Page 31

His eyes flick up to mine. “What? Dugs licking me?”

“No!” Despite myself, I laugh, and his lips curl into a smile. Ugh, no, we are not having a moment. “I meant people recognising you. Does that happen a lot?”

He shrugs. “A fair bit.”

“Briony, that’s your two lattes!” Jill calls from the counter.

I go to collect them, and Ryan heads over to the counter too. “Black coffee to go, please,” he says.

Please? I swear this isn’t the same man who called me entitled. Between the fans and Jill, I’m beginning to wonder whether he’s nice to everyone other than me.

“Anything to eat?” Jill asks Ryan. “Croissants are just out the oven.”

Ryan eyes the pastry case, then says, “Naw, cheers,” even though it looks like he really wants one.

Well, whatever. That’s not for me to puzzle over. I lift the cup holder and head for the door, Penny’s lead in my other hand.

I have a system here, and it works perfectly. I hook the loop of Penny’s lead over my thumb, which leaves my fingers free to tug the door open. Never in all my time coming to Coorie & Blether have I needed help. Yet on this occasion, a bare, muscled arm reaches over my shoulder and pulls the door open for me.

Oh, for goodness’ sake. Now he’s holding doors open for people? I did not ask him to do that, nor did I want him to.

I turn to politely state that I don’t need his help, and find him close. Very close. Close enough to feel the warmth coming off him. Close enough to see a dark ring around each iris, sharpening all that green.

Whatever I was about to say vanishes, along with every other thought in my head.

“Thanks,” I manage after a few moments. Then I duck under his arm and hurry through the door and out onto the pavement.

Emmy is out front when I get to the shop, straightening the line of potted plants by the door. She looks up as Penny and I approach.

“You all right?” she says. “You’re a bit flushed.”

“Fine. Just warm from the walk.” It’s nothing to do with my neighbour getting all close to me on my way out of the café. Nothing whatsoever.

I hand Emmy her latte and unclip Penny, who allows herself to be patted by Emmy then trots straight through the shop towards the back. Apparently, her bed is already calling her. Hard morning, licking all that cream and male skin.

Emmy and I follow her inside.

“So,” I say. “I hear you had words with Ryan.”

Emmy pauses with her cup halfway to her mouth. “Ah. He told you?”

“He did.”

“Right. I hope you don’t mind. I know it wasn’t my place, but he⁠—”

“Emmy, I appreciate it. And it worked.” I bump her shoulder with mine. “He says he’ll leave us the parking space from now on.”

“Really?” She takes a triumphant slug of coffee. “Well, I should think so too.”

I don’t mention the other offer he made, to cover the amount we’re down. Emmy would tell me I’m an idiot for saying no to that. She might be right.

“You should’ve seen it.” Emmy laughs at the memory. “Him standing outside his car with a six-pack of beer, getting a row off me. The look on his face when I really got going. The woman with him was trying not to laugh.”

“There was a woman with him?”

“Oh, yeah, she was super hot. Like, unfairly hot.”

I wonder if it was the leggy one from the flat-warming, the one who was curled into his side on the sofa and was, I believe, extremely vocal later that night. Not that it matters. God, no. I couldn’t care less. Still, I open my mouth to ask what this woman looked like—purely out of interest⁠—