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Aiden had to take a breath and remind himself that they were only talking about food. ‘You’re right, chocolate has to be one of the sexiest foods on the planet.’

‘Exactly. And if you’re making a sex cookie…’

‘Shortbread.’

‘Whatever.’ Mia laughed. ‘Like I said. If you really want to make them sexy, then I think you need chocolate. These are already delicious. Add chocolate and you’ll probably get them so right that they’re wrong.’

Aiden nodded. ‘I’ll have to experiment a little more. And speaking of experimenting… It’s probably going to take me a few days to work out something that might help your patient – if I can do it at all.’

‘Do you still want to try? I feel a bit bad, dumping it on you like this, but Aiden? I really have a good feeling about this.’

‘Can I tell you something?’

‘Yeah.’ She leaned forward.

‘Please don’t think I’m crazy… but I think I do too. Have a good feeling about this, I mean. I have no reason to think it will work…’

‘Actually, you do.’ Mia held up the cookie. ‘Because these are very good.’

‘I appreciate the vote of confidence, but learning to blend herbs and spices for something other than flavour has been a steep learning curve!’

‘I think it’s one you’re doing well at. These taste delicious, but there’s… more… than just the flavour that’s good.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes.’ She fidgeted slightly and flushed a delicate shade of pink – like the colour he got when adding hibiscus to icing or cream, but interestingly, she didn’t look away.

‘Good to know.’

‘You did ask for feedback.’ She shrugged.

‘I appreciate it. I have to admit I’m really enjoying this, even if I do get nervous with new bakes! Let me have a think and chat with Ophelia about it. It might take me a couple of days, but I’ll ask her to call you when I’ve figured out a suitable blend. I assume she’s got your number?’

‘Yeah. But I don’t mind giving it to you too. If you’d like.’

He liked the thought of that a bit too much, but dropped his phone into her outstretched hand.

‘Do you want me to wrap up some of this batch for you to take home so you can share it with your boyfriend?’

‘Yes please to the biscuits, but no to the boyfriend.’

Well that was interesting. ‘Girlfriend?’

‘Nope. No girlfriend either.’ She grinned at him. ‘Not my thing, anyway.’

Well that was even more interesting. Shame his boss would string him upside down next to her drying herbs if he tried anything.

By the time Mia reached Hudsbury’s little centre the next morning, she was starting to feel like she was being conspired against: proper, restful sleep had evaded her – being replaced by very specific, very distracting thoughts and demi-dreams that reminded her exactly how long she’d been single, and leaving her feeling quite grateful Aiden’s biscuits hadn’t had dark chocolate added.

When she’d finally slept, cats had woken her at an indecent hour, squabbling in her garden, and when they’d finally stopped, pigeons took over as her unwanted alarm, sitting on the chimney and coo-coo-cooing so loudly that it echoed through her little house. When she gave up and stumbled down to the kitchen, it was to discover her water had turned an unpleasant shade of brown in the taps, leaving her sleepy, caffeine-deprived and baffled by the morning’s strange events.

She was glad to see the Sugar Rush café lit up despite it being too early. She yawned as she opened the door, hoping their water was clean and drinkable and the coffee machine was already on. She leaned over the counter to call into the kitchen. ‘Morning, Cheryl. It’s Mia. I’m hoping to cheek you for an early coffee.’

‘Technically I’m not open.’ Cheryl appeared. ‘But for you, I can make an exception.’

‘That would be wonderful. Thank you.’

‘I’ll throw you in a free breakfast too, if you don’t mind being a guinea pig.’ Cheryl winked. ‘I’ve got a new baker on trial and want to see how he does.’