‘Well, I just wonder, with all your success and us getting engaged, maybe she’s just looking to take some of the limelight.’

‘Jane? No way. She’s not like that. You saw them together. They are totally in love.’ Her voice caught on the last word. It wasn’t like Jane to be so impulsive.

Mark shrugged, but Nicky could see the doubt in his eyes. Doubt she was herself trying to ignore.

‘I don’t know. Just seems a bit odd.’ He shrugged.

Nicky stroked his arm. ‘I think it seems perfectly romantic. Does make you wonder, though.’

‘What?’

‘If we’re ever going to set a date.’

Mark shuffled back in his seat. ‘Is that what you two were talking about in the loo?’

‘Among other things.’

Mark shook his head. ‘We’ve talked about this. Once I’m firmly established as partner, then we can look at setting a date. Besides, we’ve got a lot going on with your book release. Don’t you think we should wait till after then?’

They’d had this discussion before, Mark ever practical and wanting to wait till just the right time. Nicky was just so impatient for her life as Mrs Avery to start, for them to become the family she so desperately wanted.

‘I know. You’re right.’ She shrugged.

‘Hey, princess.’ He cupped her chin in his hand. ‘It won’t be long. I promise. We’ll get married, have lots of babies and be a family.’

Maybe Mark was right and they were better off waiting. As long as it wasn’t too long. She didn’t want to end up like her parents. No, it was fine. They were still young. Another six months, or twelve, wouldn’t make a difference.

They had plenty of time.

Outside Trevor’s Tradies, Nicole struggled to fit the ladder in the car. It wasn’t a huge ladder, but even so, her tiny hatchback was no match for it. But she needed something taller than the little stepladder that had come with the cottage if she was going to have any chance of fixing the ceiling, which was the next job on her list.

‘Do you need a hand?’ Danny waved as he walked up the street.

‘I appear to be losing this battle,’ Nicole said with a laugh.

‘You know, you can just borrow mine. Anytime.’

‘It wasn’t that expensive.’

Danny frowned.

Damn. She didn’t want him to think she was some poor no-hoper. She was. But she didn’t need others knowing it.

‘I meant so you didn’t have to steal someone else’s car to get it back home.’ His eyes were soft and gentle.

‘Oh.’

‘Tell you what.’ He lifted the ladder with ease. ‘You help me with something and I’ll throw this on the ute and bring it out to the cottage.’

In the front seat of his ute were two boxes of books.