‘Ditzy?’

‘Rob thinks ditzy equals sexy.’

‘And you don’t?’

‘Um, no.’

‘Well, I’m not even going to go there,’ she said and her smile was still in place. ‘I can’t imagine what woman would have tied you to speed dating for more than five minutes. But look, I need to clear up here. If Rob agrees to having Rusty and me…’

‘Of course he’ll agree. I’m the owner.’

‘He’s the manager. I’ll phone and check,’ she said, with a touch of reproof. ‘And I’m paying. Let’s make this formal.’

‘You will not pay.’

‘I’ll pay or I won’t come,’ she said with asperity. ‘And don’t look at me like that. I’ve spent almost nothing in six months, and I’m tired of charity. I know that sounds ungrateful,’ she said, suddenly rueful, ‘but there it is. I’ll phone him, I’ll lock up and I’ll come down later this afternoon.’

He was being dismissed?

‘Can I help clean up?’

‘No,’ she said. ‘Thank you, Dr. Hunter.’

‘Jake,’ he growled. ‘And don’t be pig-headed. I will help you.’

‘Jake, she said, but still with a touch of formality. ‘And pig-headed or not, I’d like to clean up by myself.’

And suddenly he could see her hidden agenda. He could take offence at her knocking back his help-or he could understand.

This place was filled with six months’ memories. She needed to say goodbye on her own terms.

She might well cry again. The thought was bad but he suspected she needed to, and she certainly had the right.

How could he ever have thought her frumpy? How could he ever have thought she was uninteresting?

He gazed down into her troubled face and he thought suddenly, I’d like to hold her again. And then he thought… I’d really like to kiss her. It wasn’t sympathy now. She had so many levels. She was such a woman…