‘Ah, I’m looking for Max …’ What was his surname? ‘Yeah, Max Hardy.’

‘Okay, and you are?’

‘Emma.’ She took a step or two forwards.

‘Sorry, Emma, but no one’s allowed past the gated area without a hard hat: Health and Safety.’

And yes, he was indeed wearing a bright yellow hard hat.

‘Oh, can you maybe get me one? Are there any spares hanging about? Or perhaps I could borrow yours just for a few minutes?’

He gave her a look that said, ‘You must be kidding me.’

She switched on her most winning smile. ‘It’s really important that I talk to him.’

He seemed to soften. ‘Okay, give me sec and I’ll see if I’ve got a spare in the van.’

He went out to a smart navy van parked beside the house, returning with a hat, which he offered to her. ‘I think he’s around the back. Be careful, mind, there’s trenches and pits round there, as well as heaps of rubble.’

‘Anyone would think it’s a building site,’ Emma quipped, feeling nervous, which didn’t go down too well, as the guy’s face hardened. ‘Right,’ she added briskly, as she set off around the side of the house. Her heeled ankle boots were not the best choice for this terrain, but at least she was wearing jeans. It was a big property, rather grand, with a huge garden stretching out behind it. No doubt it would be fabulous when it was all done. As she rounded the corner, there was Max, hard hat on, deep in conversation with one of the workmen. They were discussing something, then looking up at the back of the house, Max pointing. Emma stopped in her tracks. Just then, Max’s gaze came down and fell upon her. He didn’t smile; he looked taken aback if anything.

Emma then lip-read him saying to his colleague, ‘I’m sorry, if you can just give me a minute?’

This was the moment in the movies when they ran into each other’s arms, and he’d pick her up and whizz her around, as the backing music swelled into a crescendo.

Emma stood frozen to the spot, feeling a bit sick, as he marched across in heavy work boots.

‘What on earth are you doing here?’ He sounded abrupt.

‘Ah …’

But she knew why she was here, and she needed to tell him. ‘I missed you.’ There was a sense of relief as the words were spoken.

‘Look, I’m right in the middle of things here. But if you can just wait for five or ten minutes, I’ll take time out for a coffee or something. How does that sound?’

‘Okay, I’ll go wait in the car. It’s just along the street here.’

‘I won’t be long, honest. I just need to make a couple of calls. There’s something I need to sort out.’