‘Until now?’ Penny managed to croak out, her throat was completely dry.

Henry stopped talking for a second as he clearly realised what he had just said.

‘I care about you. A lot. And that’s new for me. I love spending time with you, listening to you talk, watching you work. We’ve had more meals together, the three of us, in the last few days than I’ve ever had with previous girlfriends and I really like that too. I like making you laugh and that kiss last night… there was something there that I’ve never felt before. I know this sounds naff. Something pulls me to you, an attraction that’s so deep that…’ He looked around, trying to find the words.

‘That it hurts,’ Penny said, quietly.

He stared at her. ‘Yes. It hurts, it aches in my chest when I think of you, like a physical yearning for you. Do you feel that too?’

She nodded. ‘And it’s silly. I don’t even know you.’

‘Exactly. I don’t know what that means, whether it’s lust and desire or something more, but I know I want to find out. But is it wrong of me to just want to keep it between us for now? To wait to see if it turns into something special and wonderful as I hope it will or just peters out in the next week or so. This is all so new to us both. Neither of us know whether this is going to turn into something or not. In a few days you could decide that you find me incredibly boring and that we are better off as friends. Or we could have one great night of hot, passionate sex and this intense spark between us could die out the very next day and we decide never to do it again, or we could fall head over heels in love with each other, get married, have lots of babies and grow old and grey together. We can’t see what’s round the next bend. There’s no point in upsetting Daisy if you decide that you don’t want to pursue this in a few weeks’ time. We’ve had a tough year and…’ He trailed off, looking thoroughly miserable about the prospect of upsetting his daughter.

‘You want to keep us secret?’ Penny was still trying to process that he actually wanted there to be an ‘us’.

‘Yes, just for a little while. I think part of her asking me not to date you is wrapped up in her uncertainty and nervousness of moving to White Cliff Bay. She’s just moved to a new town and I know she’s still feeling worried about starting school and making friends. I don’t want her to feel in the way or awkward at home too. She likes it here at Lilac Cottage, she’s settled in here really quickly because of you and the ice carving and her new job and…’ Bernard gave a loud snore on the sofa. ‘And him. She thinks if I start dating you and it all goes wrong then we won’t be able to live here any more. I was happy to move out as soon as the agency could find us our own place but if she wants to stay here, I’d take smacking my head on that tiny shower every day just to keep her happy. Can we just get Christmas out the way, let her get a bit more settled and if it’s still going strong between us then, then I promise we’ll tell her and deal with the fall-out then. If we’re not… then there would have been no point upsetting her over nothing.’

‘I don’t want to lie to her.’

‘I don’t either, that’s the last thing I want. But can we just see if we have anything worth fighting for first? I’m not the easiest man to get along with, I’m grumpy, lack any kind of patience and you will probably run a mile from me in a few days. Most women do. If we get past that and you still want me around, I promise we’ll tell her then.’

Penny nodded. ‘OK. So we’re… dating?’

‘Yes, if that’s what you want?’ He looked concerned.

She couldn’t help the grin that spread across her face as she nodded.

‘Daisy wants me to take you out, she thinks you need some company and friendship, so we can still do all the normal dating stuff but maybe keep all the snogging and passionate sex behind closed doors.’

She laughed. ‘Damn, and I thought we’d strip naked and do it in the middle of the town square.’

His eyes flashed with warmth and mischief. ‘Maybe one day. It’s Tuesday tomorrow so we have our first proper date tomorrow night anyway. We can celebrate our secret partnership then.’

‘OK.’

She wasn’t exactly being coherent and sparkling company at the moment. Her heart was pounding, she was shaking, all thoughts seemed to have gone out of her head completely.

He smiled at her stunned appearance. He ran his hand up her arm and cupped the back of her head. Moving in slowly, he kissed her again, with the same consideration and tenderness as he had the night before, as if she was someone to be cherished and adored. She ran her hands into the stubble at the back of his neck as he moved his hands down to cup her waist, pulling her against him. God, the feel of him was too much, the emotions for him slamming through her hard and fast.

He pulled back slightly, breathing heavily. ‘OK?’

She nodded and he pulled away.

‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’

She smiled as he walked away, glancing over his shoulder at her as he closed the door. She was going on a date and she knew that tonight, for the first time in a very long time, she would be going to sleep with a smile on her face.

Chapter Eleven

Penny was shaken gently awake the next morning and opened her eyes to see Henry standing by the side of the bed.

Oh god, she knew her hair was everywhere, she probably had pillow face and she most certainly had morning breath. And he was offering out a mug of tea with a big smile on his face, looking at her as if she was the most beautiful woman in the world. He was dressed in his robe and didn’t seem to be wearing a lot underneath.

‘I, erm…’ Great, the ability to make sparkling conversation was back.

‘I thought you might want a cup of tea and I made you breakfast in bed.’ He indicated the bowl of cereal on the small chest of drawers next to her and she laughed.

‘Wow, a lot of time and effort went into that breakfast, didn’t it?’

‘I’ll have you know those cereal boxes are quite heavy.’ He put the mug down next to the cereal.

‘What’s the weather doing out there?’ Penny asked and he turned away to look out the window for a moment, giving her the perfect chance to grab some mints from her handbag and run her fingers through her hair.

‘It snowed again last night. Not heavily, but Daisy is hopeful we might get a white Christmas.’

‘This is very sweet, thank you, but you didn’t have to do this.’

He turned back and moved back to the bed. ‘I’m trying to score all the good boyfriend points now because I’m sure I’ll be losing them soon enough.’

‘Why do you say that?’

‘Because I’m rubbish with women, despite having spent the last sixteen years raising one. I don’t know the first thing about romance. You may have to point me in the right direction now and again. Budge over.’

He must have caught the look of horror on her face and he laughed. ‘I promise not to jump on you. But we can have a cuddle, can’t we?’

She hesitated and then shuffled over.

He slid into bed next to her and pulled her onto his chest, wrapping his arms round her. It was such a comfortable gesture, as if they had known each other for years as opposed to just a few days. She couldn’t help smiling.

‘What?’ he said, smiling too.

‘This. It’s nice. You’re doing a good job so far at the romance stuff.’

He kissed her sweetly on the forehead, his tenderness was so endearing.

‘Well, Daisy has gone to the big mall in the next town with Anna for some last-minute Christmas shopping, so we could stay here all day if you want.’

‘That sounds lovely, but I’m meeting Maggie for lunch.’

‘Damn it. Well, Daisy’s staying over at Anna’s tonight, so… if you want you could… stay over with me.’