The security lights on the house cast a warm glow over Allegra’s soft features as she waited for me to let her in. When Ididn’t move, she finally looked at me. There was that sensation again. Like I’d just been punched in the gut.
I was determined not to let it scare me off.
“I don’t work tomorrow,” I told her as we stood in the cool night air. Sundays were my one day off. Georgie worked Sundays, and he took Mondays off. “I don’t need to get up early.”
A slight wrinkle marred her brow. “Okay …”
“Would you …” I cleared the gruffness from my voice. “Would you sit with me a while? We could … talk.”
Surprise glittered in her eyes.
I waited for her to reject me. To punish me for being such a bastard. I wouldn’t blame her. Instead, she surprised me right back.
She exhaled slowly. “I’d like that.”
Relieved, I let us into the house and locked the door behind us. “Drink?”
“Tea. I’ll make it.”
“I’ll get it,” I assured her as we kicked off our shoes and then wandered through the living room. Gesturing to the sofa, I said, “Get comfy. I’ll bring it ben.”
“You’ll bring it what?”
Stopping, I glanced back at her. “Four years you’ve lived here, and you’ve never heard someone sayben?”
She shook her head in amusement, before curling up at the end of the couch. “Never.”
I chuckled at that, scrubbing a hand over my face. “Maybe it’s more of a Lowland thing, I’m not sure. Granddad and Sarah always knew what I meant. It just means ‘I’ll bring it through.’ You could say, ‘I’m coming ben.’ Or ‘I’ll bring it ben to you,’ or ‘Bring it ben to the kitchen, living room, etc.’”
Her gorgeous smile widened. “I’ve never heard that. I wonder if North says it.”
“You learn something new every day.” I shrugged and left to fetch the tea and a decaf coffee for myself.
“Why don’t you have a dog?” Allegra suddenly called from the living room.
Amused and bemused by the question, I called back, “Why would I?”
“Don’t all farmers have dogs?”
“I didn’t need one. My shepherd brought his.”
“You should have a dog.”
Chuckling, I grabbed the mugs and sauntered back into the living room. “And why is that?”
Allegra took hers from me, and I settled down on the other end of the couch. She turned, knees drawn to her chest so she could face me. “This house needs a dog running to greet you.”
“Did you have family pets growing up?”
She considered me, as if still taken aback I was asking personal questions. “Mamma didn’t want pet hair in the house. Even though she was rarely in it herself.”
At the tinge of bitterness, I said, “I didn’t realize things were rubbish between you and your parents.”
Lowering her gaze, she shrugged. “It is what it is.”
There was a coolness in her response, a distance.
She didn’t trust me with the whys and hows. And why should she? I had made it clear I wasn’t interested in being her friend.
