She glanced at Charlie as she reached for the white-wine bottle and topped up his glass as well as her own. His face was slightly flushed from the wine, and he was leaning back in his dining chair. As he picked up his glass to take a sip, her eyes were drawn to his throat and his gorgeous hand holding the wine glass. She nearly choked on her own wine.

‘Are you OK?’ Charlie immediately put his glass down and turned to her in concern.

‘Fine,’ Holly gasped. ‘Thanks.’

‘Have some water,’ Edward Renton passed his daughter a tumbler. ‘Honestly, we can’t take you anywhere!’

‘Thanks, Dad,’ Holly muttered.

When her breathing had returned to normal, she turned back to Charlie. ‘Shall we go and sit outside? Mum and Dad’s patio is a real suntrap.’ She glanced at Rachel and Harry; the little boy had done remarkably well at sitting quietly at the table, and she smiled. ‘Do you want to come outside with me and Charlie and show him the chickens?’

‘Yeah!’ Harry shouted, slithering down from his chair. Rushing round to Charlie, he grabbed his hand. Holly felt a glow of pleasure at how easily the two had taken to each other.

Charlie, smiling, allowed himself to be pulled to his feet by the little boy and led towards the patio doors that opened out into the Rentons’ large back garden.

‘I’ll put the kettle on,’ Rachel said. ‘Tea or coffee, Charlie?’

‘Coffee, please,’ Charlie replied. ‘I’ve got a train to catch back to London later, so I’d better try to stay awake after that amazing lunch.’ He turned back to Harry, who was dragging him towards the patio.

Holly, smiling, got up from her chair and followed, but not before her mother had shot her a he’s-pretty-nice look from under her lashes. Holly pretended not to notice.

Sliding open the doors that filled the entire wall of her parents’ lounge diner, Holly felt the sun on her face and automatically turned her gaze upwards. She loved the early summer sun and was glad to be out in it. She glanced back at Charlie, who, attention momentarily diverted from Harry, was watching her. ‘What?’ she said teasingly.

‘The sunlight really suits you,’ Charlie said softly. ‘Catches the light in your hair. It’s like you were born to live in this season.’

‘That’s quite poetic for a politician!’ Holly laughed nervously. ‘Are you sure you’ve not been passive-smoking marijuana?’

Charlie laughed too, as he stepped out of the patio door, still being led by Harry. ‘I hope not. I still don’t know if the rumour that we get tested for drugs occasionally is actually true!’

‘Come on, Aunty Holly!’ Harry’s little voice piped up, now fed up of the lingering adults as he took off down to the bottom of the garden where the chicken coop resided.