Mack’s heart was thudding as Flora looked deep into her eyes. Something in this woman’s soul called to her. Mack had never been in danger of losing her heart before, but this was different.

“But I?”

“You’ve been my guardian angel since the first moment I met you. That’s what makes you different. I feel safe.”

I want to kiss you was all Mack could think about. “I’m no angel, Flo.”

“You are to me,” Flora said seriously.

I want to kiss you, Mack thought again.

A yelping bark interrupted them. Dexter was standing at Flora’s feet. The intimate moment was lost.

“Hiya, Dexter.” Flora picked him up and he got the kisses that Mack wished she could get.

“Did you have fun with Jay?” Mack asked him.

“He’s adorable,” Flora said. “I’d love a little dog like Dexter.”

“You can borrow him any time or…”

“What?” Flora asked.

“We could come over together, Dex and me, I mean.” Mack wasn’t usually tongue-tied with women. She was super confident, but Flora was so, so different.

“That would be nice. Where do you live?”

“A flat down by the River Clyde,” Mack said.

“They’re nice.”

Mack shrugged. “It’s okay—not really a home, but it’s fine for now.”

“What we were talking about before, about Isla? I’ll be happy to talk to her any time. I’m not a shining example of getting over mental health issues, but I understand them, at least,” Flora said.

“That would be great. Do you ever think about trying again to get help with your conditions?”

Flora snuffled into Dexter’s neck and gave him a kiss. “All the time. I feel like it’s getting worse as I get older, but I don’t know where to start. I mean, even to lift the phone and make the appointment is too much for me, and I don’t know who to choose.”

“Maybe I could help you—only if you were ready and you wanted help. I don’t mean to…ugh.”

“What?” Flora asked.

“I just don’t want you to feel like you have to say yes to my help.”

Flora just smiled at her. “Why wouldn’t I want my guardian angel to help me? Oh, and I could say no to you.”

There was a flirtatiousness in that statement, and that surprised Mack. “Oh?”

“Yes, because you make me feel safe to be me. I’m not frightened of you ever.”

“I would be hurt if you ever felt frightened of me. So, how was your first experience of a club?”

“Good,” Flora smiled. “But I’m sure it’s quite different at night. I always wished I was the type of person who could just walk into this club.”

Mack rested her head on her hand and gazed lovingly at Flora. “How come?”