‘Do you always talk to Bette like she’s a person?’ asked Ella, studying his profile as Roman looked over his shoulder before reversing Bette out of the space. His wild hair really did have a mind of its own. His eyes were piercing, and his stubble glistened in the sunshine. His navy-blue polo shirt clung to his abs and his skinny jeans were a different look from his sailor’s outfit.

Would asking Roman out for a drink be such a bad thing?

Roman was just about to put Bette into first gear when he locked eyes with Ella. ‘What, why are you staring at me?’

Damn, he’d caught her watching and Ella lost her nerve.

‘Nothing,’ she replied, fixing her gaze forward but still smiling.

As the car began to move, Roman pushed the cassette tape into the player and Simple Minds blurted out of the crackly speaker. ‘Great tune,’ he said, driving towards the barrier. ‘I need coins,’ he muttered, patting his pockets. ‘I forgot about the car park.’ He quickly rummaged around inside the glove compartment, but Ella came to his rescue, emptying the silver coins from her purse on to her lap and counting out the change.

As the barrier lifted, Ella was plucking up the courage to ask out Roman for a drink but he was saved by the bell: his phone began to ring.

Immediately, Roman indicated to pull over into the layby a little further up the road. ‘Sorry, Ella, I need to take this call.’ As soon as Roman pulled on the handbrake he was up out of his seat with the car door firmly shut behind him. He began pacing up the embankment with the phone to his ear like his life depended on it. He was deep in conversation and Ella watched his frantic hand movements as he threw his arm up in the air. Ella could see from the car that he looked like he was in turmoil. Finally, he finished the call and sat back in the car. Without speaking, he started the engine and began driving. For a moment a heavy silence settled over them, the tension uneasy.

‘Is everything okay?’ asked Ella, breaking the silence. She noticed that Roman shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

For a split second Roman looked like he was going to say something but changed his mind. He kept his eyes firmly on the road as he drove across the bridge towards Heartcross.

‘Sometimes talking about things can help. A problem shared…’

‘It’s nothing, just family business.’

‘I can see that family business is causing you some upset. I hope you can sort out whatever it is soon.’