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Heat floods my cheeks. No, it wouldn’t be much of a punishment, but haven’t I worked hard today? Don’t I deserve a little reward? If we weren’t parked on a public street, I’d be telling him to go right ahead and do his worst. Actually, I’d quite like to suggest he take me upstairs, tuck me into bed, then do that thing with his fingers he did during our self-defence lesson. After that, I’ve no doubt I’d sleep the sleep of champions.

But I’m a lady, so I keep that thought to myself. Instead I say, rather primly, “Well. I’ll go catch up with Emmy, then.”

He kisses me once more, then unclips his seat belt and gets out. Before he shuts the door, I notice him adjusting himself. Either his underwear wasn’t sitting right after the drive or he was just having dirty thoughts too. Pretty sure it was the latter.

Great. So we both want it tonight, but neither of us is getting it because I’m too embarrassed to admit that, yes, I’m too tired to make him a nice dinner, but no, I’m not too tired to get naked together.

Sometimes being a lady is the worst.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

RYAN

“Hiya.” Briony stands in her doorway, smiling up at me. Her hair is loose around her shoulders, and she’s wearing a blue dress with wee buttons down the front. Bare feet. Pink cheeks. No sign of the frantic look she had yesterday morning.

“Evening. You look…well-rested.”

“I slept like the dead last night, and I didn’t get up till eleven today, save for a quick morning pee break for Penny. I’m practically a new woman.”

“Oh? That’s a shame. I quite liked the old one.”

She laughs, and I lean down to kiss her. She rises onto her toes to meet me, one hand resting lightly against my chest. Penny squeezes out the doorway and circles our feet, tail going like mad.

“Come in,” Briony says. “Dinner’s nearly ready.”

“Aye? It smells fucking amazing.” Garlic, tomato, and something rich and cheesy drift out to greet me.

I follow Briony inside. On our first date, I only got as far as the hall. This time, she leads me past the family photos and into the living room. Penny tears over to a box in the corner, takes out a rope toy, and proudly presents it to me.

“Wow, that’s a great toy. Tug of war?” I take hold of one end. Penny plants her paws and pulls with everything she’s got, shaking her head from side to side, even growling a bit, though her tail wags furiously the whole time.

“All right, all right, you win!” I say, letting go. Penny prances around the room with the toy dangling from her mouth, doing a victory lap.

Briony gestures to the sofa. “Take a seat. Can I get you a drink? I opened a bottle of red earlier for the sauce and ended up pouring myself a glass.”

“Aye, a glass of red would be great. Cheers.”

She heads out, and before I sit, I take a proper look around the living room. There are four cushions on the sofa, all different colours, plus a blanket folded over the back. Prints of the West End hang on the walls. Books sit in little piles, and plants trail off shelves or take up space by the window.

Upstairs, everything is in black, white, or grey, and I’ve got fuck all on the surfaces. Everything gets put away where it belongs. By rights, all the colour and clutter in here should drive me up the wall, but I kind of like it. It’s very Briony. Very homely.

I can picture her curled up on the sofa, reading, maybe with the blanket wrapped around her. Probably stopping every couple of pages to have a conversation with the dog.

I sit, and Penny jumps up on the sofa beside me. She plants her front paws on my arm and starts licking my neck.

“Aw, come on, really? I like you too, but I’ve put aftershave on. You’re licking it off.”

“I see I’ve got competition,” Briony says from the doorway, smiling.

“Aye, you might need to up your game.”

“Watch it. I’m making you dinner. And I’ve brought you wine.”

“Fair point. I’m sorry, Penny,” I say, easing her down beside me. “It’s just no gonnae work out.”

Briony chuckles and hands me my glass before settling on the other side of Penny. “Oh, Lizzie messaged me, by the way. She said the flowers were perfect and everyone kept asking about them. She wanted me to pass on her thanks to you as well.”

“Glad she was happy.”