Cesca leapt up and grabbed for her phone at the side of her bed and suddenly realised that she wasn’t in her own bed at all. Her gaze travelled the unfamiliar layout of the room, lingering for a fond moment on Will sleeping on his front beside her, arms and legs splayed over the bed, until she shook herself out of her stupor and spotted the thing she needed lying on the floor next to her discarded clothes. Dropping as quietly from the bed as she could, she darted over to retrieve it and checked the time.

‘Shit…’ she muttered. There was no way she was going to make it into work on time, and she only had herself to blame; she hadn’t exactly taken a lot of persuading to stay over, and staying over at this stage in their relationship would invariably involve a lot of sex. Which meant she would only get a few hours’ sleep. She’d forgotten to set an alarm too, and it was only by some fluke she was up now, so her plan to wake early and go home for clean clothes was well and truly scuppered.

‘What’s the matter?’

Cesca looked round to see Will’s eyes were open and he was looking at her with a lazy grin, his face still caressed by the pillow.

‘I’m going to be late for work.’

‘Oh.’

‘There’s no need to sound so worried about it,’ Cesca said wryly.

‘I am worried…’ Will rolled onto his back and stretched before he pushed himself to sit. ‘Of course I’m worried. What can I do to help?’

Pulling her knickers on, Cesca went to the bed and kissed him tenderly. ‘Nothing,’ she said. ‘When it comes to getting me to work you’re quite useless. In fact, the reason I’m in this predicament is because I let you talk me into doing something that I knew would end up making me late for work.’

His hand went to her wrist to pull her back to bed, but she ducked away, snapping her bra up from the floor with a laugh. ‘I don’t think so,’ she said.

He smiled. ‘It was worth a try. I had such a wonderful time with you last night – can you blame me for wanting a little more?’

‘You realise I only slept with you because I felt sorry you’d been punched in the face?’

Will’s smile faded. ‘Really?’

‘My God!’ Cesca laughed. ‘You’re so gullible!’

‘That’s a rotten trick,’ he said, looking reproachful, but it only made her laugh more.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said as her laughter subsided. ‘But I do have to go. I’ll call Duncan and let him know he’ll have to hold the fort for an hour, but I can’t take the piss.’

‘When will I see you next?’ His expression was so earnest that Cesca’s resolve almost melted.

‘I can call this evening if you like,’ she said, already tingling with anticipation at the prospect of sharing his bed for a second night. ‘But this time I’ll be able to arrive a bit more prepared. That’s assuming you don’t have plans for tonight, of course?’

‘No plans,’ he said. ‘Shall we say eight?’

---

After a quick call to the office, Duncan had told Cesca not to stress and that there wasn’t a huge amount going on that couldn’t wait. It wasn’t the first time Cesca had silently given thanks that she worked with such an all-round brilliant colleague, but she’d still wolfed down a biscuit on the run and headed home to get changed before going to work. In the end, she’d only been half an hour late, though she felt vaguely off-kilter, as if she’d spent the previous night drinking absinthe or something equally as trippy. She could only attribute it to her marathon sex session, something she hadn’t done for a very long time, and the lack of sleep was catching up with her now.

As she sipped a freshly made coffee she reopened the browser window to the page she’d been reading a couple of days before about antique vases. She peered at one in particular again, one she’d gazed intently at a number of times over the past week. When Harper had shown her the vase Will had gifted to the farm, Cesca hadn’t been able to shake the feeling that she’d seen something like it before, and that particular something had been worth a lot of money. To be fair, bits of ancient spears and pots were more her area than valuable collector’s items, so she couldn’t be entirely sure.

She’d sent a message to Harper to tell her to get it valued, but perhaps she ought to call in one or two favours to make sure Harper didn’t neglect to do that. Harper was clearly not a woman driven by money, but Cesca knew she’d find some helpful right now and she’d been adamant that the treasure reward was going to Will. It looked as though Harper’s personal circumstances were going to be tough for a while too, from what Cesca had seen at the farm when all hell had broken loose. Although Harper had seemed remarkably calm and accepting of the situation, a bit of good fortune would certainly help soften the blow. Wouldn’t it be lovely, Cesca thought, if, just once, everyone could win?

