Classic Bestsellers from Josephine Cox: Bumper Collection. Josephine Cox

of it. ‘I hate every minute when I’m away from him, and when I see him, my heart leaps and jumps and I’m all butterflies inside. That’s love isn’t it, lass?’

      Amy laughed. ‘Sounds like it to me.’

      Arm in arm, with Daisy going on about how devoted she was to Roy and how lucky she was to have met him, they went down the street at a good brisk pace.

      It wasn’t long before Daisy wanted to know, ‘How do you feel about Jack?’

      Amy shrugged. ‘I’m not sure.’ At that moment, it was Luke Hammond who was playing on her mind.

      ‘D’yer love him?’

      Amy was visibly startled. ‘Who?’

      Daisy groaned. ‘Who d’yer think? Jack, o’ course! D’yer love him?’

      Amy had to ponder that one, but not for too long. ‘I like him a lot,’ she answered, ‘but I’m not sure if I love him – at least not in the way you seem to love Roy.’

      Daisy persisted. ‘Does he make you laugh?’

      ‘Sometimes.’

      ‘Well then, yer halfway there, lass.’ Daisy gave her a knowing nudge. ‘You like him a lot. He makes you laugh. So, does he make you shiver when he kisses you?’

      Amy blushed. ‘Don’t be so nosy.’

      Undeterred, Daisy lowered her voice to a whisper. ‘Have you two done it yet?’ she asked shamelessly.

      Amy shook her head. ‘If we had I don’t know as I would tell you, but we haven’t.’ She gave her a sideways smile. ‘Sorry to disappoint you.’

      ‘Bloody hell, lass! Yer do fancy him don’t yer?’

      ‘Of course. He’s good-looking, I like him a lot, and he’s probably everything I could want in a man.’

      ‘So, why haven’t yer done it yet then?’

      Now, when Amy compared herself and Jack with Daisy and Roy, the answer presented itself. ‘I’m not headstrong like you, Daisy. I can’t go diving into things without working out the consequences. Besides, Jack is different from Roy.’

      ‘I know what you mean about me diving in headfirst,’ Daisy agreed, ‘because that’s the way I’ve allus been. But I’m not sure what you mean about Jack being different from Roy.’

      Amy attempted to explain. ‘The way I see it, Roy is much like you. You’re like two sides of the same coin – light-hearted and game for anything. You seem to see life like a roller-coaster, up one minute and down the next, and you don’t care what tomorrow might bring. Am I right?’

      Daisy laughed. ‘You know us only too well, love,’ she laughed. ‘Live for today and let tomorrow tek care of itself, that’s us.’

      ‘Jack’s a bit like me,’ Amy went on. ‘More cautious about life. I’ve been hurt once and I’m always afraid it might happen again. Oh, I know Jack would take care of me, and I’m sure he would make the best husband in the world, but I’m not sure I’m ready for all that serious stuff yet. I’m not even sure Jack is either.’ And flitting through her mind numerous times every day was the look on Luke Hammond’s face when he had taken her in his arms and bent to kiss her.

      Daisy disagreed. ‘I’ve seen you and Jack together,’ she said, ‘and you look like a good pair to me. It’s clear he loves you, and from what you’ve just said, you’ve been eyeing him up as a possible husband. The truth is, I expect you’ve put him off, with your worries and your hesitating.’

      Amy could not deny it. ‘The truth is, I don’t want to go rushing in, and then it all go wrong, like before.’

      Suspecting that Amy might never find the courage to let herself love again, Daisy let her impatience show. ‘Look ’ere, lass! It’s time you forgot about what Don Carson did to you. For God’s sake, if you don’t let it go once and for all, it could bugger up your future for ever.’

      ‘It won’t,’ Amy replied confidently.

      All the same, her confidence in men had been wrecked since Don had deserted her like that. She had put the hurt behind her, and now felt indifference to the man, but even now, after all this time, there were still periods of panic, when she was haunted by the fear of being rejected.

      ‘You do like Jack, though, don’t yer?’ Once Daisy got her teeth into something she wouldn’t let it go.

      Amy groaned. ‘I’ve said so, haven’t I?’

      ‘Has he asked you to marry him yet?’

      ‘No …’ Though there had been times when she had sensed him on the verge of asking her.

      Encouraged, Daisy had a word of advice. ‘If he does pluck up the courage to ask you, say yes.’ She laughingly gave Amy a shove. ‘Just think, lass, we could have a double wedding.’

      As they turned the corner and saw the two young men waiting outside the Roxy, Daisy pointed out, ‘Look at the way he’s reaching his neck to see you.’