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As he said it, Nicole Pigman lifted her back legs and treated them to another live piglet. Devan grabbed a towel and came to help.

Nearly two hours passed, with Nicole successfully popping out seven tiny pink and black piglets, all as cute as buttons, and thankfully alive and well. The vet arrived, decided Nicole was healthy and had finished, and there was nothing for her to do. Alyssa and Devan decided to stay a while longer, feeling a pull not to leave the mum and her little ones – and perhaps not to leave each other.

‘It’s like we’re in a bubble,’ Alyssa whispered to Devan as she leaned against him, both sitting in the straw with a blanket over them, watching the tiny, snuffling brood. Alyssa’s tired head rested on Devan’s shoulder and his arm draped lazily around her. ‘Like a strange, magical space of new life and fresh beginnings.’

Devan took a deep breath. ‘Doesn’t smell that fresh.’ His soft laugh vibrated through her. ‘But I know what you mean. Though I think we’re more enamoured with the idea than Nicole there. She’s snoring like a P-I-G.’

Alyssa chuckled too and then stifled a yawn. ‘It’s just so special, isn’t it? Seeing a living thing come into the world and take its first breaths. To witness the strength of instinct to find belonging and to live.’ She rubbed her chest, remembering what Hedgehog had warned about heart-eye emojis and falling head over heels. ‘Not that it’s the same, of course – because she’s absolutely not a piglet. But I think I sense a fraction of how you must have felt with Emmalina.’

Alyssa looked up at him. His face lit up like she’d just mentioned his specialist subject. ‘My heart was bursting for her from the moment I saw her tiny scrunched-up face and those grabby little fingers. Biology didn’t come into it – I just wanted to protect her. Still do. Hey, you should meet her.’

‘Sylvie said that too.’ Not for the first time, she chewed the thought over. The more time she spent with Devan, the more she found herself wanting to explore his world. Toying with her growing feelings for him was one thing. But something else had been troubling her. ‘What if I let her down?’ The thought was out before she could stop it. ‘All this time I’ve spent mistrusting people. What if it’s me who can’t be trusted? I make rubbish decisions. When the going gets tough, I run. Can I start letting myself back into your life, and into Sylvie’s and Emmalina’s, if I’m not sure I’ll stick around?’

He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. ‘You’re being too hard on yourself,’ he said softly, stroking back her hair and kissing her forehead. ‘Your decisions aren’t rubbish, by a long shot. We’re all just doing the best we can with what we’re dealt. Whatever you decide, I trust you.’

‘Thank you.’ She yawned. All this emotional stuff was exhausting.

‘My mum’s looking forward to seeing you when she and Dad are back from their Maldives trip too. But no pressure.’

‘No pressure,’ she repeated, sleepily. She had adored Dawn, though now wasn’t the time to commit to too much.

She wasn’t quite sure when she let the final part of her guard down and fell asleep on him, her head nestled into the crook of his neck, both of his arms now wrapped around her. She wasn’t sure if she subconsciously felt his warm hands stroking her arms and smoothing her hair, or his breath tickling her face, or if that was part of a dream she was definitely enjoying.

When she woke, it was nearly four a.m., and Devan had drifted off too. Her stirring to life woke him.

‘We should probably go soon.’ She yawned again, looking over at the sleepy brood and their dozing mother. ‘They all seem fine, and we’ll give the morning staff a shock if we’re still here, like shepherds in a manger.’

They stood, quietly gathering their things, Alyssa stopping for a moment to take it all in.

‘This has been special,’ she breathed, turning to Devan, who’d been standing behind her. ‘Being here for this. With you.’ Their faces were close now, as though something had drawn them back together. Noses nearly touching, eyes drinking each other in. Alyssa reached to touch his fingertips, their fingers entwining. ‘I’d forgotten what a good person you are, Devan. I’m glad I got to come back here and start to remember.’

She’d thought they’d been about to kiss again. Every part of her had wanted to. Instead, a brief sadness flashed across his eyes, and he nodded, stepping back from her.

‘I’ll send Hedgehog an update and then we’ll leave these guys in peace. I could call you a taxi? You can’t walk down dark country lanes at this time, even though the murder rates aren’t too abysmal.’ He checked his watch and then winced. ‘Actually, you won’t get a taxi out here at this time. I could drive you? Or you’re welcome to stay at mine. In a separate room, obviously. You don’t want to relive the only one sleeping bag night.’ He ran a hand through his hair, as though it was helping him to think through logistics.

Alyssa looked at him. His eyes were tired, and she didn’t want to trouble him with driving when he looked like he might nod off. And a secret part of her did want to relive that intimate sleeping bag situation, albeit somewhere less chilly.

‘Can I stay at yours? Just for a few hours.’ It was nearly morning anyway. ‘I won’t get in your way.’ Not that she really wanted to promise that last bit.

‘Of course.’ He nodded.

‘Thank you. That’s so …’

‘Good of me. I know.’

When he tilted his mouth into a smile, Alyssa noticed that the hint of sadness she’d seen in his eyes had drifted down to it.

Had she said something wrong? Or maybe she’d had one of her sexy Devan dreams when she’d fallen asleep on him and had been accidentally rambling about his amber-scented skin or his washboard stomach. If she was about to stay at his, perhaps she should stay strictly in a separate room.