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Liv took a deep breath and winced inwardly. She’d thought that Callum was interested in her, but his polite dismissal to what she’d thought was an obvious invitation made her question herself. All the self-doubts she’d been fighting against since Mike threw her out of their life together flooded back. Callum had seen her scars, and knew her history — at least most of it, so he was well-aware of how damaged she was. She had hoped he was different, and that he liked her in spite of her problems, but maybe that was just a hopeful, silly dream. Maybe she really was too damaged for anyone to ever be attracted to again.

‘Liv? Are you all right? You’re a million miles away.’

‘Sorry, just thinking.’ Her voice came out quieter than she intended.

‘About what?’

‘Nothing, just . . . nothing.’ She forced a smile onto her face.

‘Oh crap, I’m an idiot.’ He dragged a hand through his hair. ‘At least, I think I am. I kind of hope I am. Am I a complete idiot, Liv?’

She shrugged, not knowing how to reply.

‘When you asked about a to-go box, you meant to go home. Now. Together. Didn’t you?’

‘Maybe.’ Liv wasn’t sure how he was going to respond. She took a deep breath, and forced herself to plough on. ‘I’ve been thinking, I’m not going to be here all that much longer, and I know you’re not looking for anything serious either, but . . .’

‘But what, Liv?’ His face was unreadable.

‘But . . . we’re friends right?’

‘Of course.’

‘When you kissed me, I felt like there was more there. And I was thinking, we’re both mature adults, and . . .’

‘And you thought maybe we could be the type of . . . friends . . . who enjoy a very friendly mature relationship? Is that what you’re saying, Liv?’

‘Maybe.’

He leaned in closer, sliding his hands up her arms and sending goose pimples racing over her skin beneath the blanket. ‘Maybe yes?’

‘Maybe yes.’ Her breath caught in her throat as he leaned even closer, and his mouth hovered so close to hers that his breath tickled her lips.

‘Maybe definitely yes?’

‘Definitely yes,’ she murmured.

‘Good.’ He was so close that she felt the smile she saw in his eyes as his lips met hers, softly at first, and then more insistently. One of his hands traced up the back of her neck as his tongue teased hers. He filled her senses: his hands burning on her skin, his mouth tasting of the smooth, rich chocolate they’d been sharing, his musky scent surrounding her as he drew her closer, kissing her until he had driven all other thoughts from her mind.

She couldn’t help but press up against him, crushing her breasts against his chest as she wrapped her arms around his neck, tugging the blanket around them both as she pulled him closer.

When he eventually paused, Liv struggled to catch her breath, and couldn’t manage to marshal her thoughts into a coherent sentence. Kissing hadn’t been like that before. She couldn’t remember the last time anyone had kissed her senseless. If they hadn’t been in a public place, she would probably have crawled into his lap — and the thought both thrilled and scared her.

‘So, do you still want to ask about a to-go box.’

‘You know what? I couldn’t care less about dessert any more.’ She bit her lip as she looked at him, thinking that she was after something much sweeter.

‘Sweeter than handmade, chocolate-dipped marshmallow?’ He chuckled.

‘Shit.’ She covered her face with her hands. ‘I hadn’t meant to say that aloud.’

‘I’ll take that as a compliment.’ His eyes sparkled as he caught her hands in his, and leaned in to kiss her again. ‘I promise I’ll do my best to be . . . sweet.’

She nodded, wordlessly, not trusting herself to speak. It all felt so tentative and fragile that she didn’t want to do anything to risk breaking the spell. She kept her fingers woven through his as he paid the bill, and they headed back to the village. There was a moment of awkwardness as they approached the turning to her cottage and he slowed, but Liv squeezed his knee and smiled, and he drove on past. They both wanted the same thing now, and there was little point in pretending.

She shivered with anticipation as they pulled into his driveway and he turned the engine off and turned to look at her. ‘I’ve had a really good night with you, and if you want me to turnaround and take you home right now, I will. I won’t lie and say I wouldn’t be disappointed, but I would understand. And we’d still be friends tomorrow.’

Liv’s heart melted a little at his vulnerability, and she hushed him with a finger over his lips. She leaned across the handbrake to replace her finger with her lips. ‘I’ve had a really nice time with you too . . . too nice to want things to end yet. And if I’m totally honest, I think we can do a bit better than “nice” or even “really good”, don’t you?’