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“You had two bites, right? So I get two bites.” He eats again from my hand and is no less vocal about his appreciation of this second bite than he was his first.

“Your mouth is bigger than mine! I only had two small bites. You’ve had two enormous ones! You’ve had your share now—the rest of that is mine.”

He glances from the pie to me then back to the pie again, like this isn’t an easy decision for him. With a heavy sigh, he releases my wrist.

I don’t hang about for him to change his mind—I stuff the rest of the pie into my mouth, munching on it greedily. He watches me, eyes on my lips, like he’s trying to experience the last of it vicariously through me.

Swallowing, I blurt out, “That was better than sex!”

Oh God! The words just tumbled out.

“Oh?” Ally raises an eyebrow. “Morag’s mac-and-cheese pies are phenomenal—that’s not a matter of debate. But better than sex? Clearly, you haven’t slept with the right man yet.”

If I hadn’t already finished the pie, I’d have choked on it at that comment. I don’t know where to look. Again, I become aware of just how close I am to Ally in this car, just how large and masculine his presence is. When I do eventually turn to him, it’s to find him watching me with an intense expression.

A moment passes. Then another.

“Why don’t we see how the chickpea pie compares?” I say lamely. “I’ve got a snowball for after too. That should go well with the tea.”

The words snap him back to his senses. He blinks, runs a hand across his face, sniffs.

“Aye . . . good idea. Let’s try the chickpea pie.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

ALLY

When we get back to the hotel, Emily tries to help me unload the equipment from the car. Normally, I put everything away in its place the moment I get back, no matter how wet or cold I am. If I’m particular about anything in life, it’s my outdoor equipment.

Today, though, I tell her not to worry about it and that I’ll get it later. Instead, I lead her through the garden and back inside. I want her to go up to her room as soon as possible—I need space from her.

To be clear, I don’t want space from her—I need it—and that’s an important distinction. What I want is to touch her. There were times today I was close to pulling her to me and pressing my lips to hers. First, after the waterfall, and then again when we were squabbling over the mac-and-cheese pie. On both occasions, the urge to take her in my arms was almost overwhelming.

I stuff my hands in my pockets and, staying a few feet from Emily, walk through the unfinished function room and back to reception. Behind the desk, Lewis is on the phone to a prospective customer. He raises a hand in greeting and gives Emily that winning grin of his. She smiles back.

“Well, thanks for taking Aidan’s place and being my rafting buddy for the day,” I say.

“Are you kidding? Thank you!”

It’s my turn to receive her smile, and it lights up her whole face. Last night, I’d thought this woman so highly strung, so snooty. Now she’s a different person.

“Ally, going out on the water was just what I needed. I’ve not been in the best place recently, but I feel good right now, and that’s thanks to you. See you later, okay?”

She turns and bounces up the stairs, her bonny hair all wild, her arse captivating in a pair of blue jeans. It’s not till she’s out of sight that I process what she just said. She’s not been in the best place recently? What does that mean?

I glance at Lewis, who’s finished his call. He’s watching me, a smirk on his lips.

“Well, any emergencies?” I move to the other side of the desk and sift through some mail that arrived while I was away.

“No, although Mavis in room five got in a tizz because she couldn’t find her hearing aid. After helping her hunt high and low for it, it turned up in her handbag—the same handbag she assured me at the start she’d already checked thoroughly.”

I chuckle.

“Otherwise, we have one new booking for two weeks’ time—just for one night’s stay. But in other news involving hotel guests, I hear you and Emily hit it off?”

I scoff, chucking some junk mail in the bin. “I don’t know what Jamie said, but it was all very professional. Aidan thought she could be a guinea pig for the business he’s desperate to start.”

“Professional, eh? So . . . why did you get naked in front of her, then?”