Because she wasn’t concentrating.

She’d been thinking about the kiss again.

Exasperated with herself, she picked up the half-full mug and scrunched the envelope in her hand. ‘This one is nearly cold. And anyway, I thought you might like one.’

Lexi gaped at her. ‘I don’t drink tea. And why are you hiding that envelope? Is it a letter from Dad or something?’

‘It’s nothing—I mean—’ Jenna stammered. ‘I wrote a phone number on it—for a plumber—that tap is still leaking—’

Lexi’s eyes drifted to the tap, which stubbornly refused to emit even a drop of water. ‘So if there’s a number on it, why did you just scrunch it up?’

‘I only remembered about the number after I scrunched it up.’

Lexi shrugged, as if her mother’s strange behaviour was so unfathomable it didn’t bear thinking about. ‘I won’t be back for lunch. I’m meeting Fraser and a bunch of his friends up at the castle ruins at nine. We’re making a day of it.’

‘It’s Sunday. Archaeology club isn’t until tomorrow.’

‘Not officially, but the chief archaeologist guy is going to show us the dungeons and stuff. Really cool.’

‘Oh.’ Still clutching the envelope, Jenna sat back down at the table, relieved that there wasn’t going to be an inquisition about the night before. ‘I was going to suggest we made a picnic and went for a walk on the cliffs, but if you’re meeting your friends—well, that’s great.’

Lexi pushed her bowl away and stood up. ‘Do I look OK?’

Jenna scanned the pretty strap top vacantly, thinking that the blue reminded her of Ryan’s eyes in the seconds before he’d kissed her on the beach. Had she ever felt this way about Clive? Was it just that she’d forgotten? And how did Ryan feel about her?

‘Mum? What do you think?’

‘I think he’s a grown man and he knows what he’s doing.’

‘What?’ Lexi stared at her. ‘He’s fifteen. Same age as me.’

Jenna turned scarlet. ‘That’s what I mean. He’s almost a man. And I’m sure he’s responsible.’

‘But I didn’t ask you—’ Lexi shook her head in frustration. ‘What is wrong with you this morning? Mum, are you OK?’

No, Jenna thought weakly. She definitely wasn’t. ‘Of course I’m OK. Why wouldn’t I be? I’m great. Fine. I’m good. Really happy. Looking forward to a day off.’

Lexi backed away, hands raised. ‘All right, all right. No need to go overboard—I was just asking. You look like you’re having a breakdown or something.’