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“You’re going to be a bad influence on me,” he said. “I hope you won’t suggest we skinny dip in the pond. We’d traumatise the wildlife.”

Kitty’s mind flashed back to schoolgirl memories of a brooding Colin Firth portraying Mr Darcy as he emerged from the pond at Pemberley, sodden white shirt plastered to his toned torso. She took a breath. Daniel would make a fine stunt double, but in the interests of keeping her toes and her virtue intact, she probably shouldn’t suggest it.

Kitty chuckled as they walked towards an old swing in the middle of the green.

“What?” he said. “I hope you’re not laughing at the poor ducks. It’s not their fault. They don’t know when to say no.” He paused. “It’s something I can relate to.”

Kitty’s heart fluttered a beat as his eyes glinted in the darkness. They came to the playground and put their shoes down on the grass.

Kitty sat on a swing and rocked gently back and forth. Her head spun from the bump, and she checked her momentum with her bare feet, easing the motion to the slightest sway. Silence settled between them before Daniel sat on the next swing. His eyes were on her the whole time.

“So, tell me, Katherine. Aside from Julia’s new hip, what brings you to our humble village?”

Kitty huffed. “My sister says I need to live a little,” she replied.

“Interesting.”

Daniel unscrewed the top of the hip flask and offered it to Kitty.She took it, enjoying the residual heat of his pockets on its smooth, metallic sides. When she tipped it up, the liquid inside hit the back of her throat like a freight train, and she swallowed hard to avoid choking. She didn’t want to come across as an amateur.

“Not as interesting as you might think. I’m not a complicated person,” said Kitty.

“My kind of woman. But if you need to live a little, why are you in Tottenbridge? It’s hardly Monte Carlo.”

Kitty gave Daniel a brief rundown of how she’d lost her job and why Julia had invited her to stay.

“And that is how I found myself in your pub tonight, smashing up your furniture,” Kitty said finally.

Daniel shook his head slowly. "Well, just so you know, you can bump into my table any time, but the guy you worked with sounds like a complete dick. It’s a shitty situation. He should get some kind of payback.”

“Oh, he will. We’ll meet over a boardroom table one day, and I’ll remove his fingernails one by one, metaphorically, of course. Then I’ll slowly grind him to a pulp.”

Daniel chuckled. “Remind me never to cross you.”

He drank from the flask, then handed it back to Kitty, brushing his fingers over hers ever so slightly. A tingle crept up her arm.

“So, after three months, what’s next?” he asked.

“I’m waiting to hear about some opportunities. I can’t kick my heels in the country forever.”

“You’re a city girl, then?”

Kitty smiled. “I am. And I took Julia’s offer under false pretences.” She took a drink but, this time, held onto the flask. “I hate mud, flies, and getting dirt under my nails. Everything animal-related smells awful, and I’ve discovered goats are evil! I’m not sure what I was thinking.”

Daniel laughed out loud, his voice piercing the stillness. “It’s the rectangular eyes, isn’t it?”

Kitty giggled.

“Do you know what I think?” Daniel said as he stood and walked around the back of her swing.

He took a chain in each hand and pushed her gently, the swing creaking above her. The hairs on the back of Kitty’s neck stood up, and she was so very aware of his closeness. Of the languid way that he moved. Like a tiger stalking prey. She held a breath.

“I think you need some distraction while you’re here.”

The held breath sat in her throat. “What would you suggest?” she asked quietly.

“Well…”

Daniel’s voice trailed off, and he moved around to the front of the swing set and leaned on its frame. His tall, trim figure, silhouetted in the streetlight's glow, reminded Kitty of a film noir antihero. She reached out to hand him back the flask, and he took it, eyes on hers and a dark, delicious smile on his mouth.