I take a shower and get dressed. This new job is turning out to be more unconventional than I expected. Working for my previous boss was predictable; Mr. Timson liked everything the same, taking his lunch at one on the dot. The work wasn’t exciting, but it felt like I could rely on the steady salary and the quiet, regular pace of his office.
I walk to Duncan’s place, the wind blowing my hair around my face. The fresh air makes me feel better and the smiles I get as I navigate the fallen leaves on the streets feel friendly.
It’s weird, but I almost feel like someone’s watching me. I whip around, nearly tripping over a rotting Halloween pumpkin, but there’s nobody behind me. I must be jumpy. Or this is another weird side-effect of my pregnancy. When’s the right time to tell him? Should I just lay all my cards on the table right now? Or try and bide my time until I’m more secure?
Duncan’s house is huge, with a neatly kept front yard and three cars parked outside. My head is swimming as I press the doorbell. A dog barks a couple of times, then the door opens. Duncan’s in more casual clothes than yesterday, and I feel overdressed in my pencil skirt. His eyes sweep over my body and up to my face, and I feel that pulse again, like we’re connected somehow. I have a stupid urge to reach up and touch him, but instead I smile.
“Reporting for duty! May I come in?” I ask.
He holds the door open and I walk inside. It’s spotlessly clean, apart from a dog toy lying on the polished wooden floor.
“Come in, I’ll take you to meet the real boss.” He shuts the door and walks in front of me down the hallway, opening another door at the end. A gigantic German Shepherd noses his way out and eyes me suspiciously.
“This is Otto. Otto, Margot.”
I hold my hand out and Otto comes towards me, his claws clicking on the floor. He sniffs it and then wags his tail a little, then goes to cower behind Duncan, whining a little.
“Coffee?”
I shake my head. “Some water would be great, though. So Otto doesn’t fall into the stereotype of a fierce shepherd guard dog then?”
Duncan pours a glass of water and hands it to me, gesturing for me to sit at the counter. “No, he’s frightened of his own shadow. I’m not sure what happened to him before they found him on the side of the road, but it wasn’t anything good. He was chipped, so we know his date of birth, but his owner died a year ago. So he may have been fending for himself all that time.”
Otto lifts up his head and howls, then looks scared at the sound and hides his head under his paws.
“When was he born?”
“End of February.” Duncan ruffles the dog’s ears.
“Ah, he’s a Pisces. Sensitive and emotional. Poor baby.”
“He may take a little while to get used to you, but he’s a lovely boy when you get to know him. Just not the bravest.” Duncan’s eyes meet mine and I have to look away after a moment when my heart starts beating in my ears.
“My aunt used to say not to mistake bravery for stupidity, so maybe it’s overrated. We could reframe it as Otto’s cleverly cautious.” I take a sip of water.
“I like that. He’s certainly clever. He has all kinds of ways of telling me he’s hungry. I wanted to talk to you about tomorrow. Did Sienna mention it to you?”
“She said something about Hayden Lodge?”
“Yes, that’s right. I need you to come with me to view it tomorrow. I’m thinking of buying it but I want to check it out in person. You’ll need to take notes and I’d like your opinion. It’s a two-hour drive up into the mountains, the scenery is fantastic. You’ll like it.” He brushes his dark hair away from his eyes and leans down on the counter. He’s close enough that I can detect his hypnotic amber and bergamot scent.
“Is Otto coming too?” I ask, putting my hand down to stroke Otto’s sleek head. He whimpers a little, but lets me pet him.
“No, he’s not big on long car journeys. Bryan will take care of him while we’re gone. Oh, that reminds me. I have a laptop for you. I’ll get it and then we can run through the rest of my schedule.” He gazes at me for a second and then leaves the kitchen, Otto trailing after him.
I take a deep breath. I’m not sure if I’m ready for a road trip with Duncan. Especially since I’m keeping such a huge secret from him and we’re acting like that passion-packed night never happened. How can I be professional about this? Something inside wants to run away.
But another part is pulled closer to him, relishing being in his presence.
I need to get it together.
ChapterFour
DUNCAN
Margot is quiet in the seat next to me as we drive up through the mountains. The sky is gray and the wind has strengthened overnight.
Yesterday, when I told her the plan to visit Hayden Lodge, her expression changed for a second, with what looked like apprehension. She was very professional when we ran through my schedule and spent the rest of the day updating my calendar and re-organizing my document folders. She’s clearly very good at her job, but when I talked to her over lunch about her podcast she really came alive.
