Under the covers, out of sight of my family, Jack’s little finger brushed mine in thanks. He’d obviously not missed Felix’s look either. They might be old friends, but Felix had always been protective of me, especially since the accident. He might want me to move on with my life and probably meet someone, but he’d also be mad as hell if he thought someone was trying to take advantage of me. Jack Coulsdon-Hart had a reputation and, although he claimed to have left those days behind, I could see this from Felix’s point of view. He’d just walked in to find his old lothario friend, who he’d effectively placed in my house, in bed with his sister.

‘We’ll just go and see how the kids are getting on and come back shortly,’ Poppy smiled, gently tugging my brother out of the door and closing it behind them.

Jack turned to me. ‘I’m pretty sure if looks could kill, you’d be having to bury me in the garden this afternoon.’

‘He’ll be fine. Anyway, I’m not messing up my garden by sticking your big lump in it. Although maybe you’ll make good fertiliser?’

‘Thanks.’ He smiled.

I smiled back. And then I began to laugh. Once I started, I couldn’t stop and, before long, Jack was joining in. The farcical situation, the look on Felix and Poppy’s faces and the shock on Jack’s. I didn’t imagine that it was the first time he’d been caught in bed with someone, but his face had been almost as shocked as theirs.

‘I’m glad you think it’s funny.’

‘Oh my God,’ I said, trying to stop. My stomach was hurting now, but I didn’t care. It felt good. I felt good. ‘Your face.’

‘I thought Felix was going to finish me off with a bread knife then and there.’

‘He knows better than to mess up my kitchen like that,’ I said, lying back, exhausted from the giggling fit.

Jack looked down at me. ‘You look happy.’

I looked back up at him, his hair sticking up at odd angles and a dark shadow on his jaw from a few days without a shave. ‘I haven’t laughed like that since… honestly? I can’t remember.’

‘Then it’s too long.’

‘Yes,’ I replied softly. ‘I think you’re probably right.’

‘Can I say something, without it seeming weird?’

‘You can try,’ I said, pushing myself up.

‘I had a really nice time yesterday, including all this. Well, maybe not getting a death glare from your brother.’

‘He’ll be fine,’ I repeated.

‘Yep, I hope so. But the rest of it. The walk, the meal, camping out here with you and the dog. I don’t think I’ve felt this relaxed in a long time. And I don’t think I realised that either.’

‘Thank you for goading me into taking the walk yesterday.’

He laughed and bopped me with the pillow as I swung my feet round and placed them on the tiles, comfortably warm from the underfloor heating.