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“Righty-o,” Stu said. “I’ll get another pint in then.” And he turned back to the bar.

“Told you,” Jules said as they stepped out into the autumny evening. “Come to a couple of rehearsals and then you’ll have all the excuses you need. Any time you want to go out, you just say you’re going to choir and off you pop, no one the wiser. Even if you hate it, you can show up for long enough to make everyone think you’re a regular, surely?”

Sophie’s heart had lightened a little now that they were outside. This could actually work. “Yeah,” she said, feeling better. “Yeah, I can do that. I’m pretty sure I’m going to be terrible, though. So I’m just going to stand at the back and flap my mouth open and closed until it’s time for tea.”

“Whatever you need to do,” Jules said, turning up the path to the village hall. “Come on, we’re going to be late.”

They hurried inside and Sophie was tugging off her jacket with one hand and holding her book with the other when someone turned and smashed right into her. “Ow,” she said indignantly, dropping her book.

She bent to pick it up and her hands touched warm, long fingers. And when she looked up, her erstwhile attacker had bent too. And she was looking into wide blue eyes, at short, curlyblonde hair, at a sharp chin and a determined nose, and her heart was suddenly beating very, very fast indeed.

“I’m Tilly,” said the generous mouth, and her cheeks were flushing red. “I’m a police officer.”

“I’m Sophie,” said Sophie. “And, um, I’m not?”

Chapter Six

“You’re not what?” Tilly asked, confused.

“Not a police officer,” Sophie said.

“Well, I know that. I mean, I should know that. I’d have seen you at the police station if you were a police officer, wouldn’t I?”

“I suppose,” Sophie said. “I’m an accountant, by the way.”

Tilly was watching the way Sophie’s mouth moved, was looking at the soft curves of her eyebrows, was practically drinking the woman in. “Oh?” was all she could manage to say.

“Not very sexy, I know.”

Tilly swallowed. “Oh, I don’t know,” she said. “That showIndustrymakes it look quite sexy.”

“They’re traders and, uh, financial advisors and stuff,” Sophie said, her hands still on the book, still touching Tilly’s.

Tilly looked down again to where their fingers met and suddenly saw the cover of the book she was touching. “Oh,” she said again. “Oh.” She pulled her hand back and looked up. Sophie was smiling and Tilly’s heart started to beat funny.

“I know, I know. But don’t knock it until you’ve tried it,” Sophie said. “They’re really very good. In fact, if you want, I canpass it along when I’ve finished reading it. There’s a lot of sex in it, but it’s quite well done.”

Before Tilly could answer, she was rescued by Billy clapping her hands. “Alright people,” she said. “I want you all around the piano. Come on, no need to be shy.”

Tilly found that she was sticking close to Sophie, like she didn’t want to be pried away. They joined the group around the piano.

“Quick chorus of This Little Light of Mine,” Billy said bossily. “You all know the words, I’m sure. Let’s really belt it out. Come on.” She hit the piano keys, and they were off.

The song was so familiar that Tilly didn’t have to think about the words or the tune. Instead, she could focus on the creature standing next to her. Now that they were upright, she could see that Sophie was exactly her height. She could also smell something, a sort of perfume mixed with car oil. It wasn’t an unpleasant smell.

In fact, now that Tilly thought about it, she didn’t think there was anything unpleasant about Sophie. She was smiley and nice and… And why had this never happened before?

Okay, so she might not exactly read the sort of books that Sophie was obviously into, but Tilly had read some books. And she’d seen films, watched TV, had a few unfortunate fumblings in the dark until she figured out what she wanted, and had henceforth not dated a single person seriously.

Well, she had a job to do and training to finish and a hundred other excuses that stopped her revealing too much of herself or making herself in any way vulnerable.

All of that came together to mean that she knew exactly what was happening here. And the thought of it made her smile a little as she sang, made her heart lighten, made the shabby little village hall seem larger and brighter and shinier.

And when she caught Sophie’s eye and Sophie smiled at her, Tilly felt a swelling, bursting feeling inside that could only mean one thing. She liked Sophie. As inlikedliked. Like, really liked. Which just made her smile more.

“Alright, not too bad,” Billy said, bringing the song to an end. “But I think we’re capable of a bit more than that, don’t you? Let’s have a go at Onward Christian Soldiers. Nice and loud, not shouting, but as loud as you can, really give it some oomph.” She crashed a chord on the piano and they were off again.

Halfway through the first verse, Tilly noticed something strange. She frowned and leaned in toward Sophie, listening intently.