Joe looked at her determined but wistful face, and threw his sanity out of the window.

“There is an easier way,” he said softly, and she turned and looked up at him, her eyes confused as they searched his.

“Easier—?” And then her eyes widened, her lips parted, her soft gasp barely audible. “You’d do that?”

“Why not? I’m not in a relationship, nor are you, and neither of us has any reason to want one at this time in our lives, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t still normal, healthy adults, and there’s no way I’m going to deny that I want you, Iona. I have done, right from day one. You’re beautiful, in every way, so, yes, I’d do that, without hesitation. So long as you don’t expect anything else from me, then I’m more than happy to have a no-strings affair with you. But you do need to understand the rules. This isn’t happy-ever-after, Iona.”