Stu, who had just retaken his seat next to me, didn’t look very convinced. He didn’t comment though, and I quietly thanked him for the water.

“Well, I applaud you for being the only person able to convince Alfie to go abroad.”

“Oh, you know I’m determined once I set my mind to something.” Jamie grinned while shooting Alfie another mysterious look. Seriously, what was going on with those two? For some reason I got the feeling I didn’t want to know.

Back in the bookshop, I knew this was it. I was going to lose against Stu and be kicked out of the tournament. I took my seat across from him and clasped my hands together. The prize pack sat on a shelf at the other end of the shop and I stared at it, forlorn. Goodbye first edition, signed copy of Jude the Obscure. You were a momentary, lofty, idealistic dream from the start.

Stu must’ve noticed where I was looking because he said, “I can throw the game if you want. I’m not bothered about winning.”

I shook my head. “No, don’t do that. If I lose it’s meant to be. I don’t want to cheat.”

His expression softened. “All right, then.”

Jamie called a start to proceedings and the game began. Somewhere along the way Stu slid his feet around mine, his knees cradling my thighs. I wasn’t faring as badly as I expected. In fact, I was beating him and I could tell he wasn’t going easy on me. I was genuinely in the lead.

My belly quivered as his legs locked around mine, the position intimate though nobody else in the room could see. “If you’re doing that to try and distract me, it’s not going to work,” I said, biting my lip as I contemplated the board.

Stu’s gaze focused in on the movement. “Now why would I want to distract you? I already offered to throw the game.”

I shot him a shy look and picked up a pebble. I was black, Stu was white.

Stu tilted his head as he studied me. “You’re so beautiful.”

I was sure I flushed pink at the compliment and endeavoured to avoid his heady gaze. I could tell he was smiling when he went on, “What? No response.”

I sucked in a breath. “Thank you.”

He pushed his knees in, holding my thighs tighter. “That’s better.”

“Shouldn’t you be focusing on the game?” I huffed, because the way he was acting was turning me on. I wanted to have sex in the middle of a Go tournament. Bizarre.

“Maybe that’s why I can’t focus. You’re too pretty.”

I rolled my eyes, but could feel myself turning redder by the second. Stu leaned closer across the table. “And you’re so fucking sexy when you blush like that,” he continued. “Makes me want to bite you.”

“Shut up.”

“But you like it when I bite you.”

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “That’s neither here nor there.”

“I like it when you bite me, too.”

“Stu,” I whispered, glancing around to make sure nobody was listening.

He laughed softly. “What? One of these days, luv, you’re gonna let me kiss you again. Everywhere.”

“Oh my God,” I said, letting out a nervous laugh. “You need to stop.”

His gaze was tender as he leaned his elbows on the table. “I can’t help it. I love you.”

I gasped. My brain became scrambled, and I couldn’t think of a single thing to say. I was having heart palpitations to boot. Stu finally focused back on the game, like I’d wanted him to all along. If he kept flirting with me, telling me he loved me, I was in danger of turning into a strawberry right where I sat.

One of these days, luv, you’re gonna let me kiss you again. Everywhere.

He loved me. He truly loved me, and despite my discomfort and embarrassment, I knew without a doubt that I was one of the luckiest women in the world because Stu Cross loved me.

Needless to say, the entire conversation put me off my game, because over the next twenty minutes he easily gained the upper hand and I lost. I was out of the tournament. All because I couldn’t seem to think straight when he was close to me.

I went and sat by Alfie to watch the remaining competitors. My excitement grew the longer Stu remained in the competition, until finally it was just a red-headed guy wearing a Game of Thrones T-shirt and him. Most everyone seemed confused by Stu’s presence, because I don’t think any of them had ever seen a Go player who looked quite like him before. Tall, dark, and gorgeous, tousled brown hair, effortlessly muscular, and a beguiling smile to make women sigh the world over.

My heart was in my throat as I watched the final unfold. Stu was a force to be reckoned with, a natural even though he’d only been playing a while.

“He’s amazing,” said Alfie. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“I know,” I breathed. Stu was amazing. And I was in love with him so much it frightened me. His opponent took the lead for a little while, but soon Stu got the upper hand again, finally winning the game. I cheered way louder than necessary when Jamie announced him the winner and he grinned at me, pleased. He was presented with his prize, and then competitors and spectators alike gathered to congratulate him.

“Not going to go over and give your beau a big sloppy kiss for winning the competition?” Jamie asked coyly, and I shot him a look. He raised his hands in the air. “Just a friendly suggestion.”

“Yes well, I’ve never really been one for public displays of affection,” I replied.

“With a man who looks like that, all women like PDAs. If for no other reason than to ward off other females.” He chuckled, highly amused by his own joke.

I shook my head at him and approached Stu. His expression warmed as soon as he saw me. I muttered a shy “Congratulations” and he knocked the wind out of me when he pulled me into a tight hug. His lips brushed my ear when he asked, “Want to help me celebrate?”

The question was dripping with sexual undertones and a tendril of desire spread through my belly. I pulled back a little, unable to look at him when I answered,

“I, um, ah . . .”

Stu chuckled softly then kissed the edge of my lips. I couldn’t tell if he’d been aiming for my cheek and missed, or if it was intentional.

“I’m going to pop open a bottle of wine,” Jamie announced once most everyone had gone home. There were just a few stragglers still hanging about.