My stomach does a stupid little flip. This man—honestly. So much for the whole “just being neighbourly” routine.
I open my mouth to ask where the hell else I’m meant to put the thing in a room this size, but before I can, he turns his backto me and tugs off his jumper. His T-shirt rides up, revealing a strip of toned lower back and the waistband of his boxers. Red today, for what it’s worth.
My throat goes dry.
Oh, for crying out loud. I tear my gaze away, annoyed at myself. Ireallyneed to stop staring every time this man shows a bit of skin. It’s been months since I’ve been intimate with anyone—that’s the only explanation for why I’m reacting like this. My body’s just... confused. Starved of attention. It doesn’t mean anything.
I clear my throat. “I’ll probably just be a hindrance. So I’ll, er, leave you to it. I’ll... oh, I’ll make tea.”
I escape downstairs before he can respond, my pulse fluttering ridiculously.
Five minutes later, I’m back upstairs again with a mug of tea in one hand and a plate of chocolate digestives in the other. I’ve got my composure back. Mostly.
Before facing Struan again, I pause outside Lily’s room. She and Isla migrated up here when I started busying about in the kitchen. Apparently, I was cramping their style.
Through a crack in the door, I see Lily thrust a plastic dog into Isla’s hands. “You be the dog. I’ll be the vet.”
“Okay.” Isla settles onto her knees. “What’s my name?”
“Kayla,” Lily replies with absolute confidence. “She’s got babies in her tummy.” Lily proceeds to stuff three plastic puppies through the flap in the toy dog’s belly. They all came together as part of a play set. After rummaging in her toy box, Lily adds, “And a kitten. And a hamster.”
Isla blinks. “But dogs don’t have kittens or hamsters?—”
“Just pretend!” Lily cuts her off, dismissing science with a flap of her hand. “Also, Kayla talks.”
“Okay...” Isla grins, giving in. She whines dramatically in her best dog voice: “My tummy’s all wriggly, but I don’t know why.”
“Lie down, Kayla. I’ll look in your tummy with my magic wand.”
I bite back a laugh. This girl is too sassy for her own good, but watching her so delighted—and Isla going along with it all—melts something in my chest. Technically, it’s past Lily’s bedtime, and she had a late night yesterday too, with Mum letting her stay up late while I was at the pub. Even so, I don’t mind. Not when she’s getting on so well with the older girl from next door.
Right. Time to face Struan again.
I carry the tea and biscuits into my bedroom and stop dead. Because somehow Struan hasalreadycreated order from my chaos. The frame is taking shape, solid and sturdy.
“Jesus,” I say. “You’re making quick work of it.”
“Och, it’s a simple frame.” He glances up, catches my expression, and his mouth curves. “What I mean is, flat pack is easier for someone who builds things for a living.”
I arch a brow. “Nice save.”
He stands and accepts the tea. He takes a biscuit too, dunks it, then pops it in his mouth. God, even the way he eats is attractive. Manly somehow.
Seriously? You’re turned on by biscuit-eating now? What’s wrong with you?
“Thanks for doing this.” I make a conscious effort to soften my tone. Heishelping me out, after all. In his own time. For free. “After sleeping on an air mattress for the last week, it’ll be nice to have a proper bed.”
“No problem. Besides, I’m always happy to be rewarded with biscuits.”
“Should I offer Isla one?”
He shakes his head. “Nah, she’s not long eaten, and she had a sundae as a treat. A biscuit would just throw her numbers off. I’ll give her some supper when we’re back.”
“Oh, of course. I noticed Isla has that...” I tap my arm, searching for the word.
“CGM,” Struan supplies. “Continuous glucose monitor. Helps us keep an eye on her blood sugars.”
“Right. Diabetes?”
