Kisses at Sunset

‘Not babies! I’ll do anything except babies. Fall over and break all your bones and I’m definitely your man, but babies…’ He shivered dramatically. ‘Kat did obstetrics last, she can deliver it.’

They all laughed and Kat tried to join in, but she felt strangely heavy inside. They were a wonderful family and spending the day with them reminded her of how lonely her life was.

Kat gave herself a shake and watched as the two men chased around the garden, kicking the football to her little boy, who whooped and sprinted after it.

He was in boy heaven.

‘Hopeful goes in goal,’ Louisa yelled, gesturing to two ancient apple trees laden with fruit. ‘Goal is between those two trees. But don’t slip on the apples.’

They played for the rest of the afternoon until Archie tripped over the ball and started to cry.

‘He’s tired,’ Kat said quickly, scooping him up into her arms and giving him a cuddle. She checked her watch and gave a gasp. ‘I didn’t realise it was so late! I need to get him home to bed. Thank you so much for a wonderful day.’

‘It was wonderful having you.’ Louisa beamed at her. ‘Josh will walk you home.’

‘What?’ Josh looked as though she’d suggested he walk naked down the high street. ‘Walk her home?’

‘Yes.’ Louisa’s tone was patient as she cleared the last of the plates. ‘Just in case she gets mugged.’

‘Mugged?’ Kat blinked. ‘But it’s still light and I only live over there.’

‘Two girls were mugged on the beach just last week,’ Louisa said, looking at Josh with a stern look in her eyes. ‘You live right next door to her so it makes absolute sense for you to walk home together.’

Josh frowned, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. ‘Louisa…’

‘I won’t get mugged.’ Kat took one look at the dangerous look in Josh’s eyes and felt a cloud descend on her. It was so obvious that he didn’t relish the idea of walking home with her, and who could blame him? He obviously had other plans for his evening. Undoubtedly something much more exciting than acting as a bodyguard for a woman and her child.

And he hadn’t so much as glanced in her direction since that episode in the sea.

She quickly gathered up their things that were scattered across the lawn and said her farewells to Mac.

Josh was standing by the gate. Holding tightly to Archie’s hand, she swung the bag over her shoulder and gave him a cool look.

‘You don’t have to take me home.’

He didn’t quite meet her eyes. ‘Louisa’s right. It makes sense,’ he muttered, reaching for her bag.

She held onto it. ‘I can carry my own bag,’ she snapped, and he blinked at her.

‘I thought it might be heavy.’

‘Well, I could carry it even if it was heavy.’ She shot him a look of intense irritation. ‘Since the day Archie was born I’ve been lugging pushchairs and car seats and one increasingly heavy child. I can carry a beach bag.’

This time he did look at her and there was a question mixed with the wariness. ‘All right.’ There was a gleam in his eyes. ‘If you’re Miss Muscle, you can carry my bag.’ He handed her an overstuffed sports bag and despite her best efforts a giggle escaped. He had a way of making her laugh even when she was determined to be angry with him.

‘Weedy, that’s your problem.’ He had muscles that drew the female eye and weedy was about the one thing he most certainly was not. ‘You don’t need to walk me home, Josh.’

She had too much pride to allow him to do it.

She was too independent.

‘Indulge me.’ He glanced over her shoulder. ‘I’m scared of my sister-in-law. If anything untoward were to happen to you, I’d never hear the last of it.’

‘We both know I’m not going to get mugged.’

‘No, but I will if I don’t escort you.’ His tone was dry. ‘Have you ever tried arguing with Louisa? Trust me, it doesn’t work. Especially when she’s interfering.’

‘How is she interfering?’ It seemed to Kat that she was just being caring, but she didn’t have time to explore that further with Josh because Archie was whining and tugging at her hand impatiently, not understanding the delay.