“Then, it’s lucky for both of us that I’m excellent at keeping secrets.” Milly thought about Nicole. “You can trust me. Just tell me that the victim in your book isn’t called Richard.”

“His name is Callum, but I can change it to Richard if you prefer?”

“Definitely not.” She imagined Richard picking the book up and discovering himself dead by her hand. “Stick with Callum. So now you’ve cleared up all the paper, does this mean I can finally clean your floor?”

“If you’re sure that’s okay.”

She laughed. “It’s my job.”

“But not really,” he said and rubbed his hand across his jaw. “It’s only your job because I scared Lorna away.”

“Forest Nest is my business, and I do whatever is needed. Sometimes it’s taking bookings. Sometimes it’s arranging a celebration cake. Sometimes it’s cleaning a floor.”

“And you don’t mind it?”

“Not at all. I love my job. Does that surprise you? It probably seems very boring to you.”

“Boring?” He let his hand drop. “Living here? Working here? Not boring at all. It’s a great life choice.”

Everything he said made her feel better about herself. She could have talked to him all day, but she had work to do and presumably so did he, so she scooped up her empty bags and his damp towel and got to work.

She changed sheets, put fresh fluffy towels in the bathroom and emptied the bins. She flung open windows and did some basic tidying, careful not to touch any of the remaining notes or stray pieces of paper.

As she mopped the kitchen floor she could see him standing on the terrace, staring out over the lake, deep in thought.

His job probably required a great deal of thinking and mental stamina, she decided, whereas hers needed physical stamina.

Her back was aching from too much bending over, and she scooped up the bags of dirty laundry and was on her way to the door when he stopped her.

“I have one question before you go.”

She dropped the laundry bag, aware that her face was probably unattractively hot and sweaty. “What?”

“Is your chocolate fudge cake as good as the key lime pie you brought me the other day?”

She laughed. “That’s for you to decide.”

She was still smiling as she closed the door behind her and headed up the track toward the café to check on the team.

She was halfway there when it occurred to her that for the past hour she hadn’t thought about Richard or what he might or might not be saying to Zoe. She’d been laughing and happy and distracted. And tonight she was going for dinner with Brendan Scott. She was going to wear a dress and put on makeup and do her best to wipe Richard’s words from her memory.