Page 67 of The Secret Holiday Kiss

Avery narrowed his eyes. ‘The place your dad escaped to, because his feelings were too overwhelming to deal with, and home held a lot of difficult memories.’

‘I know that really.’

‘When you say you tried to get into the bookshop, what do you mean?’

‘I found the key in Harry’s study – I remembered the keyring – but he’s changed the locks since then.’

‘So you need someone who can pick locks?’

She sipped her wine. ‘I need to ask Harry for the new key.’

‘Or you need someone who can pick locks.’

‘Are you offering?’

‘Of course I am.’

‘People will see us.’

‘Not now, they won’t.’

‘Because it’s dark.’

‘I have a torch.’

‘Why do you want to do this?’

‘You want to see the bookshop. It’ll help you figure things out.’

‘What things?’

‘You tell me.’

Daisy laughed. ‘Avery …’

‘Daisy Anderly.’ He finished his beer and stood up, holding out his hand.

She hesitated. Taking it felt more momentous than a trip to the bookshop. She opened her mouth, unsure what she was going to say, and music blared through the pub, someone clearly deciding to liven up the evening.

Avery looked over at the jukebox. ‘Country? Is this Luke Combs?’

‘Totally inferior to Jimmy Nail,’ Daisy said with a smile.

‘Surely that makes up your mind.’

‘It does.’ She didn’t admit that she’d already made up her mind, even before someone picked the wrong soundtrack. She grabbed his hand and he pulled her to standing. She finished her wine and put on her coat, then followed Avery to the door.

The night was cold and clear, their breaths adding a fog of cloud that drifted up towards the shimmer of stars in the dark sky above. Avery shoved his hands in his jacket pockets and Daisy, deciding to be reckless, tucked her arm through his.

‘You can really pick the lock?’ she asked, as they walked down Perpendicular Street, their footsteps echoing in the quiet.

‘I’m going to give it a go. It depends on what kind of lock this is.’

‘Is this something you learnt in your reckless youth?’

‘It’s something I learnt from being a handyman. A lot of people leave their keys inside their houses and don’t want to fork out hundreds of pounds for a locksmith. I learnt how to do it over time.’

‘What other unusual handyman skills do you have?’