‘It would be very close...’ She shrugged.
‘If we win outright next week, we’ll be one point ahead of the others. So that’s exactly what we’re going to do.’ A hint of steel showed in his blue eyes. Suddenly Hannah didn’t want his comfort any more. This was exactly what she wanted from Matt.
‘Okay, then. That’s what we’ll do.’
Sophie chuckled. ‘That’s the spirit. I’ll leave you to plot your strategies, I’ve got to run...’
She grinned up at Sam, pointing towards her cheek in a signal that this was where she wanted a goodbye kiss. Sam leaned down towards her, and Sophie stood on her toes, hanging onto Matt as she did so. So easy, so natural. Hannah supposed that it was because Sophie didn’t feel the way that she did about him. Sophie could touch Matt without feeling any melting desire to fall into his arms.
‘What do you have planned for tonight?’ Matt started to walk towards the car park, and Hannah fell into step beside him.
‘Mum’s out for dinner with her book club, so it’s going to be just the two of us and a cartoon marathon.’
He frowned. ‘Shame. I was hoping that you might let me return last week’s favour and buy you dinner. But a cartoon marathon’s a tough thing to compete with.’
He could come home with them... The offer hovered on the tip of her tongue, but Hannah’s courage failed her. If Sam could be persuaded to go to bed on time, then she’d be alone with Matt.
‘There’s a great place on the river. Family friendly...’
This was why she shouldn’t be alone with him. He was just too tempting for words. But what could happen under the watchful eye of a six-year-old boy?
‘Thank you. We’d really like that, wouldn’t we, Sam?’
‘Yes, okay.’ Sam hardly glanced at her, obviously bound up in his own thoughts and oblivious of what he’d just agreed to.
‘Great. I’ll come and pick you up at six.’
* * *
‘You look bee-yoo-tiful!’ Sam elongated the word to give it particular emphasis.
Hannah had only washed her hair and grabbed a dress from the wardrobe. And applied a little make-up. And found her favourite sandals, which matched the blue of her dress perfectly.
There was no point in protesting to Sam, he hadn’t developed the skill of discernment yet. ‘Well, you look beautiful too.’ Sam frowned and Hannah laughed. ‘Okay, you don’t look beautiful at all. You look handsome and very cool.’
‘Thank you.’ Sam was wearing his best jeans and trainers, with a stripy polo shirt and a hoodie. When Hannah had tried to comb his hair he’d wriggled and protested, running his hands through it so that it stood on end. Hannah had relented, wetting the comb and making the spikes a little more regular.
Her beautiful boy. She was so proud of him, and if she wanted to admire anyone tonight, Sam was a good choice. That resolution flew straight out of the window as soon as the doorbell rang and she opened the door.
Matt was wearing an off-white linen suit, just creased enough to appear relaxed. A crisp, dark blue shirt completed the look. No... Matt completed the look. Blond and tanned, his eyes seeming very blue and his shoulders very broad. He was simply mouth-watering.
‘You look nice.’ The curve of his lips told her that he considered this an understatement.
‘She looks bee-yoo-tiful,’ Sam corrected him, and Matt nodded solemnly in agreement.
Hannah laughed, trying to cover her embarrassment. ‘Sam’s gone for cool tonight.’
‘Hmm.’ Matt pressed his lips together. ‘So did I but I think you’ve managed it a lot better than I did, Sam.’
‘You look okay. Are we going in your car?’ Sam craned around him, obviously interested in the sleek, dark blue car parked outside. Hannah had to admit that it was far more likely to appeal to Sam than her own red run-around.
‘If your mum doesn’t mind me borrowing your car seat.’ Matt shot a querying glance at Hannah and she shook her head.
‘No, that’s fine. Mine’s easy to swap over into different cars, Sophie doesn’t have one either so we’re always switching it.’
She transferred the car seat into Matt’s car, careful not to scratch the leather upholstery, and Sam sat quietly as they drove, transfixed by the dashboard display. They meandered through country lanes, drawing up next to a quiet, tree-lined stretch of the River Colne.
‘A boat!’ Sam was wide-eyed with excitement, and Matt smiled.