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“Well, that might be tricky because she’s very popular and her classes get booked up in advance. Did you consider that?”

“Hmm, I’ve an in with the instructor, so I reckon I’ll be all right. Besides, a few months back, I wanted to do yoga with her in Bannock, but Ally wouldn’t let me.”

That is true. One day when I was up visiting Emily, Ally was stressed out, so I put on an informal class. Aidan had asked to join, but Ally refused on account of his broken wrist, so it ended up just being me, Ally, and Emily—and the two of them couldn’t keep their eyes off each other the entire time.

“I suppose I’ll also have to hunt for somewhere to stay,” Aidan adds. “It’s such a shame, though. I mean, with a baby on the way, I should be saving up, but hotels in London are so expensive . . .”

“Aidan!” I warn.

A sly smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. “Was sharing your bed with me really so bad?”

It wasn’t, actually, but I don’t tell him that. Despite the constant teasing, and at times minimal clothing, Aidan proved he can, in fact, be trusted not to make a move. It’s my own traitorous body I’m worried about. If I spend any more time around him when he’s in nothing but underwear or a towel, I may succumb to temptation.

“Look, how about instead of giving money to a hotel, I give it to you?” Aidan suggests. “You could use the cash to buy stuff for the baby.”

“Aidan, I was clear it was for one night only.”

“You were.” He nods. “But . . . let’s be honest, I’m down here to get to know you. If you’re working during the day, then chilling in the flat at night, too tired to go out, it’ll be hard for me to do that. Unless . . . I chill here with you.”

The infuriating thing is, he’s got a point. And a bit of extra money would be handy.

I drum my fingers on the table, thinking. “I may live to regret this, but . . . if you’re going to be staying, we need some ground rules.”

Aidan perks up. “I’m all ears.”

“Rule one: no wandering about in your underwear. While I’m at work, go out and buy yourself a nice pyjama set.”

Aidan raises a brow and lets out a soft chuckle. “Fine. If that’s what I have to do, that’s what I’ll do. What else?”

“No waking me up with grunting, even for workouts. I’m a pregnant woman, and I need my sleep. That was rule two, and you already know rule three, but I’ll repeat it: no making a move. This”—I point between him and me—“is platonic. Got it?”

“Got it.” He throws his arms wide. “Let’s platonically hug on it.”

“No. The phrase is ‘let’s shake on it’.” I hold out my hand.

Smirking, he grasps it in agreement.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

GRACE

I climb the stairs to my flat, fuming with Aidan. I’ll have to have a word with him.

He came along to my early-afternoon yoga class. It turns out when you’re a tall handsome Highlander in his prime, surrounded by twenty-eight women in a studio—and a couple of middle-aged men—it’s impossible to go unnoticed. In his form-fitting navy sports top and black shorts, he’d been a distraction. Rather than focusing on my instructions, several of my clients had kept stealing glances at him. And to make matters worse, he’d lapped up the attention, grinning and winking whenever he caught one of them looking.

What annoys me even more—although this annoyance is focused inwards—is I also found it difficult to keep my eyes off him. Each time he pulled a pose, even if his form wasn’t quite right, he exuded this aura of strength and power. Normally, yoga is a source of peace for me, but not only did Aidan’s presence disrupt the flow of that class, it threw me off my game for the rest of the day.

Reaching my door, I have to knock since Aidan has my keys. Footsteps pad my way, then the door opens, and there he stands, his tall and broad figure filling the doorway.

“There you are! Just in time.”

Oh, that bloody Highland accent, thick as honey and just as sweet to my ears. I was all set to give him what for. How come my resolve is already fading?

“Just in time for what?”

Before he answers, a rich, savoury smell hits me: the comforting scent of simmering soup, combined with smoked fish and the decadent aroma of heated butter and milk.

“Cullen skink!” he announces proudly.