‘Still gorgeous, though,’ Charlie stroked a stray tendril of hair back from Holly’s face. ‘I’ve got a hectic weekend coming up,’ he said. ‘A couple of events and a whole pile of paperwork to get my head around. But we need to continue this conversation. Will you text me if you get a moment? Perhaps we can meet before I head off to Westminster again.’

‘I’d like that,’ Holly murmured. ‘And I’m sorry it can’t be now.’

‘Me too.’ Charlie pulled her close again and felt another surge of heat. ‘But we will find the time, I promise.’

Kissing her deeply, one last time, he headed towards her front door. Although his body was tingling from their contact, his mind felt free of the niggling, nagging feeling he’d had since he’d met her again. His discomfiture suddenly all made sense. With a surge of excitement that his adolescent self would have been proud of, he headed off home, determined to see Holly again before the weekend was out.

18

‘I’m sorry to drag you over here on a Friday night,’ Rachel said as she flipped the kettle on in the kitchen. ‘I honestly thought I had all bases covered, but then I realised I was completely out of Creon, and Harry’s been so low lately, I just didn’t dare risk not giving it to him, even for one night.’

Holly felt a stab of sympathy for her sister. Rachel looked preternaturally tired, more than the usual tiredness that came from looking after a young child, especially one with Harry’s condition. Although she worked in Holly’s shop a couple of shifts a week, the added stress of looking after Harry when he had one of his wobbles was obviously taking its toll on her. Despite the fact that her sister had got into a brilliant routine over the years, ensuring Harry took his medication like clockwork, like any parent, she had her good and bad days. Being a lone parent was an added strain, although she dealt with it in the same calm, efficient way she handled everything in her life. Holly was constantly in awe.

‘It’s fine, sis, don’t worry about it. I wasn’t, er, busy.’ Holly felt her cheeks start to burn as she remembered just what she’d been doing about an hour ago, before Rachel’s call.

‘Are you sure I didn’t drag you away from anything?’ Rachel said. ‘Weren’t you supposed to be seeing the Honourable Charlie tonight?’

‘Well, yeah,’ Holly admitted. ‘In fact, you caught us in the middle of, well, not exactly that, but…’

Rachel, tired as she appeared, perked up instantly. ‘Oh yes? Do tell!’

‘Nothing to tell,’ Holly said quickly. ‘Except…’

‘What? Spill!’

Holly giggled in a most un-Holly-like way. ‘He’s rather a good kisser.’