‘What is it with you two?’ Charlie asked. ‘This is more than just opposing politics, isn’t it?’

Holly sighed. ‘You could say that. When my grandfather was alive, he and Miles had a kind of feud, all stemming back to them being in school. That extended through their lives, and, unbeknown to me, when I put in an offer for the freehold of what was to become ComIncense, Miles already had plans to turn the building into a second site for his bakery. He never really got over that I’d bought the place, and with my inheritance from grandfather, too. Ever since, he’s been trying to discredit me and my shop but has never managed to do so. I suppose he now thinks that because you and I are, well, whatever we are, he’s going to lose an ally.’ She sighed. ‘He and Hugo Fitzgerald were big mates, going back years, and he clearly wants to maintain that connection with the new guy. I figure Miles dislikes the fact that you and I are getting closer and that he can’t count on you, like he did Hugo, to support him if he starts making trouble again.’

‘So that’s what you were arguing about?’ Charlie said. ‘He’s been putting pressure on you?’

‘Not exactly pressure,’ Holly said hurriedly. ‘I mean, he’s not been physically intimidating or anything, more a kind of word-of-mouth campaign to slag me and the shop off whenever he can.’

‘Well, if he carries on, let me know and I’ll do something about it,’ Charlie said.

‘With your MP’s hat on or your, er, friendship hat on?’ Holly smiled.

Charlie drew Holly closer, so they were both standing underneath the archway. ‘With the hat that says I want to be a little bit more than friends,’ he said gruffly.

Despite the rising warmth of the day, Holly shivered as their bodies drew closer. She wanted him so much, despite their being worlds apart ideologically these days. Who knows what would have happened if they’d taken things further all those years ago? Perhaps she’d have become the perfect politician’s wife, with the perfect family, all Boden dresses and sending the children to small, fee-paying schools? However, that was then, and this was most definitely now. Things were different; they were different. But try telling that to her raging emotions. She couldn’t fight her attraction to Charlie any more than she could stop the sun moving round Willowbury Hill.

Charlie’s hand snaked around her waist, closing the final gap between them, and with his other hand, he reached up and gently removed the dark glasses she’d borrowed from her sister. ‘It’s OK,’ he murmured. ‘We’re in the shade enough to hopefully not aggravate your hangover!’