“I don’t know how to dance,” Flora said.

“Lucky I’m going to lead then, isn’t it?”

Mack put one arm around her waist and took Flora’s hand with the other. It was the kind of slow dance you’d see in an old movie.

“Who taught you to dance like this?” Flora asked.

“Granny Sharkey. A tough old woman, but she loved to dance. I’ve only ever danced this way with her and now you. The bar staff are going to think I’ve gone mad.”

Flora looked over Mack’s shoulder and saw Jay and the bar staff watching them with smiles on their faces.

“Why did you want to dance this way with me?”

Mack slowed and looked deeply into her eyes. “Because Granny always said if you ever meet a proper lady, dance with her like this. You’re the lady that deserves this dance.”

Flora was dancing on air, it felt like. This was much better than any dream she’d ever had. Mack spun her around, making Flora giggle.

“Your friend Jay is watching, you know.”

“I don’t care.”

Flora allowed her hand to wander lower on the small of Mack’s back. She wished she had the courage to slip her fingers under the hem of her T-shirt and feel Mack’s skin but, instead, grabbed the bunched up material of the shirt and held on tight.

She gasped when Mack put one hand on her hip, then used the other to put Flora’s arm around her neck. Flora followed Mack’s lead and laced her other arm around her neck.

This could not be happening. She was slow-dancing with Mack. Flora could feel her soft skin with her fingers and the short, spiky shaved hairs at the nape of her neck. Quite naturally her hips got closer to Mack as she gently held on to her hips.

Their heads got closer, inch by inch, until Flora placed her head on Mack’s chest. They swayed slowly in that position for who knew how long, Flora having completely lost all sense of time. She was in her guardian angel’s arms, and there was no safer place in the world.

Then everything changed. A fast-paced dance number came on, and Flora’s shyness returned. “That was lovely, thanks. You’re my first ever…dance.”

“I’m glad. I suppose we better get back. I’ve got an appointment in ten minutes,” Mack said.

Things were slightly awkward as they went back onto the street and into the daytime outside. To break the silence, Flora said, “I was thinking about Isy, Mack. I thought maybe if she ever feels like a little part-time job, I’d be happy to have her work at Sweet Surprise.”