I shrugged. ‘You ran away when you realised you had feelings for me. You’ve had six days to get your head round this, to fight the guilt and to think about what you want. What have I had? Six days of radio silence, wondering if I’ll ever hear from you again. And now here you are, more relaxed and focused than I’ve ever seen you, putting yourself out there without expecting anything in return and I don’t know how to respond.’

He brushed his thumb over the back of my hand, sending a tantalizing fizz shooting up my arm. ‘Just be honest with me. I know you need time to think but, if it’s a categoric no, never, not any time, you can say. I can take it.’

His tentative smile melted my heart. ‘It’s not a no but it’s not a yes, either. It’s definitely a possibility.’

He lifted my hand to his lips and gently kissed it, sending tingles along my arm and through my body. ‘Thank you.’

Time. That’s what I needed. I also needed to change the subject before I lunged across the table and kissed him. ‘So, how long are you up for?’

‘A week. Which means I can meet with your mum if she’s still up for it.’

‘You’d still do that? I got nowhere with the hospital and I’ve been that busy sorting out the mess at the shop that I haven’t been able to chase it again.’

We chatted about my first week as Deputy Head Bear-Keeper at Bear With Me, what happened with Mum when I’d returned to Bear’s Pad on Sunday afternoon, and how much Tiff, Leah and Drew were missing me. Apparently Tiff and Drew had demanded that Sam join them for an after-work drink on Wednesday and all they’d talked about was how empty the flat was without me and how they couldn’t wait to come up and visit.

‘Aw, I miss them too,’ I said. ‘Please send my love next time you see them. I FaceTimed Leah on Tuesday and she insisted I make her a Ju-Sea Jem Bear so she can always have part of me close-by. I was making two for my boss, Owen, so I’ve paused those and I’ve started on Leah’s. I should have it finished before you go back so you could maybe deliver it for me.’

‘Removals, courier, relationship advice. So many businesses to run. I had no idea Thor would turn out to be such a versatile campervan.’

Picturing Thor, I said, ‘Will you manage to get much surfing done while you’re here or is it too cold?’