They were outside the shop and leaving Flora’s comfort zone. Probably sensing Flora’s nerves, Mack held out Dexter’s lead and said, “Do you want to have him?”

“I’d love to,” Flora said.

Flora felt immediately better. Little Dexter had a calming effect on her. He was an open, loving boy, and he broke the ice between them. They walked along in silence for a few steps, and Flora said nervously, “I like his red and white stripey jumper today.”

Mack smiled. “Aye, he likes to be fashionable.”

Then Dexter pulled to the curb across from The Deep and sat nicely, waiting to cross the street.

“No, we’re not going to the club today, Dexter.” Mack patted her leg and whistled to get him back walking again.

Flora wondered why he wanted to go across to the gay club.

Mack explained, “My family owns the club over there. I sometimes stop by and have a chat with the staff. They always make a fuss over him, so he likes going there.”

Flora remembered what Sandra said about the formerly criminal Sharkey family she’d heard of. She thought of the night they met and the big men that Mack was with. They saved her, but who knew what had happened to them.

But when she looked up to Mack’s kind, gentle face, she couldn’t imagine Mack ever hurting her. After all, she had no need to try to be so friendly to her. After their second awkward meeting, Mack tried hard to make friends with her. She didn’t need to do that.

In fact, far from being intimidating like you would expect a gang member to be, Mack had been protective, and since the incident with the schoolkids, Flora had felt more relaxed in the shop, as if Mack’s protective bubble extended from the barber’s into Sweet Surprise.

Don’t think about it, Flora told herself. She should just enjoy these little moments with the woman she now was having the biggest crush on.

They got to the end of the street and waited at the side of the road to cross to George Square. Flora flinched when she felt Mack’s hand touch the small of her back, but she soon relaxed. She gazed at Mack as she concentrated on finding a safe gap in the traffic, so they could cross.

Heat spread up from her back and down to the tips of her fingers. Excitement and trepidation were her overwhelming emotions, and these were new feelings for Flora.

“Okay, let’s go,” Mack said as she ushered both Flora and Dexter across the road. When they got safely to the other side, Mack let her hand fall from Flora’s back and brush past her hand. Flora had the urge to grasp it and hold on tightly.