I nodded as we sat down. I sat next to Jordan, Merry sat across from him, and I had an empty chair across from me. “Yes, busy with demanding, obnoxious clients.” Then I noted the vacancy at the table. “I thought I was meeting Angus? Did he not come with you?”

“He’s in the bathroom,” Jordan said, “and before he comes back, I would like to apologise in advance for anything he may say or do.”

“Um, why?”

“Well, I told you he’s a painter,” he said. I nodded, and Jordan sighed. “He’s high as a kite on industrial adhesive.”

I snorted a laugh. “Really?”

Merry nodded. “Really. And anything he says or does on a good day is questionable, but he’s adorable and we love him.”

“I’m sure he’s not that bad,” I said before pouring myself a glass of table water and taking a sip.

Jordan grimaced. “Just please promise you won’t hold me accountable.”

“I promise,” I said, smiling at him.

“Good, because here he comes.”

The only guy walking our way from the bathrooms was short and stocky, well-muscled, well-built, tanned, and handsome in a rugged, outdoorsy way. He had sandy-blond hair that was short and mussed up, brown eyes—well, I think they were, they were barely slits—and he had a wide smile. He was also wearing a Hawaiian shirt that was so bright it could possibly be used to land aircraft, and faded jeans with a hole at the knee that didn’t look artfully created. More like he’d tackled someone and ripped them. He also wore work boots. Again, not the stylish Timberland variety, but more of the ‘just came from the building site’ kind.

When Jordan had said he and Angus were complete opposites, he wasn’t joking. They were poles apart.

“Man, those lights in the bathroom are freaky,” Angus said as he sat down across from me, a slow drawl to his husky voice. “Heyyyy, you must be Hennessy.”

“I am. Nice to meet you,” I said, offering my hand for him to shake.

His hand was rough and calloused. Definitely had tradesman’s hands. “Like the cognac,” he said, nodding.

“Yep, like the cognac,” I replied. I wasn’t sure if him being high was the reason he spoke slow and spaced out or if that was just him, but it was hard not to like him.

“You’re the guy who’s got Jay all tied up in knots.”

Jordan groaned. “Thanks, Angus. That’s not embarrassing at all.” I slid my hand onto Jordan’s thigh and he gave me a smile.

“So many knots,” Angus said, then he snorted and laughed. “And all the smiles and there’s been gliding.”

Jordan’s eyes closed slowly, but Merry tilted her head and squinted at Angus. “Gliding?”