“You get used to doing that,” Will said. At Lucy’s confusion, he quickly added, “Stripping off every time you go inside. Oh, I didn’t mean strip …” He shook his head at himself, obviously embarrassed, then grinned at his own expense. “Why can’t I say anything right today?”

Lucy grinned back, grateful for something funny to break the tension between them. “I knew what you meant.”

“Uh, yeah, even so, I’m going up to the counter now before I embarrass myself further. What can I get you?”

Lucy looked at the hot chocolate in front of the woman at the next table. It was in a tall glass mug and looked exceptionally rich and delicious. It was even topped with whipped cream and shaved chocolate. That line from When Harry Met Sally popped into her head, “I’ll have what she’s having,” but it was loaded with innuendo and she and Will were already dancing around what was happening between them.

Lucy pointed to the woman’s hot chocolate surreptitiously. “One of those please,” she said quietly.

“Be right back.”

Lucy watched Will as he manoeuvred amongst the tables, glad to have a moment alone to sift through everything she was feeling. What was she going to say to him? “By the way, Will, your sister was properly ticked off about us kissing, and I think we should go back to being ‘just friends’.”

But if Lucy was completely honest with herself—and she’d been mulling this over ever since talking it through with Steph—she didn’t want to be just friends with Will. He was the first man who she could really talk to and she fancied the pants off him.

If only it would come to that—Will with his pants off. Oh, Lucy, that’s crass, she chided herself.

She watched as Will approached the counter and smiled at the teenaged boy taking his order. As he engaged in the simple transaction, her thoughts tumbled over each other.

He is so handsome. That smile, those eyes, those strong, capable hands. Much more of a Graham than a Miles. Although Miles truly is a lovely man. Just that I don’t fancy him. But I definitely fancy Will. And he’s lovely. He’s like Miles and Graham all wrapped up in one.

So, Lucy was properly falling for Jules’s brother, something that just might destroy her friendship with her best friend, and she had no idea what to do about it. She’d have to decide soon, however, because he was making his way back to the table with her hot chocolate and a smaller mug, which she presumed was coffee.

“Here you go,” he said, placing the hot chocolate in front of her. He took his seat and wrapped his hands around his mug. “So …” he said.

“So …” she replied. Come on, Lucy. Be a grown-up. “You were right about me seeming a little distant today, and I’m sorry.”

“Was it me?”

“No.”

“Are you sure? Did I do something wrong?”

She’d give anything to wipe that miserable look off his face. “No, Will, I promise. I just …” Lucy realised there was no way to say what she needed to say without throwing Jules into the muck. She took a sip of hot chocolate. Goodness, that’s delicious. When she looked up a Will, he was watching her intently.