‘Now you mention it, no. I much prefer a shower in the mornings. I was using the one in your room.’

‘You’re welcome to use it when I’m not here.’

‘That’s not going to work is it, given we’re both heading out at the same time.’

‘Can’t do anything about this week as I’m playing kitchen assistant. Bronagh has a week’s holiday and Niamh is back to school, so I’ve been drafted in for washing and cleaning-up duties.’

‘What, in our kitchen?’

‘That’ll be the one. Don’t look so worried. I’ll not be marking you out of ten or anything.’

That was exactly what she was worried about. It was bad enough making a hash of things, but doing it in front of him seemed so much worse. Disconsolately she followed him into the kitchen where he immediately took charge of the kettle and the counter area, busying himself making coffee.

Not wanting to get into his personal space, she loitered by the table, feeling like a spare part. This was her kitchen – how had she been relegated to bystander?

‘Do you want coffee?’ he asked, spooning coffee grounds into a large cafetière.

Sharing coffee with him felt too cosy. ‘No thanks, I prefer tea in the mornings.’ She didn’t want him making coffee for her, it might make her imagine things that were out of reach. It was too dangerous to fall for Conor, where would it lead?

‘Are you having breakfast here or up at the house?’

‘You’re kidding. Miss out on freshly collected eggs?’

‘That’s one of my earliest memories – going out with Granny and collecting the eggs, and then she’d boil them and make us dippy soldiers.’

‘Mm, you’re making me hungry.’

‘How do you take your tea?’

‘Er, milk. No sugar.’

‘You might as well take a seat. You look awkward standing there.’

‘Funny that, being in my own kitchen.’

‘Sorry, have I taken over? Force of habit.’

He handed her a mug of tea.

‘So how are the cottages coming along?’ She sat down at the table, nursing the hot mug between both hands.

‘They’re coming; some of them need more work than others. A couple were done up when Mam and Da first set this place up back when they had no money. They’re long overdue for a refurb. Guests expect much more these days and the plan is to Airbnb one of them and I’ll be moving into the other one.’

‘Built to your own specifications?’

‘Yes. The kitchen will be bigger than this and I’m extending it so that it’s a big kitchen-diner and more bedrooms upstairs. Best of all there’ll be a great view, out over the sea.’

It sounded wonderful and he spoke with a gleam of passion shining in his eyes.

‘You still like cooking, then.’