Flora must have been watching for her because the door opened as she approached.

“Hi, wee mouse.” Mack leaned in and kissed Flora on the lips. She made it a point to show Flora how much she cared for her, and how much she was wanted. When she pulled back, Flora unexpectedly pulled her back in for a deeper kiss and caressed Mack’s neck with her fingertips.

That made all sorts of fireworks shoot off in her body. Flora hadn’t been as forward as that before. When Flora pulled back, Mack opened her eyes slowly, savouring the taste of her.

“What was that for?”

Flora looked a little sheepish. Sweetly embarrassed. “I missed you.”

I missed you. That one phrase and the way Flora said it hit Mack like a ton of bricks, straight in the chest. She was sure she looked like a lovesick teenager. “I missed you too. Dexter missed you—we missed you.” Mack held out her hand. “Will we go? Dexter was whining when he knew we were coming here.”

“I’ve got my bags to get,” Flora said.

“I’ll come back for them once you’re in the car.”

Mack felt like she was walking on air, leading Flora to the car. She got Flora settled with Dexter and went back to lock up and get Flora’s bag. She threw her holdall over her shoulder and held Flora’s handbag in her hand.

She watched Flora talk to and fuss over Dexter in the front seat and felt almost overwhelmed. Was this what she had been missing with love all this time? The shy but demanding kiss Flora had given her at the door had set off the last piece of her that was being careful with her feelings.

Mack had had lots of sex in her life. Good sex, bad sex, adventurous, hot and fast, and even with more than one person, but this feeling? God, Mack wished she could bottle it because it was the best feeling ever.

Mack put the bags in the back seat of the car and then got in herself. Dexter was just about licking Flora’s face off. “Are you happy now, Dex? You’ve got your bestest good friend.” Mack wished she could say, You’ve got your mummy, but that would certainly push Flora too far.

“Nice car.”

“Thanks. I don’t use it much. It’s easier to jump in a taxi into the town most of the time. Parking, you know?”

“Yes, I like my own space, though, so it’s worth the parking to me. Did you get the food?”

“Aye, well, my mum got it for me.”

“You shouldn’t have put your mum to all that trouble. I would have gone with you if you weren’t sure,” Flora said.

Mack turned on the engine. “That’s okay. You were busy with the shop and everything.”