LITMIR.BIZ

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Twice now he had come to her aid…

      ‘OK now?’

      He had the most glorious smile. Cathy inhaled a ragged breath and nodded. ‘Yes. Thank you. Thank you very much,’ she repeated. ‘I don’t know what we would have done without you. I’m so sorry we’ve put you to this much trouble. What with getting so wet last night and now this…’ She glanced down at his sodden boots and mud-splattered denims. ‘You have ruined your clothes,’ she murmured. ‘I’m so sorry—’

      ‘There really is no need to keep apologising. Think nothing of it. I’m glad I was around to be of assistance.’ Cathy looked into his face and felt a sharp, delicious pang as his eyes sparkled good-humouredly. ‘It’s certainly livened up this Saturday morning, and one thing is for sure: you won’t forget your first morning in Langforde.’

      Cathy grew warm beneath her striped clown jumper. He was so handsome: dark, dark eyes, long spiky lashes, an angular jaw, and a mouth that revealed so much good humour it made her want to smile just looking at him.

      He was dressed perfectly too. Definitely an outdoor type, Cathy thought: rugged and strong-looking, clad in the denims and a worn leather jacket with a plaid scarf wrapped casually around his neck.

      ‘Do you two know each other?’ Sandra, who had been looking disgruntled by the whole episode, piped up suddenly.

      ‘Yes. Well, sort of…’ Cathy smiled brightly, conscious of the flush of heat still rising from her neck.

      ‘I helped Cathy and her friend move a few things into her cottage.’

      ‘Oh! I see.’ There was a pause whilst Sandra assimilated this information.

      ‘Well, Robbie and I had better be getting back!’ Cathy announced. ‘Oh!’ She glanced over towards the village shop. ‘My shopping.’

      ‘I’ll get that for you.’ Sandra, clearly feeling the need to show she wasn’t totally useless, hurried over towards Cathy’s things.

      ‘Well!’ Cathy looked up into wonderful dark eyes and struggled to think of something vaguely sensible to say. ‘Robbie seems none the worse for his adventure!’ She looked down at her son, who had stopped crying and was now standing in his muddy socks, tipping the water out of his wellington boots. ‘I don’t know your name,’ she added suddenly. ‘I’m Cathy,’ she said hurriedly, conscious that she had spoken without thinking, ‘and this is Robbie.’

      ‘Daniel.’ His gaze was steady and direct. He held out his hand and smiled. ‘Very pleased to meet you.’

      ‘Likewise.’ Cathy shook his outstretched hand. His grip was firm and reassuring, and managed to do strange things to her insides. His voice, she thought. That was another thing which just made her want to melt. She glanced across at Sandra and saw that she was approaching with her shopping. ‘She’s very attractive, isn’t she?’

      He looked briefly. ‘Yes. Very.’

      Why had she said that? Talk about emphasising the differences between them! Cathy speculated on her own ragged appearance and cursed silently. Was she mad?

      ‘Thanks!’ Cathy took the shopping from Sandra and checked inside the bags to make sure her purse was still there. It had all the money she possessed in the world, which wasn’t much, but if she lost that…The words ‘destitute’ and ‘disaster’ sprang to mind.

      ‘I’ll walk back with you.’

      ‘Oh, surely there’s no need for that!’ Sandra’s voice sounded a little strained. ‘I mean,’ she added, glancing apologetically in Daniel’s direction, ‘I could give you both a lift in my car.’

      ‘That’s very nice of you.’ Cathy smiled gratefully. ‘But we’re very grubby. I wouldn’t want to ruin the interior, and besides, you’d have to go and get it and…’ She shook her head decisively.

      ‘Sandra doesn’t live too far from the shop,’ Daniel explained. ‘I’m sure it wouldn’t be that much trouble.’

      ‘Well, actually…’ Sandra looked a little anxious now, presumably at the prospect of her car being used as a taxi for two not very clean individuals. ‘I am just about to go out.’

      ‘That’s settled, then!’ Cathy didn’t want to accept help from anyone who wasn’t happy about giving it. ‘We’ll walk. Robbie and I will be perfectly all right. It’s just a little water and mud.’ Cathy glanced down at her legs. ‘Well, perhaps a lot of water and mud,’ she added lightly. ‘Either way, it’s not going to harm us to walk home.’

      ‘In that case you will have me as a companion.’

      Cathy looked into Daniel’s face and recognised the expression of someone who could be as stubborn and determined as she was. He took the bags of shopping from her grasp. ‘Maybe Robbie would like a shoulder-ride? His feet might get quite sore in those boots.’

      ‘Yes! Yes!’ Robbie brightened up immediately. ‘Can I, Mummy? Please?’ He wrapped his arms around her legs. ‘I’m sorry I went in the pond. Can I have a ride up high?’

      ‘Well…’ Cathy frowned across at Daniel. ‘You’ll get even dirtier.’

      ‘I think I’m going to need a shower anyway—a bit more mud won’t make much difference.’

      The walk back to the cottage felt almost surreal—as far as Cathy was concerned anyway. It was like…She hesitated, not wanting to use such a word, even in the privacy of her own mind. Silly. When had ‘family’ ever meant anything other than Robbie and herself? She glanced up at Daniel, who was in deep conversation with her suddenly very chatty son, and inhaled a steadying breath.

      No wonder Sandra was smitten—what girl wouldn’t be? Cathy visualised Sandra’s crestfallen expression as Daniel had announced his intention to walk her and Robbie home and wondered how close Daniel and she were.

      They arrived back at the cottage far too quickly. Daniel lowered Robbie gently to his feet and waited whilst Cathy unlocked the front door. ‘You’ve been very kind.’ She took the shopping bags which Daniel held out to her and smiled. ‘Thank you.’

      ‘My pleasure.’ He couldn’t keep from looking into her face. She was so…not beautiful exactly, but arresting. So different, with her pale, pale face and crazy red hair and the most gorgeous green eyes Daniel had ever seen. He thought frantically for something sensible to say. ‘If you ever need anything else…’ He smiled, conscious of his own inadequacies, which was strange because usually he had no trouble talking to women. No trouble at all…

      ‘I hope there won’t be any more calamities! Although with Robbie around anything can happen!’ She grinned. ‘He looks so angelic too—don’t you, scamp?’

      ‘He’s great.’ Daniel gazed at the small boy, who was now on his hands and knees watching intently as a bumble bee buzzed its way in and out of some daffodils which were struggling through the undergrowth near to the front door. ‘Is Robbie starting school on Monday?’

      ‘Yes.’

      There was a pause.

      ‘Are you alone here?’

      ‘Alone?’

      He saw her frown and realised the stupidity of his remark, but decided to persevere anyway. ‘You have Robbie, of course, but—’

      ‘It’s not really any of your business, is it?’ She reddened as she spoke, but she looked fierce suddenly, and somehow more vulnerable than ever.

      ‘I didn’t mean…’ He inhaled a steadying breath. ‘I didn’t mean to pry,’ he finished. He raised his hand in a gesture of apology. ‘Sorry. You’re right. It is none of my business—’

      ‘No!’ Cathy released a breath as he began to turn away. ‘Please, it’s me who should be apologising. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. Thank you…for what you did. I…’ Her voice

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