I watch the crane swinging a girder into position, with much hand signalling and shouting from a hard-hatted man below.

“Does it feel exciting?” I ask my Master.

He grins. “It does actually. The pilings and foundations have been in for a few weeks, but this is the first part of the actual structure.”

“How long will it take?”

He rocks his hand. “Should be more or less complete by the time you’re back at Christmas.”

“And your beautiful bridge will join the old and the new parts of the City.”

He gazes down at me. “Do I detect a philosophical edge to that?”

Slipping my fingers into his hand. “You’ve been my bridge between the Old and the New…”

He says nothing, but kisses me softly, a hand on my cheek. Then, “Michael should be turning up soon. We thought you might like to go out for dinner this evening….”

“A farewell party?”

“We won’t see each other for a few weeks.”

“I’ll come back some weekends.”

“I know, but you can’t do too much of it. You need to knuckle down to work once you’re back at college…. Ah, here he is….”

A van pulls up, white and be-logo’ed; ‘Life and Fitness’.

Michael gets out, rubbing his arms, blowing into his hands. “Summer’s definitely over.”

“It’s not that cold,” I say.

“Two months of beach sunshine, and it feels bloody freezing to me.”

I notice his expression, amused. “Something wrong?” I ask.

“I’ve never seen you in a hard hat and steel-toed boots before.”

My Master snorts a laugh. “Get used to it.” Then he gets called away, one of the men shouting questions at him, waving papers.

Michael leans my way, speaking quietly. “You know, you’re giving me fantasies in that outfit that never occurred to me before.”

“What?” I laugh. “Dressed like this?”

He grabs my hand, pulling me with him. “But….” I wave towards my Master.

“He’s happy. Leave him with it for a while.”

He pulls me towards the van, opening the doors, his eyes dancing as he head-points me inside.

“Michael….” I protest. “What if someone notices?”

“Then move quickly, so they don’t. Get inside.”

I climb in, and he pulls the doors closed behind us. The van is half filled with large cartons and boxes. “What is all this stuff?”

“Gym equipment. We’re expanding.copy right hot novel pub