‘Good point, smart arse. Anyway, I’ve got to get ready for work. Love you.’

‘Love you.’

After a restorative shower, and buoyed up by Bella’s call, Merrin made her way across the front gravel to the main hotel.

‘Hey, Merrin!’ Miguel called after her. She slowed to allow him to catch up. ‘Morning!’

‘Morning.’ She tucked her short bob behind her ears; the style was liberating not only in terms of the time it took her to get ready but also in freeing her of the memory of Digby running his fingers through her long locks.

‘Glad I caught you. I wanted to ask you two things.’ He smiled. She liked his open expression and his neat, white teeth.

‘Fire away.’ She carried on walking and they fell into step together.

‘We’re really short-staffed over the next two weeks: Sonja has gone down with the flu and I’d already told Gareth he could take a holiday, so he’s in the Lake District – don’t suppose you fancy some overtime in the restaurant? Nothing that would interfere with your shifts on reception, but if you could spare us the odd evening?’

‘Sure.’ It wasn’t like she had anything else to occupy her evenings, and she couldn’t deny the extra cash would come in handy.

‘You are a lifesaver!’ He joined his hands in prayer.

‘What was the second thing?’ She stood still on the winding path and stared at him.

‘I was wondering if you fancied a drink?’ he asked without any hesitation or nerves.

‘Blimey, Miguel, it’s a bit early, isn’t it?’ She glanced at her watch and drew breath through her teeth. ‘How do you take it at this time of the morning? Gin on your cornflakes? Clean your teeth with Prosecco?’

‘Very funny.’ He ran his hand through his neat, dark hair. ‘And actually, I meant beer, and later – tonight, as it’s my night off, the only one I can see me getting for a while. Or another night, any night in fact, or day, if night’s not possible.’

Now his nerves showed and she rather liked it, although she wasn’t sure why. This was the first time someone had managed to put a crack in her protective shell for the longest time.

‘So that’s it. What I’m saying is: I think you need to go to the pub. And I think I need to come with you, if nothing else to see you safely home after you have consumed more beer than your legs are comfortable with carrying.’

‘I don’t like beer.’

‘Ah.’ He kicked at the gravel. ‘So that’s a no, is it?’ He looked a little crestfallen and it gladdened her to know he wanted her company.