He watched her from the deck, studying her as if trying to work her out. ‘You’re Anna Campbell,’ he said, after a moment. ‘The chef that’s moved to Crovie.’

She was floored. ‘How do you know that?’

He grinned. ‘It’s a small place.’

‘Yes, but I don’t live here. I’ve never even been to Gardenstown before. I’ve only been in the area a few weeks!’

He shrugged one broad shoulder, grin still present and a glint added to his eye. He had the easy manner of a man who knew he was good to look at and had never had trouble making the most of it. ‘Very pretty woman moves in, people take notice. Very pretty woman with knife skills moves in, people talk. Very pretty woman turns up looking for fresh fish, a Kiwi puts two and two together.’

Anna narrowed her eyes, trying to stop the smile that was attempting to find its way onto her face. ‘Don’t flirt with me, Kiwi. You’re almost young enough to be my son.’

He laughed at that. ‘Not unless you’re a lot older than you look, Anna Campbell. Tell you what: I’ll bring you something from the catch tomorrow, and you can cook me one of your Michelin-starred dinners. Fair deal?’

‘No deal at all,’ Anna said, laughing too. ‘For a start, I don’t know who you are. Also, my table is already full. If you know who I am, you know where I live, and you know I’m not lying on that score.’

‘You should get a table for outside,’ he told her. ‘That’d give you more space.’

‘Yes,’ she said, wryly, ‘I can just see me wrestling a picnic bench into my car and then along the sea wall to the Fishergirl’s Luck. That’d be the talk of every town on this coast for years, wouldn’t it?’

‘You need a big strong man to do it for you,’ he suggested, with what she thought (hoped) was his tongue firmly in his cheek.

‘I’ve had plenty of big strong men, thanks,’ she retorted, ‘and in my experience they’re all a disappointment.’

He grinned again, one eyebrow cocked. ‘Then I guess you haven’t met the right one yet, Anna Campbell.’

She sighed and shook her head with mock annoyance. ‘All right. Well, thanks for nothing, Kiwi. I’ll find my fish somewhere else.’

‘Wait,’ he said, as she started to walk away. He hopped over the boat’s rail and up onto the harbour wall. ‘I can bring you some of the catch. It won’t be until about 6 a.m. tomorrow though. Will that work for you?’

‘Yes,’ she said, ‘but you don’t have to do that. I’m happy to come here and get it.’

‘It’s no bother,’ he said. ‘And it’ll be easier for me.’

Anna frowned. ‘It won’t be nicked, will it?’