The Mills & Boon Sparkling Christmas Collection. Kate Hardy

the start of winter so there are probably a few checks you should be doing. I’ve tightened the valve in the pipework so that’ll do for now but you should really get a plumber in to have a look at it.’ She checked her watch. ‘I’d better get going. Jamie will be home from school soon.’

      ‘Of course.’

      Eva headed out to the hall and remembering something, turned to Ben.

      ‘I told you I don’t normally open the guest house in winter but I have two guests arriving at the beginning of December – only for a couple of nights though.’

      Ben smiled in response. ‘Thanks for letting me know.’

      ‘One of the hotels messed up their bookings and asked me to help out – they’re here for a conference at the university,’ she told him as she zipped up her toolbag.

      ‘That’ll probably be the International Science Conference?’ Ben raised a questioning eyebrow.

      ‘Yeah, I think that’s the one; at least it’s the only one I could see when I checked the university website. Is that something you’ll be involved in?’

      Ben nodded. ‘There’s a few talks and workshops I want to attend plus the Professor in my department is a keynote speaker so I’ll definitely go to that.’

      At the front door Ben ran a hand through his hair, thanking her again. ‘I seem to be making a habit of this.’

      ‘Sorry?’

      ‘Relying on you for help.’

      She shrugged. ‘I’m happy to help. That’s what neighbours are for.’

      Ben closed the front door and shook his head, wondering why the house suddenly felt so empty again.

       Chapter Five

      There might be better ways to spend a Monday morning, but right now Ben couldn’t think of any. Finding himself with a free morning he’d decided to take a walk and after leaving his house it had only taken him a few minutes to reach West Sands beach. He inhaled deeply, savouring the sharp salty sea air and enjoying the touch of winter sun on his face. He strolled along with the expanse of sparkling water beside him and only the squabbling seagulls overhead for company.

      In London, he would have been at his desk for hours by now, checking the FT and Bloomberg to see if anything had moved in the market overnight followed by meetings to discuss major trades and which clients to involve. If he was lucky he’d manage to grab a sandwich at his desk while keeping an eye on six screens.

      Life was going to be different from now on and he was filled with a sense of wellbeing, an unexpected surge of joy for life. He was discovering it wasn’t actually the worst thing in the world to get to know your neighbour, not when she came in the shape and form of Eva Harris anyway. To smile at each other, exchange a few words, maybe even give a wave in passing.

      Ben had formed the impression that Eva Harris liked to keep busy. Yesterday he’d noticed the fence between their back gardens had been mended. He imagined her hammering away with her tools and the thought made him smile.

      When he came home from work, he’d see lights on in her house making it look warm and inviting. More than could be said about his own house. He seemed incapable of summoning the energy to do anything and most of the boxes remained unopened, a miserable reminder of his inability to make a decision about what to do. The house was beginning to feel like a burden, a symbol of everything he had got so wrong with Samantha. He might be able to calculate complicated mathematical equations but he wasn’t so sure about his ability to judge relationships.

      The dreams that had brought him to St Andrews, of settling with a loving family, still lingered but he now knew and accepted it wasn’t going to happen with Samantha – in fact, he had trouble even imagining her here now. The house was a huge project and just the thought of it overwhelmed him and zapped his energy. Maybe he should buy somewhere smaller and simply concentrate on his job. But turning his back on the house would be tantamount to giving up on those same dreams and he wasn’t sure if he was ready to do that.

      An unbidden thought at the very back of his mind acknowledged Eva’s presence in his life. He couldn’t figure out why but every time he contemplated the house or what he should do next, she crept into his thoughts. Somehow he knew she could make this house a home so easily but why he was even thinking like that left him baffled. He shook his head, reminding himself she was a widow, a single mum with a business to run – all baggage he didn’t want to handle. Focus on work and nothing else, he told himself taking another deep breath.

      A dog’s yapping pulled his thoughts to the present. Just ahead of him a small dog played at the water’s edge, barking excitedly as it chased the ripples. Ben blinked, realizing he recognized the dog. He scanned the horizon until he saw Eva’s figure coming towards them, calling Hamish’s name and squeaking a toy. The dog was totally ignoring her. What was it with that woman and animals?

      As she drew nearer, his eyes ran appreciatively over her body. She was wearing a pink anorak, a colourful scarf around her neck, and black leggings that revealed a pair of shapely legs. So much for focusing on work and nothing else.

      ‘Hamish, here, now!’ she called in a stern voice. Finally reaching Hamish, she leaned down, snapped the lead onto his collar, and looked up at Ben.

      ‘Oh, hi! I didn’t realize it was you.’ She spoke slightly breathlessly, her cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. She looked so free and natural Ben could hardly tear his eyes away from her. He looked down at Hamish to distract himself from the thoughts suddenly racing through his mind.

      ‘Training going well?’ He grinned.

      ‘A work in progress I think you’d call it.’ She laughed. ‘Jamie and I have been working on his recall but as you can see, it’s a bit hit and miss. But we’ll get there, won’t we, Hamish?’ She patted the dog affectionately.

      ‘You have your hands full with this one.’ Ben crouched down to Hamish who took the opportunity to roll over and have his belly rubbed.

      ‘He’s enjoying that.’ Eva grinned.

      Ben straightened up, gesturing to their surroundings. ‘Well, he’s certainly a lucky dog living here.’

      ‘So you’re enjoying the beach?’

      ‘Very much,’ he replied truthfully. ‘It’s beautiful.’

      As they continued to walk companionably along the sand, he glanced sideways at her. ‘Is this usually how you start your day?’

      ‘In winter, yes. I think there’s something special about it at this time of year.’

      He saw her take a deep breath and look around, her love for her surroundings plain to see. ‘But summer is a different story. Round about this time in the morning you’ll find me knee-deep in teas, coffees, and making breakfasts for guests.’

      Ben smiled, vague memories infiltrating his mind of holidays at the seaside with his parents. One day he’d got lost among the crowds on the beach. It had probably been only for a few minutes but it had felt like a lifetime and he’d never forgotten the look on his mother’s face when she found him, eyes shiny with tears of relief.

      ‘My parents took me to Morecombe a few times,’ he told Eva. ‘You know the kind of holiday – playing crazy golf, eating ice-cream on a freezing beach.’ He narrowed his eyes as he recollected. ‘We stayed in this small bed and breakfast on the seafront. We were all crammed into a tiny bedroom and for some reason I can remember the creaky staircase. In the morning we’d have to be in the dining room at some outrageously early time or else the landlady refused to serve breakfast.’

      Eva chuckled. ‘Well, guest houses have changed a lot since then. Customers are very discerning these days and us landladies have to be a bit more accommodating.’

      ‘But I