With her purchase in her bag, and a spring in her step she walked over to Little Acorns Book Shop, just to take in all the many titles on the shelves without attracting Libby’s attention. She stood among the bestsellers and indulged in a fantasy that her name adorned one of them. Positive visualisation. Isn’t that what Mags called it? Or cosmic ordering? Something like that. She could do this. She would do this. She’d already taken the first step and tomorrow she’d make the most of meeting Ewan McLachlan.

On a high, Jo arrived at The Ivy Inn shortly before lunchtime and was greeted by the exuberance of a very happy Paddy making a beeline for her, almost knocking her down as he jumped up, eager to have his fur ruffled.

‘Woah there, Paddy! It’s only been a couple of days. Surely you haven’t missed me that much!’

By the way Paddy looked up at her with the soulful expression only a very loved Border collie possesses, she could see that he had indeed missed her that much.

‘I know I’m your favourite,’ she whispered into his ears. ‘If Noah would let you come home and live with me, I know you would. In a flash. Yes, you would!’

‘Are you trying to steal my dog again?’ Jo jumped as she heard Noah’s voice behind her.

‘Where on earth did you come from?’ she asked him.

‘Well, it’s rumoured that I came directly from heaven and that the angels sent me here to make life altogether more pleasant for all those who have the pleasure of knowing me,’ he smiled angelically.

Jo pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow. ‘Noah…’ she said in a warning tone.

‘Okay! You’ve got me. I came from Libby’s. I sneaked over there for a coffee before the lunchtime rush.’

‘Is that what you kids are calling your sneaky snogging sessions in the store cupboard these days?’ she teased.

Noah put his two hands up in a surrender pose. ‘Okay. So maybe there was a little kissing. What can I say? I’m in love. And sometimes you need a little something to get you through the work day.’

Jo mimed sticking her fingers down her throat to throw up, but she couldn’t help but smile. Ever since they’d got together, she’d been sure about them in a way she was never ever sure about anything in her own life. Except, she realised as Paddy pawed at her for attention, that Paddy would do anything for tummy rubs and walks along the quay.

‘Maybe I’ll introduce you to Lorcan today,’ she told a very happy Paddy, ruffling his ears again.

‘Lorcan?’ Noah said. ‘Harry’s grandson? I thought we were officially not fans of his. This sounds very much like it might be gossip.’ He wiggled his eyebrows and moved in closer, and Jo batted at him playfully.