’t leave. Stay here tonight.”

Lara grimaced. “I’d love to, but I have no clean clothes. I think I spilt sweet and sour sauce on my trousers.”

“Who cares. I’m really enjoying getting to know you, I don’t want it to end. Besides, I’m scared that if you have a chance to go away and think about ‘us’ you might realise that you do hate me after all!”

Lara smiled and kissed him on the lips before sitting back and looking him in the face. “Something changed when we were in that cave, I can’t explain it. Everything I thought I knew about you an Harry went out the window.”

“There’s that guy again…”

“Stop it! It’s like you swapped personalities or something.” She stopped, “Oh, you know what I mean. I realised what a selfish, uncaring twit he can be sometimes and I realised that what you choose to show the world isn’t the whole Simon Kaminski.”

“Did I ever properly thank you for saving my life?”

“I think you might have, yeah.” They both smiled. Lara slid off Simon’s lap and they put their arms around each other.

“There’s no harm in my saying it again. Thank you, I owe you everything.”

“I never had you down as the sentimental type.”

“Me neither, who knew?” Simon stretched and stood up, placing the two empty wine glasses and takeaway cartons on the side. “Come on, come to bed. We still have to work tomorrow.”