‘Taught myself. Sank two boats in the process. Probably why Finn won’t rent me a boat. I always loved being on the water. The sea was the place where everything came together.’ He tightened the mainsheet as he turned the boat into the wind. ‘Ready about,’ he called. Flora released the jib sheet and they both ducked under the boom as the boat came swiftly around. The wind caught the sails and the boat accelerated smoothly away, the sea sparkling in the summer sunshine.

It was hours before they finally turned the boat back towards the jetty and Flora felt nothing but regret. ‘Do you ever feel like just sailing away and never looking back?’

‘All the time.’ He adjusted the sail. ‘What about you?’

‘Oh, yes.’ She gazed dreamily up at the sky, loving the feel of the wind and the spray on her face. ‘I love being on the boat. It’s just so easy and comfortable. No people. No problems.’

‘You are full of surprises, Flora Harris.’ Conner laughed. ‘I never imagined you were a sailor.’

‘I bought her with the money Dad left me when he died. He was the one who taught me to sail. I was hopeless at team sports at school because I was too shy. No one ever picked me. I think Dad realised that sailing would suit me. I love the freedom of the boat. And the fact that you’re away from people.’ She closed her eyes and let the sun warm her skin. ‘I’m always tense around people.’

‘You’re still incredibly shy, aren’t you?’

She opened her eyes. ‘Yes. But I’ve learned to act. That’s what you do as an adult, isn’t it? You act your way through situations that would have paralysed you as a child.’

‘Was it that bad?’

‘Yes.’ Her simple, honest response touched him.

‘I didn’t realise. I just thought you were studious.’

Flora stared at the quay, measuring the distance. ‘If I was absorbed in a book then no one bothered with me, and I preferred it that way. I liked being inconspicuous.’

‘So why did you come back to Glenmore? Logan said you were working in Edinburgh before this. I would have thought it was easier to be inconspicuous in a city.’

‘It’s also very lonely and I missed the scenery and the sailing. Coming back here seemed like the right thing to do.’

‘And was it?’

She glanced at him. ‘I don’t know. Even though I know they mean well, I can’t get used to the fact that everyone knows what everyone is doing.’

They approached the jetty and she released the jib sheet and the sail flapped in the wind. Conner turned the boat head to wind and brought her skilfully into the quay.

‘She’s pretty.’ He ran a hand over the mast and Flora felt her heart kick against her chest.

She wished she were the boat.