‘Of course.’ He stood up. ‘Let me get you a fresh towel.’

Evan gazed up at Irena when his father headed into the utility room and tipped his head to one side.

‘Nice accent. Where are you from?’

‘Prague,’ she replied shyly.

‘Cool place,’ he said. ‘I went over there with some mates for a stag weekend a few years back. Can’t remember the name of the town where we stayed, but the locals were really friendly.’

‘Some are nice, some not so.’

‘And what brought you here? Only, I can’t imagine it was our crappy weather that attracted you.’

‘I came look for work,’ Irena said, smiling at Frank when he came back with a towel. Nodding at Evan, she said, ‘Goodnight, Even. It is nice to meet you.’

‘It’s Evan, and the pleasure’s all mine,’ he drawled, leaning back in his chair to watch as she walked out into the hall and up the stairs. Whistling softly through his teeth when she’d gone, he turned back to Frank.

‘Christ, that accent’s sexy. She doesn’t sound much like the birds I met when I went over there, though.’

‘Probably from a different region,’ said Frank. ‘Anyway, it’s snowing again, so you’d best drink up and get going.’

‘I might stay over,’ Evan said, taking a swig of tea.

‘No, you won’t,’ Frank countered firmly.

‘Oh, aye?’ Evan grinned. ‘Cramping your style, am I?’

‘No, I just don’t want you getting stuck out here if the weather gets any worse.’

‘I’ve got the works’ fourby for the week, and it can handle a bit of snow.’

‘You’re not staying, and that’s the end of it.’

Evan’s smirk told Frank that his son suspected he had an ulterior motive for wanting him gone. He was right, but not for the reasons he clearly thought. Frank had never particularly taken to his daughter-in-law, but Evan had married her, and if they were having troubles, he needed to tackle them head-on instead of running away. And staying here, in the company of a woman he was obviously attracted to, would not help him to do that.

Relieved when Evan drank his tea without further argument, Frank saw him out and then locked and bolted the door before going into the living room to damp the fire and collect the glasses he and Irena had used. She’d finished her wine, but his glass was still half-full, so he quickly drained it before carrying them both into the kitchen.

Heading upstairs after washing up and switching the lights off, he reached the landing as Irena was coming out of the bathroom. She had the towel wrapped around her body, and her wet hair was dripping onto her bare shoulders.

‘Thank you for let me shower,’ she said, gazing shyly up at him from beneath her lashes. ‘It feel nice to be clean.’