Romance relies on this go-between (9)

I believe the answer is:

middleman

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'go-between' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

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(Other definitions for middleman that I've seen before include "He comes between producer and consumer" , "He acts between producer and consumer" , "Retailer or intermediary" , "Intermediate" , "Go-between" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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