‘I don’t know about that,’ Olivia said uncertainly. ‘He’s probably working out how to have fun at my expense, just like the last feller who pretended to show an interest in me.’

Maude frowned. ‘Come on, Liv, you can’t compare him to that ratbag.’

Olivia was unconvinced. ‘I’ve got eyes in my head, and Corporal Stebbins is drop-dead gorgeous. If he’s interested in me it’s only to see whether I can hold a barrage balloon down on my own.’

‘Well, I’d be very surprised if he turned out to be a rotter,’ said Maude defensively. ‘He seemed very open and honest to me. Besides, he can’t be mean when he’s teaching you – I’m sure that’s against the rules.’

Olivia laughed. ‘I hope you’re right,’ and she meant every word of it. Ever since Ted, she had built a barrier to stop anyone from hurting her again, but this man had walked straight through it without so much as a by your leave; he’d not even been put off by her frosty attitude. She couldn’t explain why he was the first man in such a long time to reach out and touch her, but she was glad he had, because there was something fascinating about him. She supposed it was the way he looked at her, as though he knew her inside out. She thought of his bright blue eyes and how they had twinkled at her, and a faint smile tweaked her lips.

Maude grinned at Olivia. ‘Doesn’t take much to guess who is causing that smile.’

Olivia pulled a face. ‘You’d have to be blind not to see how incredibly good-looking he is, which makes me question why he was being so nice to me.’

Maude rolled her eyes. ‘Is it really so impossible for you to believe he might actually find you attractive?’

Olivia looked down at her waistline and nodded. ‘Yes. Not just because I’m a big girl, but … In the words of my father, I’m second-hand goods, which no one in their right mind would want.’

Maude glowered. ‘I don’t know your father personally, nor would I want to, but I know how spiteful he can be from the things you’ve told me, and I wouldn’t listen to a word that left his lips, never mind believe any of it, so why would you?’

Olivia shrugged. ‘Because it’s true.’ She lowered her voice, ‘I’ve already had a baby out of wedlock, and even though I don’t broadcast it, I reckon I must have some sort of invisible writing on my forehead which tells all the fellers what I’m like.’

‘Well, if that’s the case then they should be queuing up, because you’re a wonderful woman with a kind heart who would go out of her way to help a complete stranger like me.’