Anxiety started to creep into her bones again, so she quickly tidied up, then retreated to her bedroom, turned on the TV to make her feel less alone, then put in her earphones and played Mack’s videos again.

She drifted off with Mack’s voice in her ears and her face in her dreams.

Chapter Six

Every day it became Mack’s routine to pop into Flora’s and buy some sweets or chocolate before taking Dexter on his afternoon walk. She didn’t even need or want the sweets every day, but it was an excuse to talk to the enigmatic Flora.

She was excited to see and talk to Flora, as was Dexter, who got treats each day from her. Mack had never met someone who grabbed hold of her interest like that. She had been attracted to many women, slept with a lot of them, but this was different.

Flora, it seemed, had grabbed hold of her inside that first night they met, and never let go. She was so beautiful but tried to hide it, with her plain clothes and hair, but that just made her more interesting to Mack. She wanted to know what made Flora tick—she wanted to know her.

Mack had never had that deep interest to know a woman better. All of the women in her life before were short-term girlfriends. They didn’t know her, and she didn’t know them, except physically.

“Liam, I’m taking Dex out now,” Mack said.

She clipped the lead on his harness, and he jumped about, full of excitement. Liam came out from the back and said, “Bring me back some gummy bears.”

“I’m going on a walk with Dexter.”

Liam grinned. “But you always pop in next door before you do. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”

She’d been caught. “I’m just getting to know the neighbours—besides, Flora needs friends, and me and Dex would like to be.”

“You’re a puppy underneath all that scary Sharkey outside, aren’t you?”

“Shut up. People have been punched for less,” Mack said.

But Liam just laughed. “See you later.”

Mack shook her head, and then she and Dexter walked out the door. He started pulling towards Flora’s shop. It was part of his routine now—plus he loved Flora, and she gave him treats.

Mack held the door open for a couple of elderly ladies leaving the sweet shop. When they finally got in, Dexter pulled hard, and Mack let go of his lead. Dexter ran at top speed over to Flora and jumped into her open arms.

“Where’s my little boy pal?” Flora said as she scratched his ears.

Sandra smiled warmly. “That wee terror is back.”

“He is,” Mack said. “Hi to you both. Can I have a quarter of gummy bears for Liam, please?”

“Coming right up,” Sandra said.