Flora glanced at the clock on the wall. Seven o’clock. The chances were that most of Glenmore would be in the Stag’s Head at this hour on a Friday night. She stood up. ‘I’m really sorry to abandon you, but I’m going for a drink. There’s something I need to say to Conner.’

The Stag’s Head was crowded with locals and heads turned as Flora opened the door and paused, her eyes scanning the room.

‘Hey, Flora.’ Ben smiled at her from behind the bar. ‘You look like a woman in need of a drink. What can I get you?’

‘In a minute, Ben, thanks.’ Finally she spotted Conner and just at that moment he lifted his eyes and saw her. Ice-blue melded with brown and for a moment she just stood still, her heart pounding and her cheeks flaming red, unable to look away or move.

‘Hi, Flora,’ a couple of the locals called out to her, and she gave a vague smile but didn’t respond.

If she didn’t do this right away, she’d lose her nerve.

She let the door close behind her and wove her way through the chattering throng towards his table.

His eyes narrowed, but his gaze didn’t shift from hers and from behind her came the sound of wolf whistles and good-natured laughter.

‘Hey, Conner, looks like our Flora’s got something to say to you.’

‘Have you been a naughty boy, Con?’

The cat calls and teasing continued and Flora stopped next to him, realising with a flash of desperation that her plan was never going to work. She did have something to say, but the pub was so noisy that no one was ever going to hear her. And she needed them to hear.

‘Flora?’ Conner’s voice was wary and for a moment she just looked at him, wondering how she was going to do this.

She opened her mouth to speak and then closed it again, thinking rapidly.

Executing a rapid change of plan, she leaned forward, took his face in her hands and kissed him. He stiffened with shock and his mouth remained immobile under hers. Then he started to pull away from her, so she slid onto his lap, straddling him, her hands clasping his head, keeping his mouth against hers.

A stunned silence had descended on the pub and although she didn’t turn her head to look, Flora knew that everyone was staring at them. And that was hardly surprising because she was creating the biggest spectacle that Glenmore had seen for a long time. Which had been her intention.