Page 65 of Sit, Stay, Love
He wrapped himself around her and rubbed her back.
She hummed, hugging him tighter, making happy little sounds into his shirt. He was warm and strong, and smelled so good, like contentment and home. She listened to his heart, thumping fast and sturdy.
‘I can hear your heart beating,’ she said. ‘It’s beautiful. Just like you.’
His lips brushed the top of her head. ‘I love you, Sera,’ he said, his voice deep and whisper-soft.
She bent her neck back, gazed up at him and sighed. ‘Love you too, you idiot.’
His eyebrows pulled together.
‘What?’ she asked.
Then his face rearranged into a smile and he stepped back, gently poking her in the shoulder. ‘You’re the idiot.’
She poked him back. ‘No, you are.’
He laughed and took her hand. ‘Come on. Let’s get you home.’
‘But it’s so far,’ she whined as she dragged along behind him, both her hands curled around his. ‘Will you carry me?’
He shook his head, crouched and let Sera clamber onto his back. Then he straightened up with a thick groan and started down the boardwalk.
She rested her chin in the dip of his shoulder and closed her eyes. ‘Whose idea was it to walk?’ she mumbled.
‘Mine,’ he said. ‘And as we’ve just established, I’m a complete idiot.’
Tuesday morning arrived way earlier than Sera had hoped, complete with a low-key hangover.
She crawled from bed, swallowed a couple of painkillers and rounded up the dogs for their early morning walk. She was halfway down the unsealed road that ran alongside her property when Toby rang.
‘Herriot, my head hurts,’ she said without a hello.
‘You wanted cocktails.’
‘But you didn’t have to let me drink all of them.’
‘Have you ever tried to stop you doing something you wanted to do?’
She frowned at her phone. ‘I have no idea what you just said.’
He laughed. ‘Are you busy this morning?’
‘Normal. I’m walking the dogs. But Jackie will be here in a bit. It’s her rostered day to help out. Why?’
‘I wondered if you wanted to come somewhere with me?’
‘I don’t know. Where are we going?’
‘It’s a surprise.’
‘I’ve got a lunch date, so I can’t be long.’
He was quiet for a moment, then asked, ‘With James?’
‘Nope,’ she answered, trying to sound casual. ‘An old friend from school. Linda Watkins. I’m meeting her at Freshwater at twelve.’
‘I promise I’ll have you back in plenty of time. What is it now, seven-thirty? Can I grab you at nine?’
