Holly smiled. It was no surprise, looking around at the shop, that customers often assumed she was a practising Pagan – especially with the long hair and the flowery dress, she thought. ‘And to you,’ she said. She wasn’t really in the frame of mind to set him right. ‘Is there anything I can help you with?’

‘I’d love some of those beeswax candles to take back home with me for my altar,’ he said as he wandered over to the corner where Holly had created a display of them, all sourced from a local hive owner just outside Cheddar.

‘Sure,’ Holly replied. ‘Just select the ones you want and I’ll wrap them for you.’ She grabbed her roll of tissue paper from under the counter and, when the customer brought over his selection, she began to wrap them. She was so engrossed, she didn’t notice until she looked up again that there was someone else the other side of the counter; Charlie.

‘Hey,’ she said. ‘You’re a bit early.’

‘Couldn’t keep myself away,’ he said huskily.

The customer coughed discreetly. ‘Er… how much do I owe you?’

‘Oh, yes, right.’ Holly rang in the figures and hurriedly took the proffered debit card for a contactless payment. ‘This still feels like the real magic,’ she quipped, as the payment went through with a wave of the card near the reader. Slipping the candles into one of her recycled brown paper bags, she handed them over to the customer, who bid his goodbyes and then left.

Charlie gave her a suggestive smile. ‘Is it wrong to get turned on looking at you handling those candles?’

Holly laughed. ‘I’d say you’re flattering yourself, but I know, after last night, that you’re not!’

Charlie pulled her close. ‘Well, if you say it, then it must be true.’

They kissed for a moment, but, mindful she was keeping the shop open and anyone could come walking through the door, Holly broke the embrace. ‘Behave. Or I’ll have to spank you with one of my larger lavender and heather sprigs.’

‘Promises, promises,’ Charlie grinned. ‘Didn’t you know politicians are well known for their… interests?’

‘I didn’t realise S&M was one of yours,’ Holly said. ‘Fifty Shades of Westminster?’ She pushed him away playfully. ‘If you’re not busy, you can go and wait in the flat if you want. I’m keeping this place open until twelve o’clock and then we can head out for our picnic.’

‘I’ll head off to Jack’s for a coffee, if he’s opened up this morning,’ Charlie replied. ‘Shall I come back after twelve?’

When she didn’t respond immediately, Charlie took her hand. ‘Is everything OK?’