‘My God.’ He took his hand away. ‘What are you going to do? I can’t wait here. A bus could come along any time. Do you want me to park up and we’ll go and look for him?’

Sam sank back in her seat. ‘No. Yes. Arggh, I don’t know. That guy was so much like him.’

‘It has been ten years, Sam,’ Gabe said softly.

‘I’d know my own brother.’ She closed her eyes and leaned back against the leather. Gabe’s gentle tone had made her angry, but not at him. She hadn’t meant to snap, but she was so shocked to see the guy, so sure in that split second that it had been her brother. ‘I’m sorry. Maybe I was mistaken.’

‘Maybe.’

‘He had a beard, but he did look about the right age … and you know Ryan used to scrunch up his shoulders and shove his hands in his pockets when he was nervous or anxious?’

‘Yeah, I remember. I’ll turn around if you really want me to.’

Sam was torn. The man hadn’t seemed part of the group even though he was with them. It was hard to explain, but she had a feeling he didn’t know them that well. It could have been her brother, but it might also have been a random ginger bloke out for a drink with his mates. Besides, there was no reason whatsoever for Ryan to be back in Cornwall and if it had been him, surely Gabe would have recognised him too?

He laid his hand over hers again. ‘Look. It’s late. It’s dark. I’m not saying it wasn’t him, but why would he be here? If he was, why hasn’t he been in contact?’

Everything he said made sense yet her skin still prickled with unease. ‘Yes. You’re right,’ she said. She leaned back in her seat. ‘I must be seeing things. I’m knackered.’

She closed her eyes, trying to shut out the sense of disappointment and the way she’d felt about Gabe touching her. She could still feel the warmth and weight of his hand over hers. It had been a long time since he’d touched her like that. It had felt good – right.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said.

She opened her eyes to find him staring ahead through the screen. His knuckles were white on the wheel.

‘What for, exactly?’ she said.

‘Everything.’

‘Everything?’ What did that mean? Shopping Ryan or coming back to Porthmellow again and turning her life upside down? Or something else?

‘I’ll turn around and we’ll look for him if you really want me to,’ he said, his hand resting on the gear selector.

Sam shook her head. ‘No. It probably wasn’t him. You didn’t recognise him, did you?’

‘I had my eyes on the road so I couldn’t say for sure.’