“I’ve met someone, H.” He’d looked terrified and relieved all at once, and that had told Hermione everything she needed to know.

“And you love her?”

Taken aback by her blunt response, Stephen had opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, then nodded. “Yes. I’m so sorry.”

“Okay.” To this day, she had no idea how she’d remained so calm.

Or did she? How did one stay calm when breaking up with one’s boyfriend of three years?

Maybe if one hadn’t been as deeply in love as one thought…

Hermione shook her head, hoping to dislodge the unpleasant memories of the recent past. It didn’t matter now, anyway. It was over. She’d insisted on taking the trip to Budapest—mainly to spite him, so he couldn’t whisk his new girlfriend away on the romantic weekend break that she’d planned and booked. No way. If he wanted to romance his new woman, he could damn well organise it himself.

As she emerged into the main space of the tour boat, she worried there wasn’t enough room for her and she might have to share a table with someone else. Not that it would be the end of the world, but over the past couple of days in the Hungarian capital, she’d become accustomed to her own company, even begun enjoying it. And the beautiful city had been more than enough of a distraction, in any case.

Fortunately, she spotted a table tucked away at the back, and made for it. Taking the seat beside the window, she returned her attention to the view. Peering up at Buda Castle, perched imposingly on the hill, the funicular railway carrying people up and down the steep incline, she looked forward to seeing the building when it was full dark. Not just the castle, but also the citadel atop Gellert Hill, the Gellert Spa, the Fishermen’s Bastion, and, of course, the Hungarian Parliament building.

In spite of the stunning view, she sighed. Travelling alone hadn’t been the original plan. This long weekend was meant to be a romantic getaway for her and Stephen before they both went back to their respective universities at opposite ends of England to complete the final year of their degrees. He’d been acting weird in the run up to the Christmas break, and when they’d both arrived in their hometown and met up, he’d seemed odder still. Gentle questioning had gotten Hermione nowhere, so she’d just left Stephen to his strange mood, resolving not to let him ruin Christmas with her family.

Apparently he’d had the same idea. The day after Boxing Day, everything became clear.

Her smile widened as she studied the man who’d spoken. He looked to be around her age—early twenties, and damn cute. Dark, slightly overlong hair curled on his head, deep brown eyes gave him an intensity that increased the flutters in her heart, and the dimpled smile he flashed as he replied lit up his handsome face. “It is happy hour. Two drinks for price of one.” He paused, looked at the empty seat beside her, then glanced over his shoulder as though checking if anyone was coming to join her at the table. “But perhaps you would only like one? Maybe I can see if yours can be half price…”

“It’s okay,” she replied firmly. “I’m going to be on the boat for a while, I’m sure I can manage two drinks. I don’t have to have them at the same time, do I?”

He shook his head. “No. I will be serving on the other boat in a moment, so I will look after you and your drinks to make sure you get special price.”

Immediately following his mention of an additional boat, a loud voice rang out. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are now ready for you to board the tour boat. Please be very careful while stepping from one boat to the other. As soon as you are all seated, we will begin the trip. Thank you.”

It was then Hermione realised that as she’d been gazing out of the window to one side, a smaller boat had pulled up alongside the one she was on. Everyone was getting up and moving to the staircase. “Thank you,” Hermione said, glancing at the man’s name badge. “Emil. I would absolutely like to take you up on your offer.”

He smiled, and she returned the gesture, only allowing the grimace to take over her face once she was out of his view. She was glad of any language barriers at that moment—hopefully it had prevented Emil recognising the blatant double entendre in her words, inadvertent though it had been.