Two well-loved leather couches were angled to form an L-shape in front of the fireplace, and aside from the space where a large TV screen hung, the walls were lined with bookshelves. All of them jam-packed.

I marvelled at Dan’s collection, which appeared to include everything from classics to sci-fi and fantasy. I even noticed a copy of my favourite book—The Thorn Birds.

‘This is some library you have here.’

‘Do you read much?’ he asked.

‘I haven’t in the last few years, but it’s something I used to love. I joined the library a few weeks back because I thought I might have some more time up here, although I reckon you might have more books than they do,’ I said, referring to the tiny town library attached to the primary school.

He laughed. ‘My ex-wife called it my addiction, but I always told her there were worse ones.’ There was a moment of silence and I almost asked him about his wife, but the moment passed before I got the guts up. ‘Anyway, you’re welcome to borrow them any time you like,’ he said.

‘Thank you.’ It was the first time Dan had referred directly to his past relationship and I desperately wanted to know more, but it seemed like a conversation we should work up to. Instead, I pointed towards the coffee table that held a half-completed jigsaw puzzle, a pair of black-rimmed glasses beside it. ‘And you like puzzles as well?’

He gave me a sheepish grin. ‘See, now you know I’m not trying to impress you. If this was a date, I’d definitely have done my best to hide my nerdy tendencies, but as it’s not, I may as well tell you that I also have a whole room full of Meccano models and I only finished the last one a few weeks ago.’

I laughed—it was impossible not to relax at his words. ‘My son loves Meccano and I don’t mind the odd puzzle myself.’

‘Well, feel free to have a go at it while I make dinner,’ Dan said. ‘This one is proving to be a real doozy. Or if you’d rather you can come sit at the breakfast bar while I cook?’

Both choices were appealing in different ways. ‘What are you making?’

‘A creamy lobster linguine. It’s my specialty and it’ll go perfectly with your wine,’ he said, nodding towards the wine bottle I’d almost forgotten in my hand.

Lobster? It was all I could do not to screw up my nose. Why hadn’t I considered that a man who lived, breathed and worked the ocean would favour seafood as well? Too late to tell him I didn’t. I’d just have to swallow it down with wine and hope he followed it up with something more appetising for dessert.

Dammit, that’s what I should have brought. Dessert would have been safe!