‘Ex,’ he clarified brusquely. ‘Pippa and I broke up early in the year. She shared her sister’s house in the new village before we got together so she went back there.’ At first their paths crossing in the pub or here in The Angel had been awkward, though his feelings for her had vanished over the way she’d ended things. Now, seeing her was just a reminder of his imperfections. ‘We’re still friendly,’ he added drily.

Amusement glinted in her eyes, again bringing the old Laurel sharply into focus. Questions buzzed in his brain like bees trapped at a window. Why had she stopped talking to him all those years ago? Why did she leave Middledip? Why the occasionally snotty attitude? Impulsively, he said, ‘I fancy another latte. Can I get you anything?’

She regarded him. Her thick hair shone beneath the bright café lights and a few freckles spangled her nose. He remembered teasing her about them just to see her eyes crinkle up with laughter. He remembered everything. Kissing. Talking about Christmas jobs and coming exams. Kissing under mistletoe. Her school, his school. Kissing again, even with no mistletoe in sight. Arranging to meet at the under-eighteens Christmas party at the village hall …

Then nothing.

Grady had never got to the party because he’d broken his ankle playing football and had been in hospital having it pinned. Reunited with his phone at home the next day he’d texted her an explanation. Nothing. So he texted several more times. Still nothing. Once up on crutches, he’d hopped and swung his way to The Nookery, but his knocks had gone unanswered.

‘OK, thanks,’ she said suddenly.

He blinked himself back to the present. Oh, yes, he’d offered to buy her coffee. ‘Great.’ He took her order for a cappuccino and returned to the counter where Carola ruled the hissing espresso machine.

‘That’s Rea’s little sister, isn’t it?’ she asked as she made angel shapes in the cappuccino froth. ‘She’s gorgeous.’ She took his payment and whisked off to some other task without waiting for an answer.

Ignoring Pippa’s fixed gaze, Grady carried the two steaming mugs back to the corner sofa.

‘What did Carola say?’ Laurel murmured as he set the mugs down carefully and took up his seat again. ‘I saw her glancing over here.’

The old urge to tease her returned. ‘She said you’re gorgeous.’

Blue eyes widened. ‘Oh.’

He grinned but decided against saying he thought she was gorgeous, too. He had the feeling it would take only one suspect word to explode this tentative conversation. Instead, he said softly, ‘She’s the kindest person around, under her slight nosiness.’