She looked at him and frowned, as though she was considering his offer. ‘Okay, but only because I like you, Sol.’ She didn’t tell him she could offer him a better deal than his previous supplier. She owed him no favours.

Grace fastened her seatbelt as Michael pulled the car away from the kerb. ‘I knew you wouldn’t behave yourself,’ she said.

‘What?’ he laughed. ‘I did.’

‘Oh really? Trying to pick a fight with Neville? Winding Sol up?’

He shrugged. ‘We’ve got a lot of history. Anyway, I didn’t realize you paid me just to sit there and look pretty.’

Grace laughed out loud. ‘Well if that’s what I’m paying you for, I think I need a refund.’

He placed his hand on his heart. ‘That hurts, Grace,’ he joked.

‘Just stop antagonizing Sol. We’ll be working with him for the foreseeable future.’

‘I’ll be on my best behaviour from now on. Promise.’ He grinned.

‘I don’t think he’s ever forgiven you for abandoning him.’

Michael shook his head. ‘Nope. But I don’t know why. What was I supposed to do? My dad was inside, and Sean was out setting up on his own. Of course, I was going to back my brother.’

‘Well, I don’t think Neville has ever quite lived up to his predecessor.’

Michael smiled. ‘Well who would?’

Grace closed her eyes and leaned back against the headrest.

‘You coming to Nicola’s birthday party on Sunday? he asked.

Nicola was Sean’s daughter and Michael’s five-year-old niece. ‘’Course I am, she’s my goddaughter.’

‘I know, she’s mine too.’

Grace didn’t open her eyes. He always got all melodramatic when the subject of Nicola’s christening day came up. They’d been standing near the altar in the church, posing for the professional photographer. Dressed in all their finery and holding a chubby baby Nicola between them, looking every inch the proud Godparents. Grace had seen the look in Michael’s eye and realized he wanted much more from her than she was prepared to give him. A couple of drunken snogs had obviously given him ideas that they could ever be more than friends. It had signalled a significant shift in their relationship. Less than twelve months later Michael had met and married his current wife, Hannah. Despite that, he always looked at her like a lost little puppy dog whenever any reference to their relationship that never was arose. She’d broken his heart, she knew that, but she’d had no other choice.