No Dread Pirate Pete or Danny. She smiled, her cheeks flushing again at the memory of their walk home.

Stop that. Stop that right now.

Fourteen

Danny arrived on time the next morning, ready to help Nicole put up the cornices. Or at least she thought he had. But instead of his usual work clothes he was wearing a very casual outfit and a mischievous smile.

‘How do you feel about playing hooky today?’ Danny asked as he strode down the hall.

‘Er …’

He grabbed Nicole’s shoulders and steered her towards the door.

‘But —’

‘But nothing. Your lists will be there when you get back.’

He pushed her through to the verandah.

A yelp of protest died in her throat as she felt the morning sun bathe her face in sunlight. By the time they got to his car and Danny had opened the door for her, she couldn’t deny being outside was a much nicer prospect than renovations.

They stopped at a red light – it was the only set of lights in town. Mandy walked past on the opposite side of the road and waved at Danny before noticing Nicole in the passenger seat. She smiled and gave Nicole a cheeky little wave as Danny opened his window. The light turned green, but he didn’t move. Nicole was surprised when the car behind didn’t beep, but simply moved round them.

‘Hey, you two. Where are you off to?’ Mandy walked over to Nicole’s window and leaned in.

‘Thought I might show Nicole here the tracks.’

‘Bit of a rough ride.’ Mandy looked at Nicole. ‘But the tried and true thing to do for fun round here. Enjoy.’ She looked back to Danny. ‘Be careful. The top track hasn’t dried out properly from the last rain.’

Nicole frowned. ‘You’ll be perfectly fine.’ Mandy assured her. ‘No better driver than Danny. Have fun.’ She smiled and watched them pull gently away as Danny eased on to the accelerator.

As they passed an old man hobbling along the pavement, Danny slowed down. It was the same old man he’d helped outside the post office that day during Nicole’s first month in town.

‘How ya doing, Bill?’ he called out.

Bill nodded and smiled.

‘You have to love that man,’ Danny said. ‘He’s a stalwart of the footy club, and our only returned war vet.’

‘Oh.’ Nicole turned around to get a better look at Ivy’s William Tucker. ‘I know,’ she said absently.

‘You’ve met?’

‘Sort of.’ Nicole watched the figure from Ivy’s life fade as they drove on. ‘He’s been at the games, right?’

‘Every one of them.’

‘So where exactly are we heading?’ Nicole asked.

‘Best place in the cove. You’ll love it.’ He smiled broadly at her and she relaxed some more.