‘You sound like Tess. She’s always hungry.’
‘Except that I’m not a dustbin on four legs,’ said Devon as he waited for her to walk around the car before they went towards the house. Ella liked the unconscious, old-fashioned gesture. ‘I just didn’t eat today.’
‘Oh no. What happened to lunch? You were meeting your friend.’
‘A damsel in distress called just after I’d taken my third bite of a very nice bruschetta.’
She looked at him appalled. ‘You didn’t just abandon your lunch, did you?’ Of course he had. How else could he have got there so quickly?
He nodded.
She took his arm and squeezed it. ‘Oh no, I’m so sorry.’ She looked at her watch: it was now half past five. ‘I didn’t realise. You really didn’t have to do that.’ Although she was grateful he had. She’d never been more pleased to see anyone in her life than when his tall figure marched through the door into the police station, like the cavalry arriving. Once he was there, everything had suddenly seemed so much better.
‘I don’t know what I’d have done without you.’ And she didn’t. His arrival had changed everything.
He shrugged.
‘No, seriously.’ She put a hand on his arm. ‘I know it was all sorted when you arrived but it was just such a relief that . . . ’ Oh God, it was going to sound really cheesy, ‘that I knew I could phone you and you’d be . . . there. Thank you.’
‘No problem. Glad I could help.’ His calm, stoic response made her smile. Typical Devon, rescuing people was all in a day’swork to him, but she really wanted him to know how grateful she was. She wanted to do something nice for him. Except she couldn’t think what. He was so self-possessed and sorted.
‘Do you think Bets is in? The house looks very quiet.’
Devon pulled out his phone and with his thumb swiped the screen. ‘Ah, text from Bets. She’s gone out. Left the dogs with Dad. Mum will be out. One of her meetings.’ He ran a hand through his messy hair and turned in the opposite direction to the three-storey brick built farmhouse. With its large red central glossy door and an arched fanlight above, the regency-style house had a grandeur and elegance that suggested this had once been a very well-to-do farm.
‘Come on, come meet the old codger and let’s retrieve our hounds.’
Devon let himself in the front door, yelling as he went. ‘Hi, Dad.’
‘In here. Your mother’s out.’
Both dogs were sprawled across rugs on the floor, looking completely comfortable and at home. Dexter opened one eye as if to acknowledge Devon before quickly closing it. Tess, more sluggish and reluctant, lurched to her feet and staggered towards Ella, promptly collapsing at her feet with a silly grin on her face.
‘What have you done to them?’ asked Devon, laughter in his voice as he crossed the room to shake his dad’s hand and give him a man-clap to the back. ‘Or is that a stupid question?’
‘Bets took them out at lunchtime and I took them out at teatime.’ He smiled at Ella.
‘Sorry, Dad. This is Ella.’
‘Hello,’ said Ella. ‘Thanks for looking after Tess. It was very kind of you.’
‘No worries. I enjoyed taking them out, although they’re both knackered,’ said Geoffrey unfurling his spider limbs from the sofa and reaching forward to shake her hand. ‘Nice to meet you.Ella, was it? Is that short for something? Cinderella?’ He laughed gently at his own joke.
‘No. Just Ella.’
‘Excellent, Just Ella. Welcome and welcome to your rather charming dog who has been on her absolute best behaviour,’ he paused, ‘except for a slight dairy incident.’ He gave a positive smile. ‘But at least her coat will be lovely and shiny.’
‘Oh no! Not again. She didn’t eat your butter, did she? Tess! You are naughty.’
Tess lowered her head, eyes looking up from under lashes.
‘Fraid so. My fault. I should know better. You know what Labs are like.’
In unison the three of them chorused, ‘they eat anything.’
‘I’m so sorry.’
‘Don’t worry, my dear. Dogs will be dogs. My fault entirely. Do take a seat. Would you like a sherry? Or a G&T?’
