Chapter 43

“Down here.”

Jumping out of her skin, she slid around the car cautiously, realising he was at the back wheel changing a flat tyre. His jacket was off, his white shirt sleeves rolled up, and he was expertly using a tyre iron to tighten wheel nuts back on the new wheel, the flat one lying on the grass beside the car. Muffin lunged forward at him, covering his hands and wrists with fevered licks as he ruffled his tiny head. Rob took a second to pick him up for a belly rub before letting him back down and keeping his gaze averted.

“Hey,” She sounded as awkward as she felt and physically sick to her stomach, looking at him longingly. She knew the first time seeing him again would be hard, but she had not counted on it being this much agony. She pulled Muffin’s leash back as he again tried to climb onto Rob’s lap, and he sat obediently on the grass verge, wide-eyed, that wild little face alert and happy at the sight of his master. Traitorous little beast.

Rob glanced up.