Adele wasn’t looking her best when she answered the door that Saturday morning. She was busy unpacking boxes full of items she’d accumulated since starting work for Peter. Determined to put the flat into some sort of order as soon as possible, she’d grabbed a pair of old jeans and a tatty T-shirt and put them on without taking a shower. She’d do that later once the work was out of the way, then change into something more becoming. Her hair was also tied up chaotically in a bright orange scrunchy that she’d found lying around.

God, she hated moving home! It would be weeks before she could remember where she’d put all her things. While she worked, Adele toyed with the idea of going to the club that evening, depending on how tired she was. She might even accidentally bump into Glynn. On second thoughts, perhaps it wasn’t a good idea.

When the doorbell rang Adele was in the middle of emptying a large box and placing her crockery and cutlery in her kitchen cupboards. She tutted as she raced to answer the door, leaving a pile of discarded plates on the kitchen surface.

‘Glynn!’ she said, surprised to find his handsome face beaming at her from the doorway. She patted her hair, conscious of what a mess she must look. ‘I-I wasn’t expecting visitors.’

‘No worries,’ he said.

‘Erm, come in,’ she said, pulling the door open. ‘I’ll make us a brew.’

He followed her through to the kitchen. ‘Excuse the mess,’ she said. ‘I’m still trying to get the place in order.’

He smiled again. ‘Will you stop fretting? Everything looks fine, and you look great. I thought you might need some help; that’s why I called round.’

‘Really?’ she said, secretly suspecting it was just a pretext. ‘But you might mess up those smart jeans.’

‘Do I look as though I’d be bothered by a bit of dust on my jeans?’ he asked.

This time she smiled. ‘Suppose not,’ she said.

When the kettle boiled she asked, ‘Do you take sugar?’

‘Yes, one spoonful,’ he said.

‘Damn,’ she said. ‘I can’t remember if I’ve put the sugar away.’

She looked around the bottom shelf of the cupboard but couldn’t spot it at first glance.

‘It’s there,’ Glynn said, pointing to the shelf above.

Adele looked up and saw it behind some jars just as Glynn stepped behind her and reached up to the shelf. She turned round, leaving him to get the sugar. Then she became conscious of his close proximity and tried to step aside but his broad frame blocked her way. He smiled at her awkwardness. For a few moments they remained still, the atmosphere between them electric.