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‘Honestly. I’m fine. I quite enjoyed calling Ned’s bluff. Thanks for the book, by the way. I look forward to reading it.’ He grinned. ‘And I do have a little something for you.’

‘Me?’ Katie was totally taken aback. ‘I – didn’t expect anything either. You’ve done the cooking. That’s gift enough.’

‘I wanted to get you something for you.’ He went to the bedside table and returned with a brown paper bag. ‘I got this the other day from Firholme though I wasn’t sure if I’d have the courage to give it to you. I certainly never expected to be with you on Christmas Day. Now I have cold feet, hoping it’s OK.’

Katie’s pulse skittered as she took the bag from him and took out the small book inside. ‘Oh. How lovely! It’s Mrs Tiggy-Winkle!’

‘Is it too silly? Too childish?’ Arlo asked. ‘It’s not a first edition but it is signed by Beatrix Potter.’

Her eyes filled with tears. ‘It’s perfect. I loved this story when I was little and to have a book signed by Beatrix is just wonderful. Oh, but you really shouldn’t have. It must have cost too much money.’

‘Not really. Besides, what am I going to spend it on up here? Please, don’t even think about it.’

‘It’s beautiful and perfect. I shall treasure it and one day, pass it on to my nieces.’ Or my own children, Katie thought.

Impulsively, she brushed her lips over Arlo’s cheek and he turned his head at the exact wrong – or right moment – and their lips met. His mouth was warm and eager but a moment later, he pulled away.

‘Sorry. Sorry. Glad you like the book,’ he muttered, moving away rapidly. ‘Now, I must take Pongo out for his evening run. I don’t want him clearing the room again.’

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Arlo woke up, drenched in sweat and not sure of where he was for a second. Was he in the cave? It wasn’t possible. That had been years ago. Just before he woke, he went to call out his friend’s name before realising that it was hopeless. It had always been hopeless.

Fumbling for his watch on the bedside table, he dropped it and cursed. Pongo ran up and barked.

‘Shh. Pongo. Shh. You’ll wake everyone up.’

The watch said it was 2.50 a.m. He groaned, turned on the lamp and sipped from his glass of water. Pongo jumped on the bed next to him and instead of telling him to get off, Arlo hugged him and buried his face in his fur, wishing he could be anywhere but at the Island House.

Arlo could not ignore the easy way Ned had slotted back into Katie’s life, Wanda and Jess’s obvious love for him, and the delighted surprise of her parents when they’d discovered he was part of the Christmas. Despite their almost-kiss earlier – which had surely been an impulsive mistake in the heat of the moment – it was clear that Ned was very much embedded in Katie’s life and, at this particular time, Arlo felt he didn’t belong in his own home.

He lay back down, knowing he wouldn’t be able to fall asleep again and vowing to himself that he’d leave at the earliest opportunity in the morning,

‘Did anyone hear that terrible noise in the night?’ Wanda asked over breakfast. Arlo had been up early, having not slept properly since his night terror. He’d used the opportunity to lay out a breakfast buffet in the dining room.

‘What terrible noise?’ Ned asked, helping himself to a cinnamon bun. ‘I was in a booze and food coma.’

‘I think it was foxes,’ Katie said. ‘Did you hear it, Arlo?’

Arlo caught her eye. ‘Could have been.’

‘Or owls,’ Katie suggested.

Wanda shook her head. ‘I don’t think owls make that sound. Your uncle was a keen birdwatcher and it sounded more like a scream or a shriek.’

‘Definitely foxes, then,’ Katie said. ‘Remember how scared I was when we all went on holiday to that forest lodge and the foxes were making a racket? I thought it was babies crying. Yum, these pastries are delicious. Thanks for doing this, Arlo.’

He smiled. ‘You’re welcome. My catering duties will be over soon, though. As soon as you’re ready for a lift, I’ll sort out the launch.’

‘If you can get it started,’ Ned said. ‘Or we could be here a while.’

‘I’ll row you back if necessary,’ he said and checked his watch. ‘The pains au chocolat must be done. I’ll bring them in.’

Arlo had zero desire for a pain au chocolat or any breakfast at all after Wanda’s comment about the screams. He hadn’t considered until that second that he might have cried out in his nightmare and the thought left him sick with dismay.

Katie’s room was directly below his bedsit but he must have made quite a racket if Wanda had been disturbed too. His heart went out to Katie for trying to distract them but he couldn’t stay in the house a moment longer.

He left the warm pastries on the kitchen countertop, grabbed his coat from the boot room, and escaped with Pongo trotting at his heels. Hopefully they’d all think he’d gone to work on the launch. If he had his way, he’d fire it up now and head straight back to the Lodge.