Kitty expertly balanced the manila files on her hip as she manoeuvred through the door, relieved Frank was holding it open, knowing it would have been tricky on her own. The idea of dropping them all and their contents spilling out was mortifying. She brushed past him, but the narrowness of the doorframe meant that for one brief moment his arm was around her shoulder. She tried not to notice, but wondered if he had spotted it too. She took a quick breath and moved along the corridor.

Frank let the door swing closed behind him, relieved that for a moment he was behind Kitty and she couldn’t see his face. Just for a second there it was as if he’d had her in his arms. He told himself not to be silly. Why was he allowing himself to think like this? He had a date with Sylvia to look forward to this evening, and he had no business letting such thoughts enter his head. He took a longer stride to catch up with her.

The corridor was far from wide and he found himself holding back a little so he didn’t come into contact with her again, not wanting to cause her embarrassment. But he couldn’t come to a complete halt either; what if she thought his leg was bothering him? His pride wouldn’t allow that. So he carefully kept a respectable distance, while being ever more aware of how neatly her uniform fitted her. From this slight distance he could appreciate her curves, although he was trying hard not to notice. She was no longer the slim girl over the road he’d grown up with, that was for sure. Wartime diet or not, she had filled out in all the right places.

‘Frank?’ She turned a little to face him as she walked and he almost stumbled. He hoped there was no trace of his thoughts on his face but couldn’t be certain. ‘I have a few days of leave coming, but perhaps Commander Stephens could arrange everything with Danny?’

‘Yes, of course, that would be easy to do,’ Frank assured her, regaining his balance.

Kitty nodded. ‘That’s so kind of you to think of Tommy, Frank. He’ll appreciate it, he really will. We can’t keep him cooped up at home, and at least this way I’ll know he’ll get back safely.’

‘Don’t mention it,’ he said. ‘It’s no trouble—’

‘We couldn’t think how—’ she began, then she blushed even more in embarrassment as they both apologised for speaking over each other.

She paused to make sure he had finished, and gave an awkward laugh. ‘We were struggling to find a way to get a bike,’ she began again, ‘so thanks a lot, Frank …’ She looked as if she was about to say something more, when Moira from the meeting came striding back along the corridor to look for her.