“No, it’s just a hobby. I work for a wine merchant’s. That’s why I’m here, actually—they’ve sent me to check out their London office for a few weeks, and if we all like how it works out, I might even stay here.”

“Really?” This was news to Lulu. “Charlie didn’t say.”

“Charlie doesn’t know.” He smiled happily. “One of my missions in life is to spring myself on her when she least expects it. She never wants to admit she’s pleased to see me, so if she has some warning, she’s all cool and laid-back; but sometimes if I surprise her, she’ll be shocked into demonstrating affection.”

“Ah.” Lulu nodded. “She said you were weird.”

“Did she?” He looked gratified.

“Actually, she said you had weird friends. She’s gone out shopping, but she should be back soon. Are you hungry? There’s some cheese and stuff on the counter there.”

“What’ve you got?” He inspected the cheese plate and raised his eyebrows hopefully. “Cheddar,” he said. “Sadly underestimated in England, but a good one is the king of cheeses. It’s surprisingly difficult to come by in California.” Reaching for a knife, he carved himself a slice. “This,” he said quietly, after a moment, “is a truly excellent Cheddar. Where’d you get it?”

“A place near Borough Market. It’s a bit of a hike, but it’s worth the journey. Do you want some crackers? There are some in the cupboard.”

“This one?” He opened the door and scanned the selection of dried beans and pasta, oils, vinegars, and spices. “This cupboard,” he said firmly, “was not stocked by my sister.”

Lulu failed to repress a snort. “Hardly,” she said.

“She’s a sore disappointment to the family, you know,” he said. “Maeve once sent her into the garden to pick spinach, and she came back with rhubarb.”

Lulu laughed.

“She’s good to cook for, though,” she said. “She really enjoys her food.”

“Oh, enjoyment has never been her problem,” he agreed. “And she’s a lovely—lovely—person. It’s not her fault that she has a palate like a Ping-Pong ball.”

There was a silence for a while as Liam munched on the cheese, contentedly watching Lulu beat, cream, and stir.

“Excellent cheese,” he said again, after a moment.

“It’s a Cheddar,” she told him. “The king of cheeses, although it’s sadly underestimated in England.”

“I wonder if you can get it in California,” he mused.

“Hi, Lulu-belle.” Sophie trooped in, a whirl of vivid colors against the January afternoon: dark coat, white shirt, scarlet scarf, golden hair, carrying in her hand a small bunch of snowbells. “These are from the garden. Mom sends her love, and we’re to wrap up warm tomorrow because it’s going to get colder.” She turned and noticed Liam. “Wow,” she commented succinctly.

Looking properly for the first time at Liam, Lulu noticed that he was handsome, as of course Charlie’s brother would be, with dark eyes, a clear olive complexion, and a sculpted mouth and chin. And with the observation came a pang of loss, because if he was handsome, he would doubtless prefer now to talk to Sophie, and Lulu had been enjoying talking to him.