Putting down her mug, she reached for her phone book and thumbed through the contacts. She had a list of calls to make, including one to Kristofer to tell him the news about Harper’s decision over the reward. It would make an amazing story for him to write, and perhaps it would persuade him to stay in England a little longer after all. Cesca had been vaguely troubled by his sudden announcement that he was leaving, though she couldn’t put her finger on exactly why. Whatever his reasons, she was going to miss their fascinating little chats.

---

The best way for Harper to get the morning’s drama firmly out of her mind was to work. Of course, every shadow at the entrance to the tearoom looked for a disconcerting second like Shay’s, and she had possibly never been as jittery – a fact Pip had commented on more than once – but if he did come back she would have to be as strong and calm as she had been that morning. And he would come back, of that there was no doubt. Shay was a man used to winning.

Allie had begged to help them in the café. She didn’t have a lot of skill, she’d admitted, but she had enthusiasm and plenty of pent-up nervous energy that needed to go somewhere. It was healthier for her to do something useful than to sit stewing on her own in a room out back, and Harper had to agree with that because it was exactly how she herself felt. So she’d agreed – and had seen the first genuine smile on Allie’s face as she tied a spare apron around her waist. It was remarkable how much prettier it made her, as if suddenly she’d turned from grey to pink, breathing and living again. And she’d been competent in the end too, mastering the beast of a coffee machine quickly, moving between tables with grace as she ran to and fro with orders, even charming one or two of the elderly customers to the extent they left her large tips. She looked so happy and fulfilled that Harper had felt happy too. They’d all had their fair share of heartache over the past few weeks, and in many ways they’d been at war, but perhaps they could help each other to heal now.

As brunch came to an end and they changed the menu over for the lunchtime trade, Harper looked towards the doors to see a man approach, her heart in her mouth for a moment until she recognised Will’s figure. He walked straight to the counter, and though his expression was one of concern, he had the look of a man who had made peace with the world.

‘I wanted to see that everything was alright,’ he said in a low voice, glancing around. As his gaze settled on Allie talking to a customer, he stalled and turned back to Harper with a silent question.

‘She’s staying with us,’ Harper said. ‘Nowhere else to go.’

Will shook his head in wonder. ‘You are a remarkable woman.’

Harper had heard that said before, and she tried not to think of the man who’d said it, certain that her heart might break for what she’d lost. But how could she go back to Kristofer now after all that had happened? It wouldn’t be right for either of them and she didn’t think she could survive another broken heart.

‘She’s earning her keep,’ Harper said, rallying herself to a forced cheeriness. ‘The help is welcome, and I quite like her now that we’re not rivals.’

‘But there’s been no trouble? He hasn’t been back?’

Harper didn’t need to ask who Will meant. ‘He came back this morning, actually. First thing. Wanted to talk.’ She gave a small smile. ‘Wasn’t too pleased to see Allie here with us. It was worth giving her a bed just to see the look on his face.’

‘I could stay here today,’ Will said. ‘Make sure you have reinforcements around if he comes again.’

‘That’s very sweet of you but I’m sure he wouldn’t come during opening hours – too many people around. If anything, he’s going to come back this evening, but we’ll be ready for him.’

‘I could make myself available this evening if it helps,’ Will said with such earnestness that Harper wanted to laugh. She could hardly believe this sweet man was the same glowering snob who’d first visited the farm after the gold had been found. And she knew that this wasn’t just a product of her offering him the reward – this was the product of finding friendship and acceptance at last. And perhaps a night of good sex, she thought wryly.

‘Wouldn’t Cesca have something to say about that?’ Harper raised her eyebrows and he smiled.

‘I’m sure she wouldn’t mind. We have arrangements to meet at eight but we could both come here instead of the dinner we’d planned.’

‘No chance. I’m not ruining a romantic dinner date for anyone. I take it this will be a romantic dinner date?’

‘I suppose it will,’ he said. ‘It’s been so long I hardly recognise one now.’

