Marcus had no joke ready for that. No bright answer. No glittering deflection. Only the truth, sitting warm and terrifying in his chest.
‘Yes,’ he said quietly. ‘I think I do.’
Rowan’s eyes flicked from left to right as if he was digesting what Marcus had just said. He finally nodded.
Wanting to cut through the heavy tension weighing heavily between them, Marcus pointed down at his uneaten fish. ‘Is Atlas allowed some?’
Rowan huffed a laugh. ‘I don’t know about Atlas, but I wouldn’t mind a bite. I’ve not been able to eat all day since...’
Marcus nodded. ‘I know what you mean.’ He offered the half-finished fish supper to Rowan. ‘It’s still warm.’
Rowan took it with one hand, wrapping the other around the wooden fork Marcus was still holding. Marcus felt invisible electricity pass from hand to hand.
Marcus watched silently as Rowan ate from the fork that had been in his own mouth moments before. The act was so ordinary, yet so intimate. When Rowan had eaten his fill, he placed the leftovers on the floor for Atlas. Marcus expected him to jump on the food and demolish it in seconds, but Atlas was statue still, waiting for the command.
Rowan glanced up at Marcus. ‘He shouldn’t really have anything, he’s already eaten, and I keep him on a strict diet, but I’d say he’s had a win tonight, so this can be his reward.’
Rowan flicked his fingers and pointed at the food and Atlas ate with great reserve, that Marcus hadn’t expected.
Standing up, Rowan unclipped Atlas’s lead and placed it on a chair. He put his hands on his hips and strode around the parlour. ‘Wow, you really did a great job cleaning up.’ He pointed to an area free of furniture. ‘What’s missing from there?’
Marcus stood up as well and walked over to where Rowan was pointing. ‘This is where I’m going to put the quiet zone for the nervous dogs, away from the other dogs waiting for their appointments. I just need to cordon it off with furniture from my last premises that’s currently stored in the tearoom.’
‘Then why don’t we do it now. I’ll help you set it up.’
Marcus looked across to Rowan, a smile creeping over his lips. ‘Okay.’
They carried the random soft, unique pieces of furniture back from the tearoom, a buzz of excitement in the air. Marcus felt like a teenager again, as they worked out between them, which was the best layout.
When they finally agreed, they stood back and admired their handywork. ‘I like it,’ Marcus said, ‘what next?’
‘Huh?’
‘I haven’t felt this invigorated in weeks, so while I’m on a high, I need to accomplish something else.’
‘What about finalising the competition notes.’
Marcus lifted a finger. ‘Perfect.’
Marcus opened the drawer below the counter and fished out a folder, looking around for a place to open it.
‘On your grooming table,’ Rowan pointed out.
Marcus nodded, and pulled out all the pages he’d been putting off reading through, all the important stuff that needed focus and plenty of brain power.
Rowan glanced at the pages and then looked at Rowan. ‘I can see why these are still on your to-do list.’
Marcus shrugged with a grimace.
AN HOUR LATER, MARCUSsighed with relief as he filed the last paper back into the folder.
‘Oh my gosh, you don’t know what a relief it is to get through that.’ He turned to look at Rowan, his eyes looking deep into his. ‘Thank you so much.’
Rowan stared right back. ‘It’s my pleasure. It’s the least I could do.’
The way Rowan’s husky voice dropped down an octave sent the hairs on the back of Marcus’s neck on end. Without thinking, he leaned forward, and softly kissed Rowan’s full lips, before pulling back quickly, his breath catching in his throat.
He felt as though he was falling into Rowan’s dark brown eyes. ‘I’m sorry.’
