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Scott was quietly settling the bill. ‘Hey, I’ll get that.’
    He placed a hand on her arm, stopping her from delving into her handbag. ‘I’ve got it.’
    She shook her head. ‘No, don’t be silly. You’ve been looking after Sally all afternoon. The least I can do is settle this.’
    Scott sighed. ‘Megan, it’s a couple of ice creams and some drinks. Leave it.’
    ‘But I …’
    ‘You don’t want to feel indebted to me, I get it.’ He reached for the jacket that was on the back of his chair. ‘You’re not. I told you before. The slate is clean. Let me settle this.’
    Before she had the chance to say anything further he moved towards the door, holding it open for them. Even offended, as he clearly was now, he didn’t forget his manners. All part of the charm offensive, she guessed. Thanking him politely, she took hold of Sally’s hand and walked with her towards her car. Scott’s tall, broad figure strode out ahead of them, the stiff set of his shoulders telegraphing his displeasure. Well, if he wanted to be shirty with her, it was up to him. All she’d done was try and do the decent thing and pay. Clearly Scott was old school. A man who thought a woman’s place was at home, ready to greet him after his hard day at work. No doubt she’d be wearing a silk négligée, even in the middle of winter. In Scott’s world, allowing a woman to pay the bill probably diminished his manhood.
    Scott thrust his hands into his pockets and kept walking. He didn’t know why her insistence that she pay for the drinks had thrown him off so much. After all, he was used to her giving him the cold shoulder. But from the moment she’d believed he was going to use her gratitude as a way of getting her into bed, he’d taken offence. It was one thing pursuing someone who he believed was attracted to him but didn’t want to acknowledge it, and quite another going after a woman who clearly didn’t rate him much.
    When he reached the car park he turned around, more than ready to say goodbye and get back to the comfort of his normal routine. Children and their prickly mothers were far too complicated for him.
    ‘Mum, can Scott come back to ours for tea?’
    Sally was looking up at her mum with pleading eyes and Scott shook off his irritation for long enough to grin to himself. Well now detective sergeant. Let’s see how you get out of that one.
    ‘I, umm …’
    Megan was flushing now, clearly embarrassed. Mean-spirited git that he was, he enjoyed watching her discomfort. Not that it made her look unattractive. Far from it. The blush of red across her cheeks was achingly … well, if he wasn’t a testosterone-fuelled man, he’d go as far as to say it was sweet. Endearing. As were the blue eyes that, at that very moment, implored him to help her out.
    Relieved to be in the driving seat once more, he sh rugged. ‘What? Can I help it if the girls love me? Young and old alike?’
    ‘For Pete’s sake.’ Megan gave an exasperated snort. ‘Sally, of course Scott is very welcome to come round for tea, but I’m afraid today isn’t a good time. We need to go and visit Grandma in hospital.’ She glanced quickly over at Scott. ‘Perhaps we can do it another time.’
    ‘Sure,’ he agreed lazily. ‘Though I won’t hold my breath.’
    Megan glared at him briefly and then turned her attention to her daughter. ‘Sally, why don’t you get in the car? I need to talk to Scott for a minute.’
    Megan waited until her daughter waved Scott goodbye and moved out of earshot before turning to look at him. He might be so maddening that he made her want to slap the smirk right off his face, but today he had also been very kind. ‘Look, I really am very grateful for what you did this afternoon,’ she began, feeling an uncomfortable rush of awareness as she looked into those calm grey eyes. ‘You have no idea what it meant to me, knowing Sally was out with you rather than stuck in an office somewhere.’
    ‘And you weren’t worried