Back inside the lodge, and after our appetites for each other had been sated again, I finally wrapped the presents and our talk turned to business.

‘Have you made arrangements to talk to Liam about his apprenticeship yet?’ I asked.

‘No,’ Ned frowned. ‘I wanted to discuss it with you again before I went ahead. Are we sure we can afford to take him on now our plans for the future have changed?’

I thought about what David had told us about Wynter’s Trees having had its most lucrative season so far. The books were looking better year on year and with the huts now in place, and additional new events planned, the bumper seasons looked set to continue.

‘Absolutely,’ I firmly said. ‘I’m not going to draw more from the profits than I do already and the extra share of mine, that I usually keep in the business, can be invested in setting up the forest school next year. As long as we don’t overstretch ourselves and we make sensible choices, we’ll be fine. Does that sound okay to you?’

I’d already set enough money aside for my trip and didn’t think it would be too much of a stretch to make it an adventure for two.

‘Yes,’ Ned nodded. ‘That’s fine by me. Exactly what I thought you had in mind. I’m not expecting the extra events throughout the year to make much to begin with but they will eventually and that will help.’

I was feeling excited about both our personal and professional futures.

‘I’m going to be kept busy setting up my new business and with all these extras we keep coming up with, we’re going to need an extra pair of hands.’

‘And Liam’s will be ideal,’ Ned agreed. ‘We’ll see him at the solstice celebration tomorrow so I’ll ask him and Chelsea then to come out and see us on Wednesday.’

‘He’s going to be so happy,’ I beamed, imagining the look on Liam’s face when we told him what we had in mind.

‘He is,’ Ned agreed.

‘Did you say solstice celebration?’

I knew there always was one in the village, but I’d never taken part.

‘I did,’ said Ned, adding another log to the burner. ‘And you’ll need to wrap up. It’s happening on the beach and as we’re keeping our relationship a secret, I’m not going to be able to give you a hug to keep you warm, am I?’

‘No,’ I said, ‘I don’t suppose you are. I’ll see if I can find some thermals.’

‘Sexy,’ he laughed, eyeing me up again, with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

Chapter 27