A huge grin stretched itself across his face that Clancy was thinking about Nelson’s Bar in the long term. ‘If hunting me is what you’ve been doing for the past couple of weeks then I’m not tired of it yet.’ He watched her pacing in the limited area between the table and the white pot sink.

But suddenly apprehension won control of her expression. ‘But, seriously,’ she said, pausing, ‘it has only been a couple of weeks. If I buy into the B&B then I’d be around indefinitely. What I don’t want—’ she hesitated, obviously choosing her words ‘—is for me to do something either one of us later regrets.’

‘Right.’ He processed her words, watching her continue to fidget. Either one of us she’d said … so this wasn’t necessarily about him feeling ‘hunted’. His grin faded a notch. She was still trying to extricate herself from one man, Will, with whom she’d shared not just a home but a business as well. Back in July it had taken an emotional toll on her to return to her old life specifically to tear it apart. He’d focused on the positives of that, particularly the positives that affected him, but it must have been hard and stressful. He didn’t blame her if she was now wary of tying herself to anything. Or anyone.

‘Am I overthinking?’ she demanded, when he said no more.

‘Of course not. It’s a huge decision and I don’t think you should take it lightly.’ He wanted to catch her to him but her continuous pacing was putting distance between them. Was he supposed to sweep her into a happy dance because buying into the B&B would mean she’d stay? Or remain neutral while she made the best decision for her, regardless of him? He watched, hoping for a clue.

She stopped pacing to stare into his eyes. ‘Decisions can be easy to make but hard to overturn.’

So it was the enormity of reversing out of her London life that was on her mind. He tried the neutral thing. ‘I think you should do what’s best for you.’

She dropped her gaze. ‘That’s sensible. I suppose I don’t even know there’s a decision to make until Kaz has talked to Oli, so I can just shelve it for now.’ She smiled. ‘Thank you for your input,’ she added brightly.

He frowned. He’d already learned to distrust her bright voice. It was what she used when she didn’t want you to know what she was thinking. ‘Input? I feel as if you were all enthusiastic and I brought you down to earth,’ he said hesitantly. This time he did slip his arms around her, pulling her to him and stilling her restless movements, wanting to feel her against him, as if she’d be able to absorb all his questions through her skin and give him reassuring answers.

She leaned her cheek on his shoulder so he couldn’t see her face. ‘I’m a down-to-earth person,’ she said resolutely. ‘Both feet, firmly planted.’ Then she freed herself to return to working on the village website on her laptop.