Marcus nodded slowly. ‘That sounds sensible.’
‘It doesn’t feel sensible.’
The honesty caught him off guard.
Rowan looked past him into the parlour, then back at Marcus. ‘But it’s probably right.’
Marcus stepped aside. ‘Come in, then. Before I start rearranging the shampoo bottles again and pretending that counts as preparation.’
For the first time that morning, Rowan’s mouth almost smiled.
‘You’ve already done that, haven’t you?’
Marcus placed a hand dramatically against his chest. ‘I am wounded by how quickly you know me.’
Rowan stepped inside Ruff to Regal, and somehow, with Atlas absent, the room felt even smaller.
They both stood awkwardly for a moment staring at each other. Was Marcus imagining it, or was there a new kind of tension between them in Atlas’s absence?
Marcus couldn’t stand the sizzling dynamics dancing between them any longer. ‘Drink?’
The question seemed to pull Rowan out of a trance. He shook his head slightly, before nodding. ‘Coffee would be great. White, no sugar.’
Marcus nodded, offering a smile, as he wrestled to get his thundering heart under control as he turned around, then called back over his shoulder before disappearing through the door. ‘Turn the radio on if you like.’
In the tea room, Marcus switched the kettle on, then reached for the coffee jar. He spooned coffee into each mug, sprinkling granules around the mugs, his nerves getting the better of him. He looked down at his hand—it was trembling.
He needed to get a grip.
Yes, there was tall, dark and handsome standing in his parlour.
And yes, he was attracted to the tall, dark and handsome man, but he also had a busy day ahead of him. The last thing heneeded to do was have a meltdown because he was crushing on the help—a client no less.
It took the time the kettle reached boiling to compose himself. When he walked back into the parlour carrying the mugs, Marcus had set a warm smile on his face, and had his professional head back on his shoulders.
‘Oh I love this tune.’
‘Am I going to be entertained again?’
Marcus’s jaw dropped open, and he feigned shock. ‘Entertained?! Yesterday wasn’t a cabaret performance for my neighbours, you know. I was positively locked in and working hard, decorating.’
Marcus could see a glimmer of humour behind Rowan’s eyes, and a ghost of a smile playing across his lips, but he was quick to move onto the reason why he was there. ‘What’s the plan? What do you want me to help out with today?’ His features closed slightly before Marcus’s eyes, but then he realised why. ‘I know I may not be doing such a great job with Atlas, but I think that’s because of reasons due to his retirement. I’m actually pretty good with difficult animals.’
Marcus didn’t quite know how to respond. ‘Of... Of course you are. It must be very difficult, considering Atlas is also your pet.’ He paused as he thought. ‘How about if I give you some of the more challenging pets to wash?’
Rowan nodded. ‘Yes, I have no objections to that. I could also take notes and make suggestions for the dogs with behavioural issues, to help with their future appointments.’
‘A compiled list about the nervous dogs? Yes, that would be really useful. Especially for Georgina.’ Marcus couldn’t stop the enormous smile that erupted from taking over his face. He glanced up at the clock. ‘Where has the time gone? The first appointment will be here any moment.’
They just about had enough time to finish their coffees before Milo and Beau arrived with their owners.
Mrs Calloway’s eyes turned into saucers when she saw Rowan. ‘Good morning, Marcus. I thought Georgina worked here. She’s not been fired and replaced, has she?’
Marcus shook his head. ‘No, no, no, nothing of the sort, Mrs Calloway. Georgina is ill and Rowan has very kindly offered to help today because I’ve been rushed off my feet without her.’ Marcus took Beau’s lead and bent down to pet him. ‘Hello there, boy, and welcome to your first appointment.’ He quickly looked back to Mrs Calloway, with an apologetic smile. ‘Sorry, I forgot to greet the owner. Good morning to you too, Mrs Calloway.’
Mrs Calloway looked quite put out, but Marcus was relieved it wasn’t about the missed greeting. ‘What’s wrong with Georgina? Tom never said she was ill when I spoke to him outside the florist yesterday.’
‘A virus I think, but she’s on the mend. She’s hoping to be back in a couple of days.’
