‘They should be,’ Hannah murmured, glancing towards reception as she took one of the mugs. She didn’t know where either of them had gone. Was Noah still having to deal with his difficult situation from afar?

‘Great!’ Marnie grinned and left them to it.

‘You know, there’s a theory that storms increase paranormal activity,’ Audrey said. She took a sip of her wine, watching Hannah over her glass. She was very pretty, behind the ostentatious glasses, the frizzy hair and concentrated frowns.

‘There is?’ Hannah asked. ‘Why?’

‘Because storms stir up the energy in the atmosphere, and that in turn agitates whatever spirits, or souls, are here with us.’

‘I haven’t heard that on any of the Edinburgh ghost tours,’ Hannah said. ‘Mind you, I think they work off a script.’

‘Edinburgh’s a wonderful town. Full of history. So you don’t live in Cornwall? Noah does, I presume?’

‘He’s a freelancer and I’m from head office.’ Hannah explained their strange work setup, Audrey’s intense focus ensuring she spent more time staring into her drink than meeting her gaze. She was clearly a wonderful listener, but Hannah didn’t trust herself to speak casually about Noah any more. She was so aware of him all of a sudden; of the way her thoughts, and her body, had started responding to him.

‘And you’re going home on Saturday?’ Audrey asked gently, as if she could sense that Hannah felt conflicted about it.

‘We’ve finished the report,’ Hannah said, ‘so there’s nothing keeping me here. But I would have loved to be part of your investigation, and I just feel—’

She was distracted by the appearance of Noah, who stood for a moment in the doorway and then, spotting her, gave a brief wave and came to join them. He sat next to Hannah, his hand going immediately to the dog’s soft fur.

‘Hi, Audrey,’ he said.

‘Hello, Noah.’

‘All OK?’ Hannah asked. ‘Sorted for staying here tonight?’

‘Yup. I had to reassure Mum and Dad that I was fine, can you believe?’ He ran a hand through his thick, dark curls and a droplet of water landed on Hannah’s cheek.

‘They must be pleased you’re staying here, rather than driving home in this,’ Hannah said. ‘I would have been worried if you hadn’t taken Daniel’s offer, and I’ve only known you a few days. Here, have a hot chocolate.’ She pushed one of the full mugs towards him, but he didn’t take it.

‘You would have been worried?’

‘Of course! I’d have been left to do all the costings for the report if anything happened to you, and I’m not sure that would please me or Daniel.’ She grinned at him.

‘Oh, like that, is it?’ His mock annoyance made Hannah’s pulse race.

‘Possibly,’ she said coyly. ‘But I would have worried about you, too. Not just the report. Now you’re safe and we get to spend the night here together, so it’s win-win.’ The words were out before she’d thought them through. She should have thought them through. The silence hung heavily over the table, Audrey seemingly content to let it stretch.