‘Good.’ She sprang off the sofa and resumed her dance withBarney Bear, and I watched her with sadness in my heart because I knew exactlywhy she wanted Barney to live with me...
Now, I turn away from the charity shop window, tears blurringmy vision. Fumbling in my pocket, I bring out a paper hanky and give my nose agood old blow, which unfortunately emerges like the blast of a trumpet.
‘Hey, are you okay?’
The hanky still covering my nose, I whip round at thefamiliar voice and find myself staring up into the striking blue eyes ofMystery Man.
CHAPTERSIX
I shove my hanky in my pocket and smile awkwardly.‘Thank you, yes. I’m fine.’ I shrug. ‘Bit of grit in my eye.’
‘Want me to look?’
‘Er, no... no, it’s gone now.’
‘Shame.’
I look at him, bemused.
‘I mean, it’s not a shame that you’re okay now. Obviously.But don’t all the romcoms on TV start with a girl getting something in her eyeand a bloke swooping in to rescue her?’
I laugh. ‘Well, notallof them. And I think it’s thegirlrescuing theblokejust as often these days.’
‘Ouch.’ He grins. ‘I’m sure you’re right.’
We study each other for a moment.
Then he says, ‘What are the chances of us bumping into eachother again? In almost exactly the same place a week later?’
‘I know. Weird.’
‘Do you always come into Torminster on a Saturday?’
‘I do, as a matter of fact.’
He nods. ‘Not so weird, then, because so do I these days.It’s nice to be back on home territory.’
‘Where were you living before?’ I ask, feeling curious.
‘London.’
‘For work?’
‘I work in finance. Try not to yawn.’
I smile, liking his quirky sense of humour. ‘So why did youmove back here?’
He shrugs ruefully. ‘I’m a country boy at heart and I missedthe fresh air and open spaces. So when I was offered the chance to work most ofthe time from home, I jumped at the chance to head back here.’
There’s a pause as I take this in.
‘I’m Aidan, by the way. Aidan Kirby. And your amazing mugshave pride of place on the wonky shelf I put up in the kitchen of my new cottagelast night.’ He grins. ‘With no help from anyone else, I might add.’
‘Congratulations. My name’s Kenzie.’ We shake. ‘So you’renot that great at DIY, then?’
‘Hopeless.’
‘Won’t they slide off?’
