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‘I like the autumn foliage too. I guess it’s a little unusual to change a painting so much. How will you clean it after Halloween?’

If she heard Mist’s complaint, she didn’t react.

‘We have our ways.’ Aiden glared at the painted ghosts, who had started a game of keep-away with one of the pumpkins.

‘Oh.’ Mia leaned closer to the painting.

‘What?’

‘Did you see that? A sort of flicker across the painting? Is it a digital screen overlay or something? Is that how you do it? That’s very clever.’

‘Yeah, it’s definitely something, Princess. Do you want to try those cakes?’

Told you so.

10

Three weeks, and another three delicious, decadent Friday nights later, Mia leaned against her banister while Aiden pulled on his boots.

‘I’m sorry I can’t stay longer.’

‘It’s OK.’ Mia grinned. ‘I’m sure you’ll make it up to me.’

‘I haven’t already? Damn, I’ll have to try a lot harder in future. Assuming you’ll let me?’

‘Maybe. If you’re good.’

‘And what if I’m bad?’ He met her eyes, and the heat in them sent another, very agreeable, shiver through her.

‘Definitely maybe.’ She sighed.

‘Are you OK, Princess?’

‘Yeah, just thinking.’

He stopped tying up his boots and looked at her more closely. ‘Tell me?’

‘I was just thinking how glad I am to have this… with you. A good friend who I trust and adore, who makes me laugh and…’

‘…beg and scream?’

‘I seem to remember you did quite a lot of pleading last Friday…’

‘Didn’t say it was a bad thing, Princess.’ He kissed her hand.

‘I just meant, I’m really enjoying this arrangement.’

‘Oh, I know. You were quite vocal about it. Ouch!’

‘What? I wanted to see if Katie’s suggestion worked.’

‘You want to be careful with things like that. I might decide to try it back.’ She laughed. ‘What’s so funny, Princess?’

‘That I don’t think you’d ever smack a woman.’

‘You’re right.’ He pulled on his coat, then leaned in. ‘But spanking… that’s a different matter.’ Mia shivered and swallowed hard. ‘Interesting. Not a no. Noted for further discussion next week. Have I ever told you how adorable you are when you blush like that? You’re a nurse, and a midwife, and all the things we’ve done… and you still blush.’ He kissed the tip of her nose. ‘Amazing.’

‘About next Friday…?’