Frustrated with herself, she hurried to her bike. She had to stop thinking about him. Even if he were interested in her, she wouldn’t follow it through. For a start being with him would make her so nervous she wouldn’t be able to eat a morsel, and to top it off Lexi was only just starting to settle into her new life. She could just imagine her daughter’s reaction if her mother started seeing a man.

Thinking about Ryan occupied her mind for the cycle home, and she was still thinking about him as she propped her bike against the wall of the cottage and picked some flowers from the garden.

She walked into the kitchen to find Lexi sprawled on the kitchen floor, playing with Rebel.

Jenna put the flowers in a vase. ‘How was the archaeology dig today?’ Despite her complaints, it had taken Lexi only a matter of days to settle in and start enjoying herself. ‘Did you have fun?’

‘Yeah. Fraser found a piece of pot—everyone was really excited. I’m going to meet him for a walk on the beach later. I’ll take Rebel. What time are we eating? I’m starving.’

Fraser? Lexi wanted to go for a walk on the beach with a boy?

‘We’re eating in about twenty minutes. So…’ Retrieving the salmon fillets from her bag, Jenna tried to keep her voice casual. ‘You haven’t mentioned Fraser before. Is he nice?’

‘He has a nose ring, five tattoos, long hair and swears all the time.’ Lexi rubbed Rebel’s glossy fur with her hands. ‘You’re going to love him—isn’t she, Reb?’

With a wry smile, Jenna put the salmon under the grill. ‘Lexi, you wait until you’re a worried mother—’

‘I’m not going to be like you. I’m going to trust my kids.’

Jenna sensed this was one of those moments when it was imperative to say the right thing. ‘I trust you, Lexi,’ she said quietly. ‘You’re a bright, caring, funny girl. But you’re still a child—’

‘I’m nearly sixteen—you’re so over-protective.’

‘I care about you. And you are still a child. Child going on woman, but still…I know all this has been hard on you. And being a teenager isn’t easy.’

‘What? You remember that far back?’ But Lexi was smiling as she picked up Rebel’s bowl. ‘We’re having fish again? I’m going to start swapping meals with the dog.’

‘I thought you liked fish.’

‘I do. But you never used to cook it in London. Now we have it almost every meal!’

‘I didn’t cook it in London because Dad hated it.’ But Clive wasn’t here now, and she was cooking what she wanted. And loving it, Jenna mused, mixing a teriyaki sauce to add to the salmon.