I clear my throat. “But I was wondering if you’d like to come over for dinner tomorrow? It’d just be something simple, because as you saw, I don’t have much of a kitchen…”
He studies me, his eyes the color of polished mahogany in the sunshine. “If you like, we could go out to dinner?”
I blink. “Oh… um… I’d have to find someone to look after Max…”
“I meant with Max. I know you come as a package.” he smiles. “There’s a small Italian restaurant at the top of the bay that’s pretty good. Most people use it for takeaway pizza, but they also do a pretty good lasagna, and there are a few tables outside that overlook the beach.”
“That would be lovely.”
“Okay. Shall we say five p.m. tomorrow? It’s not too late for Max to eat?”
“That would be great, thank you.”
“I’ll book a table, just in case.” He smiles. “Have a great afternoon.”
“I will, thank you.” My gaze lingers on his. I feel that I should say something to explain that I’m aware of the strangeness of the situation, and that I’m aware it can’t lead anywhere, but I don’t know how to phrase it.
“It’s okay,” he says. “I know.”
My eyebrows lift. “Oh.”
“I like you,” he says. “We can be friends, can’t we?”
Relief floods me. He understands. And I love the way he’s so easy to talk to. Rob is like a hedgehog, full of prickles and constantly rolling into a ball. But Cullen is a dolphin, gliding smoothly through the water with no resistance at all.
“Absolutely,” I say. “This is purely platonic.”
His eyes meet mine, sparkling with amusement and a sudden flare of heat. “Oh, I didn’t say that.” He turns and walks away with Ghost, into the building, leaving me with his shocking statement and a racing heart.
Chapter Seven
Cullen
“Coffee?” Noah asks.
I nod and lean on the breakfast bar while he starts the espresso pouring from the big machine on the counter.
It’s nearly two p.m. on Monday the 22ndDecember. Archer and I arrived at Noah’s house five minutes ago. It’s situated close to the cliff’s edge and separated from the Ark by a large paddock. It’s a beautiful home, on one level, large and sprawling, and with most of the front wall made of glass, so it’s full of space and light.
He has two dogs, also German Shepherds, one of which has its hind legs in a wheelchair. They seem to understand that Ghost is a little reticent, and whenever they’ve met previously they haven’t fussed over him too much, but today they’ve all gone outside into the fenced garden, and it’s nice to see him playing with them.
“I’d offer to make the coffee,” Noah’s wife says, “but he’s the only one allowed near the machine.” Noah just laughs and starts gathering the mugs. Abby’s clearly teasing him, and she slides her arms around him from behind and gives him a hug before she says, “I’ll leave you all to it. I’m researching recipes this morning.” She waves and walks away into the other part of the house.
“Abby runs a cake-making business,” Archer explains.
“Yeah, I’ve seen her TikTok videos,” I reply.
He lifts one of his eyebrows. “You watch cake-making TikToks?”
“I’m a man of many talents.”
Noah chuckles. “She’s got thousands of followers now. She’s doing really well.”
“Where’s Ethan?” Archer asks, naming their little boy.
“I think Flora took him out for a walk over to the Ark. She’s our nanny,” Noah says. “It took me a while to convince Abby to have one, but I think she quite likes having some time to herself a few days a week now.” He looks across at the front door as someone knocks. “It’s open,” he yells.
The door opens, and two guys come in. I know one of them—Leon King, Noah’s half-brother. He’s the head of the Ark’s HR and Finances department. I glance at Archer and see him looking briefly surprised before he smothers it; he hadn’t been aware he was coming either.
