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The room is busy with a mix of men, attractive and available single men, all here to meet someone. I don’t usually go for these sorts of meet-and-greets, but I’m tired of being alone. I want someone looking for a relationship, but all the apps seem to be focusing on hook-ups. I’ve had enough of swiping right. This agency has a reputation for success, so hopefully, I’ll meet the right man. After all these years of holding on to the idea of Jethro returning, I’m ready to find my forever man. He’s never come back, and he never will. It’s time to change and look for a man ready to do the same as me—settle down.

A man, maybe a little younger than me—not a problem—looks around the room. When he sees me watching him, he raises his glass of red wine. That’s all the invitation I need to walk over.

“Hi.”

He smiles and holds out his free hand. “I’m Jamie.”

“Benny.”

I shake his hand. It’s warm and smooth and as firm as it should be. No wishy-washy grip from him. “Do you come here often?”

I groan at the banal opening question but am pleased when he chuckles.

“Is that a chat-up line that works for you?”

He sips at his wine, but the corners of his mouth are flickering up in a cute smile.

“If it did, I don’t need to be here.”

I gesture at the room of single men, smiling, even though my cheeks are bound to be pink.

“Fair point.”

He’s attractive, with dark hair curling a little around his ears like it’s due a cut, but it suits him.

“So, is there a line that will work?”

I ask. A pale pink blush rises on his cheeks.

His mouth lifts, and a dimple appears. Yep, I’m interested in this guy. “A simple invitation to dinner usually works for me.”

“Would you like to? Have dinner with me, I mean.”

I have a drink of my wine while he slowly looks up and down my body. I feel conscious of my soft stomach. Years of being a baker has taken its toll. I vow to get back to Brodie’s exercise classes.

“I would,”

he replies without expanding. He pulls his phone out of his back pocket. “When would you like to go?”

“How about now? It’s not too late.”

I don’t want to give him time to change his mind, and while I’m prepared to travel out of town for dates, it’ll be easier to get the first one done and dusted. If it goes terribly, I haven’t wasted another evening. God, that’s a dreadful attitude. I’m already deciding he’s not going to like me or we realise we’ll be wildly different by the time we’ve got through the first course.

“I’d like that. Do you like Chinese? There’s a great one not far from here.”

That gives me an insight that he may live here. Which works well for me. It’s only ten miles from Calston Cove. Close enough to see each other again, far enough to stop having the town talking about me in my café. “That sounds great.”

As we walk away, the eyes of the organiser are on us. I give him a nod, which he returns with a smile.

We get through a lot of the obvious questions as we walk to the restaurant. He’s a teacher in the secondary school I and all the kids from the town went to. Bussed in and out every day for five years.

When I tell him I own a café, he smiles gleefully. “I’ve heard of it. The teachers rave about your pastries. I can impress them when I tell them I’ve had dinner with the owner.”

That stops me from asking if he’s out with his peers. “You’ll have to come over and try me.”

That doesn't quite come out the way I meant it, but Jamie’s eyes twinkle with merriment.

“I like that idea.”

He stops in front of a restaurant. “We’re here.”

It’s a great meal, and Jamie is good company. There’s definitely something between us, a chemistry I’d like to check out again.

At the end of the evening, we walk back to our cars, which are parked in the hotel car park. He leans against a modest Mercedes a couple of years old, his arms crossed loosely over his chest. “I’ve had a great evening. Thank you for asking me.”

“Would you like to do it again?”

I’m hopeful because he’s still smiling and not in a rush to get his car door open and away from me.

“I would, very much so. Can we swap numbers? We can arrange another date. This was a date, right, or have I read too much into it? I tend to do that.”

His cheeks flush, and he looks away.

“Yes, this has been a date. Add your number to my phone.”

I hand him my phone, and he quickly types in his number, then gives it back to me. I send him a text message. “Now you have mine.”

I lean forward and press a soft kiss on his cheek. “I’ve had a lovely evening, Jamie. I’ll call you.”

A couple of days later, I do just that, and I’m grateful when he picks up after only a couple of rings. No hesitation with a ’shall I-shan’t I’ answer vibe.

“Benny, hi. How are you?”

I can hear the smile in his voice.

“I’m good. Are you having a good week?”

“Better now, thank you. I sometimes wonder why I thought educating teenagers was a good idea. Manoeuvring them into a classroom and then settling down is like herding squirrels on speed.”

I chuckle at the image. “I have no doubt. I remember my days there, and I was considered a studious one. Would you like to meet up again this weekend? I’m free from Friday evening, so whenever you can make it.”

“I’d love to. Maybe I can come over on Saturday afternoon. I’m dying to try your famous French toast.”

His laughter is carefree, something I haven’t felt for a long time. I’m ready to see where this can go.

“That sounds like a date. I’ll send you my address. Come to me first so we can walk to the café.”

“Perfect. Around twelve?”

We agree on the time, and as soon as the call ends, I send him my address just in case I get side-tracked and forget. When I get a heart emoji back, I smile.

“What has you smiling so widely, Benny?”

Drew walks up to me at the counter. I hadn’t noticed him come in. The high voice of Willow calling my name pierces my ear drum. She’s waving furiously. “My here, Benny.”

I laugh when Drew shakes his head. “We’re still working on indoor voices.”

The arrival of Merrick and his young daughter to the town a couple of years ago had all tongues wagging. A wealthy single man with a child had bought the dilapidated Mill House and had hired Drew to do all the renovations. I don’t think falling in love with each other was part of the plan, but it didn’t take long to happen. Partly thanks to Willow’s infatuation with Drew. It was like he was made to be her dad.

I wave to the little girl. “I’m guessing someone wants French toast fingers.”

Drew nods. “No getting out of it, Benny. What’s with the smile?”

My face heats up, but I grin. “I met someone at the weekend. He’s coming down on Saturday.”

“Good for you, bud. Don’t introduce us to him too soon, or we’ll frighten him off with all the stories we have of you.”

His laughter is rich and full of jest. I know they wouldn’t do that. They’ve been trying to find me someone for years.

“There’s no way I’m ready for him to meet you.”

I chuckle, but I want Jamie to meet my friends. I can’t remember ever feeling like this about another man I’ve been with.

I take Drew’s order and get busy making it, all the while thinking of Jamie and what we could do on Saturday. It’s too early to ask him to stay. Isn’t there a third-date rule? Does that mean it’s okay on the third date or after the fourth? Now I’m overthinking it.