‘Me, I’m afraid,’ Nicole said. ‘I’ll go change.’

She handed Amy to Danny and his fingers brushed against her arm.

‘Did Aunty Nicole make you sick?’ He cuddled the baby. ‘She’s quite nice once you get to know her.’ He gave Nicole a cheeky grin.

‘Watch it,’ Nicole warned, ‘or you might just find this shirt makes it into the back seat of your car before I have a chance to wash it. Windows up, hot day …’

‘Wouldn’t be the first lady’s shirt lost on his back seat.’ Jacqui laughed.

Danny shot her a look.

‘I’m going to get changed.’ Nicole walked out, shaking her head, her happy facade falling once she was out of sight.

When she returned Mandy suggested they set up the lunch tables outside. ‘It’s such a beautiful day.’

‘I don’t have any tables or chairs out there yet,’ Nicole said, frowning.

‘That’s all right,’ Trevor chimed in. ‘We brought some with. We’ll get set up, hey?’

Everyone headed out the front. Except Danny.

‘I’ll bring the good stuff,’ he said, moving to the esky.

‘And I’ll …’ Nicole raised her arms feeling quite useless.

‘Rustle up some glasses?’ Danny suggested.

‘Yes.’

As he bent down to pick up the esky, he stopped and stood back up letting out a long, slow whistle. ‘They’ve bred.’ He read each new list on the side of the fridge. ‘Man, you really do need a new hobby.’

Nicole grimaced.

‘Of course, you are excelling magnificently at this one.’ He tapped the side of the fridge. ‘So, why mess with things?’

‘What can I say?’ She smiled. ‘I like a bit of order, and a list never hurt anyone.’

‘I don’t know. I wrote a list once. Got me in a whole heap of trouble.’

‘I don’t think I want to know.’ Nicole laughed.

‘Probably best you don’t.’ A look of mock seriousness fell across his face.

‘Well, my boring lists are the product of a chaotic mind and the need for some stability,’ Nicole said.

‘I think it’s cute.’

‘Cute? I’ve been called many things before, but cute isn’t usually one of them.’

‘I said your lists were cute, not you.’ He smiled, closing the gap between them.

Nicole’s cheeks burned.

‘But, if I were to pick some adjectives to describe you, stubborn might come to mind.’

‘Stubborn?’

‘Have you forgotten the benchtop incident?’

Nicole shook her head and tried to move away, finding herself pressed against the kitchen bench, with no route of escape.

‘Mysterious,’ Danny continued.

‘I’m very flattered.’ Nicole smiled nervously.

Danny leaned in and whispered, ‘Intelligent, talented, beautiful.’

He raised his hand and brushed her right cheek gently with his thumb.

Nicole could feel his warm breath on her face. He kissed her and as she wrapped her arms around his neck, his kiss intensified.