A Winter Kiss on Rochester Mews. Annie Darling

on some worthless man instead of reaching for my dreams.’

      ‘Not all men are worthless,’ Noah muttered, as Tom sighed wearily.

      ‘And as for you, Tom, have you ever even been out on a date?’ Nina asked, and Mattie leaned forward because she didn’t want to miss a word of this or the discomfited look on Tom’s face, as if the collar of his shirt had suddenly become three sizes too small. ‘Are you into women? Or are you into men? Or are you into both? No judgement, but it’s been four years and you’ve never once shown any interest in getting down and dirty.’

      ‘Nina, Nina, Nina,’ Noah said, shaking his head, but his expression was more indulgent than exasperated.

      ‘You know, it’s not too late to get a divorce,’ Tom told him, his expression entirely exasperated. ‘There’s not a judge in the land who’d expect you to stay married in the face of such emotional cruelty.’

      ‘Not emotionally cruel, just curious,’ Nina said. ‘But if neither of you are going to bring anyone home for fun sexy times, then at least you don’t have to have a set of boring house rules. Like, don’t come into a room if there’s a sock over the door handle unless you want to get an eyeful of—’

      ‘House rule! Neither of us are to ever bring anyone home for fun sexy times,’ Mattie said desperately. ‘All those in favour, say aye!’

      Tom raised his hand. ‘Aye! For the love of God, aye! And also, on the subject of house rules, can you make sure that you wash up after you’ve cooked. It’s just that it’s a small kitchen and …’

      ‘I always wash up after myself,’ Mattie snapped, stung at the accusation that she didn’t. She prided herself on always running a neat and tidy kitchen. Then her eyes drifted towards the sink where everything she’d used to make her shortbread was piled up, waiting to be washed. ‘Except when people are so desperate to eat that they don’t give me a chance to do the washing up. You had four shortbread, Tom,’ she added accusingly.

      ‘Fine. I won’t eat your baking if you don’t leave the washing up not done,’ Tom said as if it were something that he could easily forego.

      It was pretty much the worst thing that anyone had ever said to Mattie, or at least in the top ten worst things.

      ‘Fine,’ she said herself.

      ‘Fine,’ said Tom again.

      Nina grinned. ‘Is anyone else feeling like maybe things aren’t actually fine at all?’ she wanted to know. Then her grin grew broader. ‘I hope this isn’t unresolved sexual tension and the reason you don’t want a third flatmate is that you’re going to be at it like rabbits as soon as we all leave?’

      ‘I’m not even going to dignify that with a response,’ Tom said icily, launching himself away from the kitchen doorway where he’d been leaning. ‘If anyone needs me, I’ll be in my room. Please knock before coming in.’

      As soon as they heard the door shut, Nina turned to Mattie eagerly. ‘I will pay you actual cash money for any dirt you get on Tom. Name your price!’