I bite down a laugh. Children’s movies have a lot to be answer for. “Maybe. I think he’ll have to stay on the mountain, though.”

That seems to be a good enough answer as she settles back in her seat and smiles.

Thankfully, the path seems quite clear. The ice can be dangerous, but I know the road well and where there are problems.

Before too long, I make a right turn into the driveway and Richard’s house looms ahead. It’s a beautiful two-storey place with huge windows and high ceilings. I bet anything it’s toasty warm inside, unlike my car, which has what I refer to as a ‘sometimes heater’.

Pulling up outside, I grab my jacket from the passenger seat and slide it on. The car’s warm, but up here it’ll be freezing. After zipping it right up, I pull a woollen hat down over my ears and slide my gloves on.

Melly laughs when I turn to talk to her, the collar of my jacket zipped up over my mouth.

“Be good. I’ll be back in a minute.”

She nods, the pompom on the top of her hat waving around. I really need to stitch that damn hat back up before she loses it. She’s so attached to it because I made it for her, but while the knitting’s solid, my sewing is apparently not too hot.

I open the door of the car, reaching for the insulated bag and sliding the contents out. Grabbing the thickshake from the drink holder, I walk the short distance to the front door.

Ringing the doorbell, I pray that he hears it. Last time I was here, he didn’t at first and this stupid house is so big, it takes an age for him to walk from one end to the other. I also have no patience being up there. There’s a marked difference in temperature between the mountain and the town.

“Come on, Richard.” I stamp my feet to try and get warm. The sooner I get back to the warmth of the diner, the better.

“Sorry.”

I hear him before I see him, and his voice causes me to catch my breath. It’s so familiar.

It still takes a moment for it to register once the door swings open.

That’s not Richard.

He’s has a towel wrapped around his waist, and nothing else. I drag my eyes up from his towel to see a dark trail of hair from his navel into those trunks, and I know I’m still staring as I make my way over a very impressive set of abs, to an even more impressive pair of pecs covered in a light dusting of dark hair.

And there it is. That handsome face with stubble and those dark eyes—eyes I’ve drowned in before.

“I … I …”

Josh.