She rubbed the tip of her finger against his nose. Gabe held his breath. She had no idea what she was doing to him. She was dressed casually as ever, in a vest and denim skirt that showed off her slim figure and shapely legs. Her cheeks were glowing from a day spent outdoors and the sun had bleached natural highlights in her hair. Gabe’s brain scrambled. He was in trouble here. Deep trouble.

‘Sam.’

The syllable was all he got out before his arms were around her waist and he was kissing her. Wow. The feel of her. The taste of her … after more than eleven years …

She pulled away moments after he touched her.

‘Gabe. I can’t handle this right now.’

‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—’

‘No. I – Thanks for doing this. Stepping in, today … the committee are really grateful for your help.’

‘You’re welcome … I’m not only doing it for the festival, but you must know that. I want to repair some of the damage I’ve done.’

‘In my experience, some things aren’t worth repair. It’s better to start all over again.’

‘And could you – start all over again?’

‘I don’t know … Ask me after this is over. If you plan on sticking around,’ she said. ‘But now I have to concentrate on the festival.’ Her voice was a plea.

Gabe nodded. He knew when to back off, even when every cell of his body was screaming at him to kiss her again. It was obvious that gaining Sam’s trust would be a long hard road and he had to tread carefully if he was ever to have a chance of winning her back.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chloe took more than a few calming breaths as Drew drove away from the flat and out of Bristol. Soon after they were heading far away from the suburbs and onto the M5. After rehearsing what she was going to say to Fraser, Chloe called him, but his mobile went straight to answerphone. She tried Hannah again, got her answerphone, so followed it up with a text and a WhatsApp, which was delivered but not marked as being read. She was past caring about harassing Hannah. This was an emergency.

She leaned back against the headrest and stared out at the flat Somerset fields. The green grass flew by but all she could think of was a variety of scenarios involving Hannah and Ruby, none of them particularly pleasant. She could be back with Jordan or in a hotel or a grim B&B. Chloe had no idea if Hannah had any money to spend on a safe, clean place to stay with Ruby. Why had she left at all if Jordan had paid the rent or she had the means?

Fraser called as they’d crossed the border from Devon north of Launceston. Predictably he was worried and it all came out in an angry rant against Jordan.