He shook his head. ‘Granted, I’ve had some success with the business but the money means nothing to me. I lost the thing that really mattered to me. You.’

Sam was so astonished she laughed out loud. ‘Me? A stressed-out girl from Porthmellow who runs a pie van? Oh, come on, I’ve seen you with other women on the news sites. Glamorous women. Wasn’t one of them a Lady?’

‘None of them could hold a candle to you.’

Sam forced another laugh but her hands were shaky. A lump formed in her throat. Oh shit. The exhaustion, the stress of the festival, the emotions and the booze at three in the morning on an empty stomach – they’d all got to her. ‘It’s this grown-up hot chocolate making us talk like this. I wish I hadn’t drunk it, perhaps I should have left.’ Perhaps she still should go, she thought.

‘It’s true and being grown-up is vastly overrated, but I’m glad you stayed.’

This was all going too fast, much too fast. ‘You’ve had too much of the grown-up hot chocolate, too, Gabe.’

‘Maybe, but I’ve never seen more clearly in my life. Please can we try again?’ Gabe moved away slightly. ‘I’ll let it go if you don’t want to … but why not?’

His dark eyes were intense. Serious, longing … All the youthful feelings of lust and love flooded back. She might only have this one chance. They’d moved so far since he’d arrived back in Porthmellow. She glimpsed a moment beyond tonight when they might move even closer, but how could she build a new life with someone who had once destroyed the life they had together?

She tried to stand up, wobbled a little. ‘I really ought to go.’

‘Why?’ Gabe got up and steadied her.

‘Because I don’t trust myself.’

‘To do what?’

She was terrified she might forgive him and restart her life. Their lives. Imperfect. Far from even approaching perfect, but finally moving in the right direction: towards each other not further away.

‘This.’ She reached up, put her arms around his neck and kissed him. What the hell was she doing? Even as Gabe kissed her back, she was still asking the question and answering it with: ‘I don’t care.’

How long had it been? Rewind to the moment before Gabe had walked into the cottage that night to tell her about Ryan. Rewind all of that and wipe the tape. Focus on now. On this very instant. Take it a second at a time. Gabe’s mouth on hers. That feathery way he kissed, little light kisses that she knew would lead to so much more. The delight in his eyes when he realised that she was staying. The taste of him; sweet cherry and smoky bourbon. The kiss ended and she licked her lips and giggled.

‘What?’