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‘Flipping heck.’ Evelyn choked on her coffee, spluttering in what she assumed must be the most unflattering manner ever. ‘I can’t believe you just said that.’

‘I was trying to be cute, maybe even a little suave,’ he complained, with such a pout that Evelyn laughed even harder.

‘I’m sorry.’ She pushed the cup into his hand, and doubled over with a fit of the giggles.

‘I actually thought it was pretty good, as lines go.’

‘You think that’s good?’

‘I think even if my lines are bad, I’m good at other things.’

‘Oh, really?’ Evelyn grinned teasingly. ‘What type of other things might those be?’

‘Well, there’s this.’ He put the cups on the bedside table and pulled her towards him and peppered kisses down her neck, making her shiver. ‘And this.’ He brushed his hands lightly over her ribs, sending goosepimples racing after his touch. ‘And this.’

‘Getting better, I suppose.’

He tangled his fingers in her hair and lifted her mouth to his. ‘And then there’s this.’ He whispered the words against her lips, before capturing them in a kiss that cleared every thought from her mind except for him.

Chapter Nine

Evelyn dropped her bag in the hall and helped Summer to wriggle out of her coat. ‘Quick, quick, upstairs and change please. We’re running late. Nanny said she’s left your favourite dress on your bed.’

‘It’s not my fault.’

‘I didn’t say it was.’ Evelyn chased her up the stairs. ‘I know I was late picking you up, but my appointments ran late. And if we’re quick, we can still both be ready before Jake gets here.’ She wanted to do her best to be on time, even though she knew Jake wouldn’t mind them being a little late, especially when it was because of work. His patients might be mostly feathered, furred or scaled, but he was used to the unexpected issues that sometimes cropped up when you were responsible for the health of another person – or critter!

‘Are you two nearly ready yet?’ Linda called up the stairs a few minutes later.

Summer thundered down the stairs, and Evelyn bit down the urge to yell at her to be more careful and remind her to slow down. She didn’t want to start a squabble with her daughter just before a major village event – the first since she’d become a working member of the community.

She hadn’t been to one of Broclington’s Spring Flings – the kick-off event for the May bank holiday weekend and the start of summer – since she was a teenager, and she was a mixture of nerves and excitement. She’d spent almost all her free time with Jake, and while she’d obviously met people in the village, she hadn’t spent much time socialising.

She shimmied out of her work uniform and rushed to the bathroom.

Less than ten minutes later, Summer had exhausted what little patience she had, and had thumped back up the stairs to hammer on the door.

‘I’m coming, I’m coming.’ Evelyn dashed back to the bedroom, wrapped in a fluffy towel.

‘Muuuuuum.’ Summer drew out the name into a grumbling moan. ‘I don’t want to be late to the party.’

Evelyn let her hair down and gave it a good brushing. The bun she’d had it coiled in while working had left it wavy, and quick work with a brush made it look a little neater. It would have to do. ‘I’m moving as fast as I can. Can you grab my green dress from the wardrobe please?’

‘The one with the slippery shiny material?’

‘Yes. What do you think?’

‘You look pretty in it. I think Jake will like it.’

Evelyn pursed her lips and turned to look at Summer. ‘You know you shouldn’t wear a dress just because you think a boy – or anyone else – will like it, right?’

‘Of course.’ Summer rolled her eyes like Evelyn had just announced that grass was green. ‘You wear it to feel pretty. Like a princess.’

‘Just checking.’ Evelyn turned back to the mirror, feeling reassured.

‘But I still think Jake will like it.’ Summer grinned at her in the mirror. ‘Can I have some make-up?’

‘OK,’ Evelyn relented. ‘But only a little bit.’ She flipped open an eyeshadow palette. ‘What colour do you want?’