‘Anywhere’s fine,’ she said as he looked around the modest deck for a place to put their stuff. Hanna had the key, so the cabin was still locked. Bell tried not to think about having to unload it all at the other end as well.

It was another two runs before they had everything transferred.

‘Finally! Lugging all that across really would have killed me if I’d had to do it on my own,’ she said with a roll of her eyes. ‘Thanks.’

‘No problem.’ He smiled.

She felt his interest creep towards her like a tide coming in, and she knew what he was going to ask as they began walking back towards the hard standing again; but she was distracted, her gaze constantly strobing for the kids. It always worried her, the girls being so near to the water, even though Linus and Hanna were close by. They weren’t yet strong swimmers, and there’d been a fright when Elise had fallen in the pool at a friend’s house the year before and Max had had to jump in to save her, fully clothed.

Per turned to her as they approached. ‘. . . So listen, are you hungry? We could get some lunch if you’ve got time?’

‘Oh sorry, I’m working.’ She jerked her head towards the children; at least they were sitting in the shade. ‘I’m on duty.’ She gave an apologetic grimace.

‘Oh.’ He looked disappointed. It was like she’d kicked a puppy.

‘But another time, perhaps?’ She liked his manners and he was roughly her age – okay, maybe a bit younger, but why not?

‘You’ll be here long?’

‘All summer,’ she shrugged. ‘My employers have a place on the lagoon past Krokso.’

‘Okay, so then I’m bound to see you around. We come over every day,’ he said excitedly.

‘Yeah,’ she shrugged, not minding either way. ‘And I’m back in the city at weekends, so . . . y’know. Whatever.’ She got her phone out and gave him her Snapchat details.

‘Great. We’ll set something up.’

‘Sure.’ She glanced over again, knowing she should get back to the kids, seeing how Hanna and Jakob were still locked in conversation. ‘Honestly. What are they talking about?’

Per sighed, looking used to it. ‘Catching up on all the gossip. This is Jakob’s favourite time of year. He calls it ‘reconnecting’ with everyone but really, he’s just an old woman blathering at the garden gate. He does this to someone on every drop we make.’

‘Is there really that much gossip to be had here?’ she asked sceptically.

‘More than you’d believe. A beluga was spotted a mile from here last week; the local reclusive billionaire’s back on the scene; there’s already a scandal around the Gotland Cup –’ He stopped talking suddenly and flashed her a grin. ‘But I won’t tell you too much. That way you’ll be incentivized to have that lunch with me. Or drink.’

She looked back at him. ‘It sounds like there’s a lot I need to hear.’