‘Cream buns,’ Rachel said. ‘For an office farewell.’

‘I like cream buns and I cannot lie.’ There was a short pause. The owner of the sexy voice must have opened the box to take a look, because a moment later Tully heard a deep inhalation, followed by: ‘I swear, this is what Heaven smells like.’

Tully pictured her sister. She would be struggling with this scenario. On the one hand, she’d want to be giving the man with the sexy voice the cold shoulder, which was what she always did to men. On the other hand, he’d just complimented her baking, which was Rachel’s actual kryptonite.

The pause dragged on for a couple of seconds. A moment later, Rachel re-entered the kitchen. She grabbed a bun from the cooling rack, piped cream into the centre and popped it into a foil cupcake case. She dusted it faintly with icing sugar and slipped it into a cellophane bag. Then she returned to the door.

Tully resumed her eavesdropping position.

‘For me?’

The voice sounded genuinely thrilled. The cellophane bag rustled and then . . . a distinct, masculine moan of pleasure. Tully couldn’t help it; she had to get a look at him. She figured she’d think of an excuse by the time she got there, but unfortunately, the moment she laid eyes on him, all excuses – and words – deserted her. He was even better-looking than his voice had suggested. Dark hair and piercing green eyes and a nose to rival Elvis Presley.

‘This is my sister,’ Rachel said.

The man waved, swallowing the last of the bun. ‘Hello, sister.’

‘This is Darcy,’ Rachel said to Tully.

Tully continued to stare at him unselfconsciously, as Darcy’s attention was fixed solely on Rachel. Over the years, Tully had seen a lot of men look at Rachel like this, as if she were a rare and precious treasure. The difference this time was that Rachel was staring back.

‘What do you call a stereo made of cake?’ he asked.

Rachel rolled her eyes. ‘Just take the –’

‘A gateaux blaster!’

He laughed heartily at his own joke, which was oddly endearing. Tully supposed you could do things like that if you looked like Darcy. Tully snuck a look at Rachel, and saw she was fighting a smile.

Tully started to feel like she was intruding.

‘Right then,’ Rachel said. ‘Better get those buns moving.’

Darcy grinned delightedly. ‘Good one!’

As Rachel closed the door, the tiny smile crept back onto her face.

Tully stared at her.

‘What?’ Rachel said.

‘Better get those buns moving?’

Rachel scoffed, pushing past her and walking into the kitchen. ‘It was a silly joke.’

Tully followed her. ‘You were flirting with him!’

‘I wasn’t! I was just . . . making conversation. Sorry about that, Heather.’

‘No problem,’ Heather said.

‘That’s not how I make conversation with delivery people,’ Tully muttered.

Rachel opened the fridge and retrieved the open wine bottle. She filled her glass nice and high. ‘Heather, help me out, would you? Was I making conversation or was I flirting?’