His fingers stroked the stem of his glass. ‘You gotta do it for the kids,’ he joked, then looked serious. ‘Lottie is the most important thing to both of us.’

‘What does Nick think about that?’

His eyes narrowed. ‘I’d say he takes it in good part. He knows I’m not walking away from my child to convenience him.’

‘Can I ask you a personal question?’ she said.

‘I think you just did.’

She held his gaze steadily. ‘Another one, then. Which one of you is the cuckoo in the nest?’

Douglas laughed out loud, and she was pleased that she amused him. He reached over and touched her cheek, and she felt joy blossom inside her.

‘I’m not trying to get in the way of Grace’s relationship. I don’t want her back.’ He paused and scrutinized her. ‘Are you jealous?’

‘No. Not at all.’ Angus had asked her that. She would have to watch herself, if that was the vibe she was giving out.

‘But you rightly want to know how things stand before you decide whether to let me into your life. I understand that, Anna. And I’ll tell you. I was very much in love with Grace, and she with me, but it didn’t work. She needed my help, but she found it hard to accept. She thought I was trying to control her; but I wasn’t, I was trying to ensure she didn’t fall back down the hole I pulled her out of.’

‘What kind of hole?’

‘If she wants you to know, then I’m sure she’ll tell you. You can ask me anything about myself, but I can’t share her secrets. It wouldn’t be fair.’

So Grace had secrets. The waiter offered them the dessert menu, and Anna ran her eyes over it while she took stock. She fancied Douglas, but there was danger there. With Ben she had been in control; was loved more than she loved. She had been cherished. Something told her that it would be different with Douglas; that she would be the one who clung. On the other hand, just being aware of that made her stronger. She could easily hide her insecurities, couldn’t she? Self-knowledge is power. He evidently still cared about Grace, but Anna could handle that. Grace was attractive enough, but she was hardly going to stop traffic. She was your typical girl next door. Some men liked that sort of thing, obviously, or there would be a sharp decline in population, but Anna knew her own power.

Bring it on.