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“Yes,” I say carefully. “Ryan did leave a basket of flowers for me.” It’s not technically a lie.

Ryan catches my eye and grins. I resist scowling back at him.

“There, you see? A gentleman.” Mrs Dunlop unlocks her door and pushes it open. Ryan reaches for the bags again, but she flaps a hand at him. “I’ve got it from here, son.”

“It’s really no bother to carry them through to your kitchen.”

“No, no, I’m fine.” She gathers up the bags, beams at him, and shuffles inside, nudging the door shut behind her.

Which leaves me, Ryan, and Penny alone on the landing.

Right. Well. Time to make my own escape. I get my keys out and turn to my door.

Ryan clears his throat. “Your pal spoke to me.”

I pause, then turn back. “My pal?”

“The wee one from the shop.”

“Emmy?”

“Aye.”

I frown. Emmy said nothing about this, which is, frankly, suspicious. Emmy usually reports her acts of boldness with considerable pride.

“What did she say?”

Ryan shifts his weight. “Quite a lot. The gist was she thinks I’ve been a dick to you.”

Oh my God. Emmy gave Ryan a piece of her mind? I should probably be mortified, but I’m not. I’m touched and, honestly, impressed. I’ll need to hug her when I see her.

“That sounds like Emmy,” I say.

“Aye, well.” Ryan rubs his jaw. “She also said the building work has been affecting your shop. Said your takings are down.”

Heat creeps into my cheeks. Change of plan: no hug for Emmy. Defending me is one thing. Discussing my accounts with this man is another.

Penny sits down between us, tail sweeping the newly cleaned floor.

“I didnae think about what the skip and the lorries and all that would mean for your shop,” Ryan says. “Tell me how much you’re down and I’ll cover it.”

I blink. I wasn’t expecting him to say that.

“No.” It’s out of my mouth before I’ve thought it through.

“No?”

“I’m not taking a handout.”

“It’s no a handout. My building work cost you money. I’m offering to⁠—”

“It is a handout, and I don’t want it.” This man has already cost me sleep and business. I won’t let him take my pride too.

He blows out a breath. “This is me trying to be nice, you know.”

That takes some of the wind out of my sails. “I know. But I don’t want your money. I just want the building work to be finished.”

“Right. They should be more or less done by the end of next week. I’ll make sure they keep the stairs and the front of the building tidy till then.”