Page 113 of Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall

Lily nodded. ‘All except the gin, which is arriving later.’

Jack was going to be the barman on the night of the launch, under Lily’s supervision, and make the apple-based cocktails to her strict recipe.

‘How’s the barn looking?’ asked Lily.

‘Good,’ said Jack. ‘The electricity’s done, so we’re just sorting out the sound so that the lads can sing a tune or two on the night.’

‘Do you think I’ll be able to get them to change out of their leathers into those nice suits again?’ called out Alex.

‘It’s a country and western theme,’ Jack reminded him. ‘Nobody’s going to be wearing suits.’

‘More’s the pity,’ sighed Alex.

‘Maybe you’ll find a cowboy at the party to roll around in the hay with,’ said Jack, grinning.

‘I can wish, can’t I?’ said Alex.

Jack gave Lily a wink and headed outside.

She gulped and tried not to think about what would happen if she and Jack were to be left alone in a hayloft.

‘He’s so cheerful at the moment,’ said Alex. ‘I miss mean and moody Jack Carter.’

‘Maybe he’s just happier these days,’ said Lily.

‘Maybe,’ said Alex, staring at her. ‘I wonder what or who could be responsible for this transformation.’

‘No idea,’ said Lily, hiding her red cheeks as she stared down at the phone once more.

‘I remember him sneaking off from school to meet you,’ said Alex, leaning back in his chair.

‘How do you know it was me he was meeting?’ asked Lily, unable to prevent herself from looking up from her list.

‘Because I asked him a few weeks ago,’ said Alex. ‘He always came back to school a bit, I don’t know, calmer after seeing you. Which was saying something in those days.’

‘Was he really wild?’ asked Annie.

Alex shook his head. ‘Not really. Just desperately unhappy, I think. He’d been fighting against everyone and everything for so long that I don’t think he knew any different. Of course, that worked in my favour too.’

‘What do you mean?’ asked Annie.

‘He fought off a load of bullies for me once,’ said Alex.

‘No!’ said Skye.

‘Oh, yes,’ said Alex, grimacing at the memory. ‘I was cornered in the changing rooms. They were trying to drown my head in the sink. Trying to make me straight, I think they said. Idiots. Anyway, Jack came charging in and took the lot of them on. He won as well. They never bullied me again.’ He smiled at Lily. ‘Our hero.’

Lily’s heart nearly burst at the thought of Jack taking on the bullies for Alex. Despite the hard shell, she had always sensed the vulnerability underneath. And the compassionate heart.

‘I’m sure he had quite a few girlfriends in those days,’ she found herself saying.

But Alex shook his head. ‘It was only ever you,’ he told her.

Lily gulped. It didn’t mean anything, she reminded herself. Jack was too untrusting to ever have a serious relationship with anyone, even her.

They were just friends. Really good friends who kissed.

And she wondered when the next kiss would come and tried to ignore the ache in her heart for how long that might be.