Despite the excitement at hearing his voice, all the doubts and fears came flooding back on hearing that question. That would mean taking things further, getting to know Max more, prising open her heart – for what? If she didn’t really like him once she got to know him, what a waste of bloody time and energy. And if she did? Somehow, that seemed more confusing and downright scary. Could she really put herself through all that again?

She felt a bit sick.

‘Em? Are you still there?’ His tone was gentle.

‘Yes … Sorry, just thinking.’

‘Dangerous pastime, that.’

‘Don’t I know it.’ She had to laugh.

Oh bugger, he sounded so bloody nice and he’d just made her giggle.

It’s only a date, a little voice egged her on. Find out a bit more about him, and if you don’t like him after that, or still have concerns, then that it’ll be it: hasta la vista, baby.

‘O-kay.’

‘Don’t sound so thrilled.’

She could hear the amusement in his tone.

‘Sorry. Yes, that would be lovely.’ She made herself sound upbeat. The poor chap. Boy, he didn’t realise what a heap of troubles he might be taking on here! If he ever found out how much baggage she came with, he’d probably be putting the phone down right away.

‘Great. I could come back up this weekend, if that’s okay – unless you’re busy?’

‘Only busy with chocolate. I think I can spare some time.’ She sounded way too cool, she knew. Oh yes, she could maybe fit Mr Rather-Gorgeous Hunk into her spare hour on the weekend. ‘Yes, I’d like that,’ she corrected herself.

‘Well, I’ve got to check a building job on Saturday morning, but then I could come on up. Maybe stay over Saturday night?’

Her heart did a somersault flip and double forward roll. It might even win the Olympics at this rate. ‘Sorry?’ Had she heard right? That was extremely presumptuous of him, though her mind was rather warming to the thought, and doing all sorts of naughty things with pictures appearing of his imagined bare torso, which were not off-putting in the least. But blimey! He was a bit full-on; maybe she was right to be cautious.

‘Hah, I meant in a B&B, or maybe book a room in that pub we had a drink in.’

‘Oh right, yes, yes, of course.’ She felt flustered. Now, what would he think of her, jumping to conclusions like that?

‘Of course, now you’re offering …’ He let the words dangle, as Emma stood, silently stumped, until he burst out laughing, and the tension between them popped like a bubble.

‘Yes, a B&B,’ she confirmed hastily. To make things quite clear from the start. She was just not that kind of a girl.