‘You could say that. I don’t know what happened; I slipped on some mud on the road and the next thing the car was sliding off onto the verge and hit a fence.’

‘As long as you’re OK, that’s the main thing,’ said Harry. He dipped his head to look at her. ‘You are OK, aren’t you?’

‘Sure.’ She wanted to say that physically she was OK but mentally she was bruised. Her head hurt and that wasn’t from the bump last night, more from trying to figure out what on earth was going on in this place.

‘Actually, Steph, I’m glad I’ve caught you … both literally and figuratively,’ began Harry. ‘I wanted to talk to you.’

She met his eyes head-on. ‘I’ve been wanting to talk to you too.’

‘I’m guessing it’s probably about the same thing.’

‘Probably.’

‘Us.’

She nodded. ‘That will be the one. I have to admit I’ve been a bit confused after what happened yesterday morning,’ she said, deciding to get straight to the point and make it easier for him. ‘I’m not expecting anything from you or anything more than what happened yesterday. Like I said, I’ve got no hidden agenda to try to trap you. I know you’re probably still grieving for your wife and being back here is probably making it very difficult for you.’

‘Stop. Stop right there.’ He took her hands in his. ‘I agree with everything you’ve just said.’

‘You do?’ She couldn’t help feeling a touch deflated. He could have cushioned the blow a little.

‘I do,’ he continued. ‘I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. You’ve been on my mind constantly. You have no idea how much restraint it took me last night to sleep on the sofa.’

‘That’s kind of you to say.’

‘Jesus, Steph, I haven’t just complimented you on a dress or your hairstyle. Stop being so matter-of-fact about it all.’

She winced at his words. It wasn’t the first time she’d been accused of being stand-offish and shutting off her emotions. It was something she was aware she did by way of self-preservation, possibly to counter her feelings of rejection by her mother. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said eventually. ‘I’m not very good at relationships, in case you hadn’t gathered. Shit relationship with my mum. An even shitter one with my ex-husband, hence the ex-tag.’ She gave a self-deprecating shrug.

‘I’m pretty shit at them too, if I’m honest,’ said Harry. ‘Have avoided them like the plague since Elizabeth died.’

‘So why exactly are we having this conversation?’

He paused and when he spoke his voice was no more than a whisper. ‘Because I really like you.’