‘Oh.’Interesting arrangement.
‘Was it difficult to get financing?’ I ask, digging for more information in a roundabout way.
‘No, we bought it outright.’
My eyebrows rise at that. Wow. Ramsay Garden is rightnext to the Royal Mile and a stone’s throw from the castle, it’s a prime location. Did she receive an inheritance, or did her family win lotto? Or does she secretly own a unicorn start-up?
I glance at her curiously, but I can’t see her eyes. She’s wearing those infernal sunglasses, even though the sky is a dull grey. Yet from the set of her plum lips, I gather she doesn’t want me to ask her any more questions.
Rein it in, Rhodes. After what happened with Bitsy, you’re lucky she let you walk her to her flat.
What’s going to happen when we get there, I have no idea.
A cup of tea?
Polite conversation?
Making out?
My expectations are low. At this stage, I’d settle for a cup of tea and a chat.
We continue walking up the winding cobblestone road until Florence stops by a black front door with a lion’s head knocker and turns to face me.
‘Thanks for seeing me home after the vicious Bichon Frisé attack, Damian, and administering first aid, of course. I appreciate it.’ She gives me a small smile.
I smile back. ‘Anytime.’
‘This is my private entrance. That’sthe main door up there.’ She gestures with a tilt of her head to the curving flight of stairs above us in case I’m wondering.
I nod, checking out the shiny red door at the top.
Florence inserts her key in the lock. There’s no invitation to join her.
I’m careful not to let the disappointment show on my face. Looks like I’m spending the rest of the afternoon by myself, pouring my own tea and fantasising about the making out. But it’s more than that. I wanted to hang out with her. Get to know her better. What if she doesn’t want to see me again after this? Is her lovely hair, flowing in glossy waves halfway down her back, the last glimpse I’ll ever have of her?
For a second, I can’t breathe. Then self-protection kicks in.
‘Well, thanks for coming over for lunch, Florence,’ I say in my professional dentist voice. ‘Again, I’m sorry about the dog incident, and I do urge you to go to your doctor to get it checked out.’ I shove a hand in my jacket pocket, taking out my gloves in preparation for the walk back to Leith. Catching the bus will just remind me of us holding hands.
Florence glances back over her shoulder at me.
‘Aren’t you coming in?’ she asks, sounding faintly surprised.
I instantly drop the formal facade.
‘Oh, I thought you might want to rest ...’
Florence lowers her sunglasses an inch and pierces me with her violet eyes. ‘Well, I was going to have a lie-down. You’re welcome to join me if you’re feeling tired.’
My cock springs to life in my jeans. We are on the same page after all.
***
Florence’s bedroom takes me by surprise. Has she done a Victorian interior design course? I’m impressed at her dedication to historical accuracy. I feel like I’ve stepped back into the nineteenth century. But it’s also bloody freezing in here, and my desire for hot sex is fading fast since I don’t fancy getting naked.
‘Is the central heating not on?’ I ask, shivering even though I’m bundled up in my winter coat.
Florence looks at me with an inscrutable expression and shakes her head. ‘No, sorry. My flatmate Sadie is a stickler for keeping it off during the day.’
