Finally, the end of my road came into view. The walk back had seemed so much longer than the walk to the lighthouse and I wasn’t sure how much further I could go in my soggy trainers. As we got closer to the house I saw that the Volvo wasn’t parked outside. Clio and the kids must still be at the pictures. I felt relieved. Was that because it meant that I could get into some dry clothes before Clio saw me, or because I’d got a bit more time with Marlon on my own? A bit of both, maybe? I’d enjoyed myself, chatting easily to someone who knew next to nothing about me, or at least about the person I’d been up until now. The kissing part had been quite nice too, I thought, and a little smile sneaked out.

‘What are you grinning about?’ asked Marlon, eyeing me suspiciously.

‘Nothing! Cup of tea?’

I fished the front door key out of my pocket and slid it into the lock. I checked my feelings. Was I happy letting Marlon into my house, and consequently my world? Well, it was a bit late to be worrying about that now. I had a feeling that Marlon was already there.

‘That would be top,’ he replied.

Top? He’d have to stop saying stuff like that, for a start, if he wanted to stick around with me!

I showed him through into the lounge, which was messy but not disgraceful. He loitered by the sofa, not wanting to sit down because of his wet jeans.

‘Pass me your kecks,’ I said. ‘I’ll stick them in the dryer. Not whatever you’ve got on under there, though,’ I added. ‘You’ll have to dry those yourself.’

‘Things aren’t wet that high up,’ he said. ‘Yet.’ His ginger eyebrows disappeared into his carroty curls.

Oh, for God’s sake, I thought.

Marlon stripped out of his wet jeans, comically hopping on one foot as he tried to get the wet denim over his soggy socks, and then passed his socks and jeans to me in a little salty bundle. I took them and disappeared into the kitchen. Five seconds later he was behind me, his milk-bottle legs disconcertingly muscly and the trim of his boxer shorts just peeping out from beneath his T-shirt.

‘Is this okay?’ he asked, and before I could work out what he was talking about he was standing close enough for him to kiss me again.