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‘Yes, but they’re still needed. And I can’t see Sylvie easily agreeing to your “wearable tech”. She complains to me about disability aids, and those are essential to her recovery. And you think she’ll like disability alarms in every room better?’ Amrita dumped her bag in her car boot and turned to glare at him.

‘No, but I don’t know what the alternative is right now. This is more your area than mine.’

‘Don’t you include disability design in your commercial work?’ There was that tone again – and the flash in her eyes – that made his blood fizz and buzz. Why did he react so strongly to her?

‘Of course we do. But in commercial and public design it’s not supposed to be subtle or hidden. If someone falls in an accessible bathroom and needs help, you’d best believe that pull cord is bright red and has lots of obnoxiously bright signage. Invisible in a home? New concept for me. More your expertise than mine.’

‘Right.’ She softened. ‘This has been… fun. Sort of. And thank you for dinner.’

‘Thank you for your expertise. And patience with my lofty tendencies.’

‘You’re not so bad. Have a good night, Jamie.’

He was still pondering her words as he headed back to his office. Naturally the pixies had disappeared – or, if they were still there, were being silent. He’d probably find out what mischief they were up to eventually. Unfortunately.

Jamie carefully closed his office door and leaned his head against it. Nothing had happened. But for a brief moment the possibility that everything could have had weighed heavily against him. He had no idea what Hudsbury and its magic and the blasted pixies – or whatever they were – were playing at. He wasn’t sure that might not prove to be a lot more worrying – and dangerous – than the non-kiss that kept playing in his mind.

4

‘Right.’ Katie plonked herself down on Mia’s sofa a week later. ‘Tell me everything.’ She pulled out a pink and white binder and pen that sparkled with pink crystals.

‘What is that?’

‘Your wedding binder.’

‘My wedding binder?’

‘Am I your chief bridesmaid or not?’

‘Katie, you’re my only bridesmaid.’ Mia laughed and opened the binder. ‘And this is amazing.’

‘We’ve been talking about your happy ever after for years. And I’m never doing the big white wedding thing, so you’re going to have to do it for me and let me live vicariously through you. I’m just glad your mum was happy letting me take the lead and isn’t going to be trying to convince you to serve prawn cocktails and vol-au-vents.’

‘Yeah, she was really sweet about it all. But Katie…’

‘We have so much planning to do. I’ve got wedding magazines, dress pictures, brochures for local venues, stationery samples…’

‘Katie…’

‘I’ve got some colour swatches too and flower ideas by month from Lily-Ann…’

‘What’s good in May?’

‘May? Oh, a spring wedding is going to be so perfect!’ Katie gushed. ‘Though we’ll have to be quick to look at venues; it’s barely fifteen months away.’

‘Bit less than that.’ Mia took a deep breath. ‘The thing is, Aiden and I have been talking, and we were thinking Beltane. This year.’

‘May the first? You can’t be serious. That’s only three months away! It’s practically February and that’s a shorter month anyway!’

‘I know.’

‘That’s like twelve weeks!’

‘It’s nearly thirteen.’

‘There’s no way we can plan a whole wedding in twelve weeks!’ Katie ignored her, already spiralling. ‘There’s too much to do!’ Her eyes narrowed. ‘Are you sure you’re not pregnant?’

‘Pretty sure. And it is kind of my job to know.’