‘I think you make a gorgeous couple,’ Harper said. ‘I can’t say I’m not surprised by events but it’s wonderful.’

‘Nobody is more surprised than me,’ Will said with a bemused smile. ‘I’m afraid I’m not very good at reading the signals where the fairer sex are concerned. They are for me, as for many men, a mystery. In fact, though I found her very attractive I was certain that her affections lay elsewhere. I’m still not entirely convinced that if he wasn’t going home to Norway she wouldn’t prefer him, but I realise you’re probably going to tell me that’s nothing but a very silly manly insecurity.’

Harper stared at him. ‘You mean Kristofer?’

‘I believe that’s his name. You must know him, of course, as he’s been involved in the research around our little box of surprises. Charming fellow, but unnervingly so for an insecure soul like me.’

‘He’s going back to Norway? When?’

‘I’m not entirely sure,’ Will replied, clearly confused by her reaction. ‘Cesca said it was all rather unplanned and imminent. She said she didn’t know what had caused such a sudden change of heart…’

Harper had heard the word imminent and stopped listening.

‘Shit,’ she muttered. Ripping her apron from her waist, she hung it on a hook. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said, looking up at Will, ‘but I have to go out.’

‘Is there something I can help with? Something wrong?’

Something was very wrong. Shaken by recent events, confused by her conflicting desires, Harper had assumed that there would be time to decide what she really wanted in a calm and rational way. If she was going to make Kristofer a part of her life, then time would have shown her that it was absolutely the right choice. She hadn’t even considered that he might not stay in Cerne Hay. But suddenly, the idea of him not being there left her hollow and she knew, in a burst as bright and clear as a popping flashbulb, that she loved him. She’d loved him from the first day they’d worked together at the farm, and now she was going to lose him if she didn’t act. Ricky and Shay, they’d been mistakes, but something deep inside told her that Kristofer wouldn’t be. The only mistake she could make with him was letting him go.

‘Pip!’ Harper called through to the kitchen. ‘I have to go out!’

Pip came through, her brow creased. ‘Now?’

‘Sorry, but yes. Can you manage here?’

Pip nodded. ‘I’ve got Allie.’ She glanced at Will. ‘Is everything OK? Something I need to know about?’

‘I don’t know,’ he replied uncertainly, glancing at Harper who was now rummaging beneath the counter for her car keys.

‘You’re worrying me,’ Pip said. ‘Whatever it is, do you need me to come?’

‘You’re needed here,’ Harper said briskly, already marching for the door. ‘I’ll try not to be long.’

---

She had a vague idea where Kristofer’s cottage was because Cesca had mentioned it, but the leafy lanes around Cerne Hay were still so confusing to her and they all looked so similar that twenty minutes of driving up and down them had still not revealed it. Fighting the urge to scream with frustration, she backed the car into a passing place and turned in the road to go back the way she’d come a third time.

Forcing herself to take a deep breath, she tried to calm down. She’d seen him a matter of days before, and he couldn’t possibly plan and execute a move back to Norway in that time, could he? Besides, now that she thought back to her conversation with Will, she was wondering whether she’d overreacted. Nobody had said that Kristofer was going for good. For all she knew he was planning a holiday. But wouldn’t Will have said that if it were true? Going back home – that meant going back home, as in the place he was going to becoming home, didn’t it? All she knew was that now she’d found him she couldn’t lose him, and she’d never been more certain of anything in her life.

Eventually she found it; a faded sign almost entirely obscured by a trailing honeysuckle: Rowan Cottage. This had to be it. Yanking on the handbrake outside the gate, she raced from the car and up the path, careless of how mad and desperate she might look, and hammered on the front door.

‘Kristofer!’ she yelled.

There was silence.

Putting her mouth to the letterbox she called him again. ‘Kristofer! It’s Harper! Are you there?’

She pressed her ear to the door this time, straining to pick up the sound of footsteps in the hallway, somebody coming to answer the door. But nothing. She knocked again and then hurried to a window, cupping her hands around her eyes to peer in. The room beyond was empty of furniture, a few odd boxes stacked in a corner. Harper’s stomach dropped.

He’d gone.