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‘In everything you do?’ Ellie smiled up at him.

Steve shook his head. ‘Ha! Now I know the secret. You have to be more than a simple barman to get Miss Ellie here to flirt with you.’ She hadn’t realised that Steve was still there. She’d been too focused on Kane.

Kane’s smile was lazy, and a tremble rippled down Ellie’s back. He lowered his voice. ‘Were you flirting with me?’ He tapped his lips with one finger and Ellie tried hard not to focus on his mouth, although it was a pleasure to see him smile. Those lips had taken her to heaven and back on Sunday night.

‘Me, flirt? No way.’ She kept her words light. They were putting on a show for Steve but each of them knew the subtext.

‘Come on, let’s go sit down and wait till Bill comes back.’ She picked up her soft drink and followed Kane across to Heather’s table. The table was almost full; a few other staff had joined Heather. The tourist guy had moved on.

Ellie looked around before pausing behind Heather. ‘Where’s your dad?’

‘Don’t know where he’s got to.’ Her voice was short and Ellie reached out and put her hand on her arm.

‘Can we talk?’

Heather shrugged and looked away. ‘Whatever.’ Finally she turned back to Ellie but her brow was wrinkled in a frown. ‘Why do you want see Dad?’

‘I want to ask him about something.’ Ellie slid in beside Heather and watched as Kane walked around and took the empty space opposite her.

‘What about?’

‘Nothing important. Just some business stuff.’

‘He’ll be back soon.’ Heather shrugged and turned her back but Ellie wasn’t going to let a lifetime friendship be jeopardised by one silly mistake. She leaned closer to her. ‘Come for a walk with me while I wait for him.’

‘Why?’ Heather looked from Ellie to Kane and finally she stood.

‘We’ll be back in a minute.’ Ellie gave Kane an apologetic smile for leaving him at the table alone. ‘Mind our seats.’

They strolled over to the river and stood on the boardwalk but Heather didn’t speak. She stared out over the dark water and Ellie jumped as the boardwalk swayed beneath their feet and she crouched down. A huge black pig was rutting in the reedy grass beneath them as a dozen or so little piglets sniffed around in her shadow. The strange sound of the Makowa whistling ducks on the side of the muddy riverbank filled the air with a cacophony of sound. Small birds zipped through the leaves that overhung the boardwalk, catching the mosquitoes that were beginning to buzz around their heads.

‘Look, I know you’re royally pissed off with me, but it just happened. I never meant to hurt you.’ She stood up and looked at Heather. ‘We were both carrying on like adolescents anyway.’

‘Okay. I was being a bitch.’ Finally Heather turned to her. ‘I’m sorry. If the truth be told it was good to see you letting your hair down on the dance floor with him that night. You’ve been way too serious lately.’

Ellie smiled as relief flooded her. ‘Thanks. I’ve had a bit on my mind this week, and I’d hate to lose my best friend over a one-night stand.’

‘So he wasn’t as good as his looks promised?’ Heather laughed when Ellie shook her head, embarrassed.

‘No . . . yes . . . I mean, I don’t kiss and tell.’

‘Hey, you used to when we were at school.’

‘We’re all grown up now, Heath, but still friends?’

‘Of course we are.’ Heather bumped her shoulder. ‘Come on, Mr Fly Boy will be getting lonely. So why just a one-night stand then? Give yourself a chance to practise.’ A small smile lifted her lips as the moonlight shone on her face. ‘But if you –’

Ellie grabbed her arm. ‘Come on, girlfriend. Let’s go back and keep him company while I wait for your dad.’

*

Kane had been pleased to see Ellie walk in; if he was honest, she was the only reason he’d come to the bar. She’d been in his thoughts most of the afternoon. No, more than that. Ellie Porter had been in his head ever since he’d first laid eyes on her climbing into her helicopter. If he’d thought sleeping with her was going to help him forget about her, he’d been dead wrong there. And now with his protective instincts flaring to life, he had no chance; the thought of someone breaking into Ellie’s room worried him.

After Heather and Ellie took off outside, he sat at the table soaking up the relaxed atmosphere. It was a long time since he’d let himself just sit and chill; it was cathartic clearing his mind and listening to the conversations around him.

When they came back, each with a smile on their face, Ellie sat beside him and Heather headed for the door.

‘I’ll go and see what’s holding Dad up,’ she called out.