Grady tried to process what he’d just witnessed. It had been for all the world as if Laurel had suffered a bad moment, then consciously paused to coach herself on how to move past it. He elected to co-operate with her wish to leave the past behind – for now – and returned smoothly to her earlier remark. ‘Sorry to hear about the divorce. Pippa and I never got any further than wedding plans. They fell apart.’ He didn’t say why.

Laurel flicked back her fringe. The geometric hairstyle drew attention to the clean lines of her face. ‘Sorry about you and Pippa. In our case, we couldn’t give each other what we wanted. The marriage had taken all it could.’ She passed the conversational ball like a sociable person at a party. ‘You said Daisy showed you some of my work. Can I ask about yours?’

He grinned. ‘You know MAR Motors at the Cross? The owner, Ratty, restored a barn behind it and rents it to me as a spray shop.’

She looked interested. ‘Ratty is Miles Arnott-Rattenbury, right? I’m amazed he stayed in the village. After his public school education I thought he was destined for greater things.’

‘Some of us think the village is great,’ he said stiffly.

Her eyes widened. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. I just meant that he was bright.’ Then her colour rose. ‘I mean—’

Evenly, he said, ‘You don’t have to be stupid to like working on cars. Ratty’s built up his garage from scratch. I enjoy working on cars too. I was in hotel management but I like cars better.’

‘Of course.’ Embarrassment flickered, then it was gone, overlaid by a remote expression. She picked up her coffee mug. ‘I didn’t meant to give offence. Sorry.’ She finished the drink in a few gulps and shoved the mug back on the table. ‘Thanks for the coffee.’ Flinging on her coat as she gained her feet, she squeezed awkwardly around the end of the table and strode across the café to the door.

Grady watched her go, irritated by her turning up her citified nose at the village he loved but sorry he’d reacted like a touchy kid, ending the conversation on a sour note. He’d been enjoying their tentative encounter. It had felt like sunlight thawing an iron-hard frost. Then he noticed Pippa’s attention on him. ‘New girlfriend?’ she mouthed.

He shook his head so vigorously that it would probably have been Laurel’s turn to be offended if she’d been there to witness it. He finished his drink and left the warmth of The Angel, ducking his head against the November wind racing down Port Road in an icy blast.

His fond memories of mistletoe kisses between young Laurel Hill and young Grady Cassidy were worthless. The new Laurel Hill was as chilly as the winter weather.

Chapter Four