Page 67 of You, As You Are

“Fine,” he said. “Ifthe need arises for me to kiss you, am I allowed?”

“You’re asking for permission?”

“I’d rather that than be slapped in the face.”

Well that was an extremely valid point.

“If the need arises, andonlywhen the group is around” — Maisie breathed in and out — “you can kiss me.”

Grunting in acknowledgement, Iain seemed satisfied with that answer, but the pool of anticipation in Maisie’s stomach was far from settled.

* Yes, they do.

* Saint Dwynwen’s Day

CHAPTER NINETEEN

MAISIE

Maisie’s dooropened that dreaded Valentine’s Day lunchtime to a six-foot wall of man.

“What are those?”

“Codfish.”

Her features flattened, unimpressed.

“They’re called roses, Daffy,” Iain said, thrusting them towards her like he was allergic to their red petals, though his sarcastic tone missed the mark.

“You bought me flowers?” Maisie couldn’t remember the last time that someone had, much less for a date. Not that these next couple of hourswerea date … This was two single people spending their Valentine’s Day together –secondValentine’s day together, evidently – in the name of appearing to be in a relationship.

Iain tucked a hand into his front jean pocket, the other keeping Ted from dashing into her flat. “I didn’t want to risk being seen coming here without a gift,” he said, though it sounded a lot like moaning. “This whole Valentine’s Day nonsense was your idea.”

Maisie stared at the flowers, and then at him. “I don’t have anything to give you.”

“You give me a headache. That’s enough.”

“Rude.” He had to go and spoil the moment, didn’t he? If he didn’t want this plan to happen then why had he agreed to it? “Ted can come in. You can stay outside for that comment.”

“You’re choosing my dog over me?”

“Ted has better manners.”

“Trust me, he doesn’t.”

Maisie swung her door shut only for Iain to stop it with his hand. “Do you want yournainand her friends to stop bothering us, or not?”

Shitting hell.He had a point.

Maisie opened the space between them again before the vein in Iain’s forehead enlarged any further. He took two steps inside, giving some slack into Ted’s lead.

“I hope he’s house trained,” she said.

“He is.”

“I was referring to you.”

The unamused squint that Iain gave her was enough to make Maisie spin and hide her face in her roses before she let out a snicker.Ugh,it was fun to mess with him.

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