I merely smiled in response because I didn’t understand the last part.
After a second, Greig cleared his throat. “Ye’re, um … ye’re pals wae Cameron McQuarrie, right?”
My lips twitched with knowing. “I am.”
“I dinnae s’pose ye’d think she’d be interested in a bloke like me?”
“What age are you?”
“Is that a factor?”
“You definitely seem younger than Cammie.”
“Och, age is merely a number.”
“And yours is?”
He grinned. “Twenty-four.”
I grimaced.
Greig scoffed. “Och, it’s no’ that bad, is it?”
“She’s nine years older than you, and I think she likes her men a little older than her.”
“Ithink she can be persuaded.”
I laughed. “Then why did you ask?”
“So ye can tell her the gid-lookin’ painter-decorator fancies her and it’ll move things a long a wee bit fer me.” Greig winked.
My amusement made my breathing even worse as we finally made it to the top.
Greig frowned. “Ye need tae tak a wee rest noo, all right? I’ll get Quinn.”
“I’m not here to see Quinn.”
“McRae?” Greig guessed and then nodded. “I’ll go find him fer ye.”
“Thank you.”
He raised his coffee cup to me. “Remember tae tell Ms. McQuarrie whit a fine man I am.”
“It would help if you didn’t refer to her by her surname like she’s your teacher!”
He stopped at the doorway and flashed me a wicked grin. “Maybe I’m intae that kind o’ thing.”
I let out a bark of laughter and then winced as slight pain flared across my gut.
With a groan, I forced myself across the driveway and round the front to the garden.
Akiva lay in the grass, face between her paws, eyes closed.
This time the ache I felt was in my chest.
I’d missed her.
Her eyes flew open as if she sensed me and she lunged to her feet, barking. Anyone else would back off, intimidated, but I recognized her happiness. She launched at me, her paws on my chest, and I ignored the impact on my body. Instead, I pulled her into me, petting her and covering her head in kisses.
