‘I know exactly.’ Sighing, she laid her cutlery neatly on her empty plate. ‘It’s so I don’t have to stay with her. I’ve called my parents – they’re in southern Belgium – and they agree that if Nan’s going to stay with Brett there’s no need for me to be here.’

‘Oh.’ He hadn’t quite finished his meal but his appetite switched off. ‘Will you stay in the village?’

‘Not sure.’ She fidgeted. Expressions he couldn’t read flitted across her face. Then she screwed up her face and blurted, ‘Nico, if you want help with the children now your dad’s in hospital, would you like me to go to Sweden with you?’

His heart hopped like a frog in a frying pan. ‘Oh, jeez, yes,’ he managed huskily.

Hannah barged on, her cheeks glowing with colour. ‘Nan’s convinced you’ll leap at it because I speak Swedish reasonably well and the kids know me, so you could leave them with me and know I could take them around OK. But the more I think about it the more I think inviting myself along is crazy! Your family won’t necessarily be able to put me up and I expect you can cope with one hand tied behind your back. Offering feels intrusive and cheesy. Although it would also be convenient for me if I could make a dash to Stockholm to sort out a business matter while I’m in Sweden.’

‘It would be perfect,’ he got in more loudly.

She stopped. Her gaze flew to his. ‘What would?’

‘It would be incredibly kind and appreciated if you’d come,’ he said simply. ‘Apart from speaking Swedish, you’re dependable and independent. It would be a weight off my shoulders to know that whatever happens with Dad there’s someone there to take care of the girls.’ To hide the fact that his throat was tightening – and he’d already shed tears in front of this woman – he reached for his laptop. ‘Let’s see if I can get you on our flight.’ Then he stopped, conscious of silence from the other side of the table and big, aquamarine eyes fixed on him. ‘Or am I moving too fast?’

She laughed uncertainly. ‘No. Maybe. I thought you’d hum and haw and talk things over with your family.’

A grin took charge of his face and he opened the British Airways site with fingers metaphorically crossed that there would still be an available seat. The screen flickered and flashed and offered ticket availability. ‘In or out?’ he asked, finger hovering over the buy button.

She gave an incredulous giggle. ‘In!’