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Kitty turned away to hide the heat in her face at his unexpected arrival. When he’d appeared at the door, her stomach had done a double flip, and now her body fizzed with energy. Why hadn’t she worn more mascara? As she busied herself putting away the paper and paints, she focussed on steadying her quick breath. If she didn’t stop breathing so fast, he’d think she was hyperventilating.

“This is Wendy, Joshie’s doggie,” Amelia said with pride.

“Kitty and Wendy have already met,” Josh said as he placed Ammy on the ground. “What did I miss?”

“We’ve done some painting. We did pictures of you.”

Josh’s eyebrows raised. “I hope you captured my rugged good looks,” he said with a smirk at Kitty.

She turned away, fire in her cheeks.

“Kitty gave you bendy legs!” Ammy shouted, roaring with laughter.

Her mouth dropped in mock horror. If it wasn’t enough for Thea to not trust her babysitting abilities, now her daughter was calling into question her artistic talents. “It wasn’t my fault! I didn’t know we were aiming for accuracy. Mine’s more abstract,” she said, folding her arms around her middle.

Ammy delivered their pictures to Josh, who examined them carefully and then diplomatically declared them joint winners.

“What do we win?” she shouted in delight.

“You win an extra episode ofPeppa Pigbefore bed, and Kitty wins a glass of wine.”

Ammy disappeared into the sitting room to the TV, and Josh gestured for Kitty to sit down. He poured them both a drink and joined her at the table.

“Thank you so much for helping Thea out. I didn’t know what time I’d be home.”

“No problem. I can go now if you like?” Kitty said, desperate for him to say no.

Josh paused, playing with a felt tip pen lying on the table, spinning it round and round. “Please stay. Ammy seems to enjoy your company.”

His eyes drew level with hers. Soft blue. They subtly changed between blue and green depending on the light. Or maybe their colour was dictated by his mood. Not that she’d thought much about his eyes, of course. But she had to admit, she’d rather Josh enjoyed her company instead of his niece. Kitty took another sip of the rich red wine, recalling the glory of the body beneath his clothes.

“Besides, it would be nice not to drink alone,” he said, eyes still on hers. Kitty chewed on her lip, wondering how loaded his statement was.

“How was your day?” she asked, fidgeting with the fringe of the tablecloth.

“Pretty busy. It seems like yours was more eventful, though.”

Kitty smiled. “Yes. Thea showed me around.”

“And before you knew it, she roped you into babysitting?” Josh asked, taking a sip of his wine. She shrugged her shoulders.

“I feel like a fraud. I’ve little experience with kids. My sister keeps me away from my nieces.” Or was it she who avoided her nieces? “She thinks I’m incapable of surviving. Having said that, kids remind me of goats.”

Josh snickered. “Without the horns, though.”

Kitty’s mind went straight to the scar at Josh’s waistband, and her cheeks went into blush overdrive all over again.

Ammy took this moment to storm back in, announcing thatPeppa Pighad finished.

“Well, it must be time for you to go to bed then,” Josh said.

The little girl had other ideas, and in between grumbles and outright tears, Josh negotiated the price of a drama-free bedtime, agreeing to one game of Twister. It’d been so long since Kitty had played, she wasn’t sure she remembered the rules. She didn’t enjoy gyms, and the nearest thing to exercise she got was going to and from the coffee machine at work.

Ammy announced that there would be a ‘twist’ to Twister.She’d be the one spinning the arrow, and the adults would be the ones playing. Kitty’s heart skittered in her chest. What the hell? Scrabbling around on the floor wasn’t exactly dignified, and what if she slipped a disc or, more likely, pulled a muscle? How would she feel about asking Josh for a rubdown? Kitty huffed a breath. At least she’d decided to throw her denim shorts on before she left Rose Cottage.

“Thank goodness I didn’t wear a skirt,” she said without thinking.

Both Josh and Ammy stared at her like she’d sprouted another head. Had that just come out of her mouth? Before Kitty had time to blush, though, Ammy spoke.