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‘Don’t tease me, I’m too comfy to move right now just to teach you a lesson.’

‘Sorry.’

‘Besides, of course we’re having another date. I’m not the type to do one-night stands.’

‘No?’

‘Nope. Tried it once with a guy – supposedly a one-time bit of fun – and months later he’s still hanging around. Really awful sort. Rides a motorbike, secretive, hangs out in empty woods, threatens to torture people. Refuses to take no for an answer about some things.’

‘He sounds dreadful.’ Aiden laughed, glad they’d found their normality again. ‘So, our next date? Isn’t it the turn of this awful, bike-riding, ne’er-do-well to plan it?’

‘Oh, are we back to keeping score?’

‘Well, if we were, by my count you’re two or three mind-messing explosions ahead of me.’

‘Careful. Wind me up enough and it’ll be more than that…’

‘Hey, so long as you don’t mind me watching… Video calls could be really good on the nights I can’t stay… Ow!’

‘I warned you before, Katie told me I should smack you when you misbehave.’

‘And here I was thinking you like my “misbehaving”. So, what is it you were thinking for our next date?’

‘Actually, it kinda involves Katie. Now she knows, she wants a double date.’

‘Oh, wonderful. Because she doesn’t get enough time to grill me alive at Glimmers.’

‘You’d have me to protect you.’

‘I might need it!’ He chuckled and drew her closer. ‘But, if it’s all the same to you, I might have a better idea. What are you doing next Saturday?’

‘Isn’t that Halloween?’

‘Yes. Which would mean it’s also the Samhain ball at the Mansion Hotel. Which, from everything I’ve heard, is something incredible.’

‘You know, I’ve vaguely heard of that for years, but I’ve never really fancied going…’ She trailed off as her brain caught up. ‘Oh. This is a magical thing, right?’

‘Gifted and awake only.’ He nodded. ‘What do you think? Will you come with me?’

‘To a very public event involving a whole subset of my community who I’ve only just learned existed?’

‘Put like that, it does sound like it could be a bit much…’

‘It sounds amazing.’ Her smile sent a flicker of the earlier light and heat flushing through him. ‘I’d love to. But what on earth does someone wear to her first Hudsbury Samhain ball?’

‘Fancy dress, apparently.’

‘I’ll ask Katie.’

‘You are late!’ Katie grinned at Mia as she hurried up the stairs in Glimmers and to the flat above, hoping the flush from her cheeks had faded.

‘Hi, Mia!’ Ophelia called from the flat’s little kitchen. ‘I’ll be out in a min.’

‘Evening! No rush.’ She turned back to Katie. ‘Sorry, Aiden came round for dinner and…’ She flushed as her stomach rumbled, reminding her that dinner had ended up partly on the floor when he’d lifted her onto the table instead.

‘And you decided that instead of being on time to meet your lifelong friend, who is helping you with a favour, you’d be late so you could bibbity-bobbity-boink?’ She leaned forward with a wicked grin and tugged something out of Mia’s hair. ‘Though I have to admit I’d usually choose a good shag over lettuce too.’

Mia blushed a bit, but brazened it out. ‘Can you blame me?’