‘There’s a sight for sore eyes.’ A deep voice broke the silence.

I turned, and the green eyes locked onto mine, causing the familiar flush to begin to creep up my neck. ‘The sky, I mean.’

Nodding quickly, I turned back to the garden, mortified that, for a split second, I thought he’d meant something else.

‘Yes. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?’

‘It really is.’

A click of toenails alerted me to the dog, and I opened the door so that he could go out and do all the investigation and ablutions he needed to. Much to my surprise, he was soon back in and trotting back to his bed. I watched him settle in and close his eyes, dropping back to sleep almost immediately.

‘Looks like someone else is as tired as we are,’ Jack said through a yawn, resting up on his elbows and looking over at the dog.

‘I’m all right.’

‘OK, if I say something, are you going to take it the wrong way?’

‘I imagine that depends entirely on what you plan to say.’

‘Just promise not to take it wrong.’

Walking over to the dog bed, I laid the little blanket I’d found in a cupboard over him before looking back at my two-legged houseguest. ‘How about if I endeavour to do my best not to?’

‘Sounds like a deal.’

‘Spit it out, then.’

‘You look knackered.’

‘Right.’

‘But in a good way. Obviously.’

‘Obviously.’

‘Come back to bed.’

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help smiling. At least he was honest. ‘I bet you say that to all the girls,’ I teased him again.

‘Not for a very long time.’

And I believed him.

‘Anyone in?’ my brother’s voice bellowed moments before he opened the back doors I’d forgotten to lock after letting Clive out and climbing back into the warm bed. Jack had been right. I was knackered and we’d both fallen back asleep almost immediately. Obviously, we were both wide awake now, sitting up next to each other in the sofa bed and staring silently back at my brother, Poppy and both children.

19

‘Doggy!’

Clive was up and wagging his tail at the new people, all potential playmates.

‘Umm, is he OK with kids?’

‘Excellent,’ Jack said, sounding just as sleep roughened as he had earlier, and I tried to ignore the flutterings that voice caused.

‘Out you go then, kids. Be nice to Clive.’ All three of them hared off into the garden as though it was their first taste of freedom in years. Felix and Poppy then turned back to us.

‘Shall we come back?’ My brother’s eyes switched between us, lingering with what I knew was suspicion on Jack.

‘No! It’s fine. And this isn’t what it looks like either,’ I said, staring at Felix pointedly. ‘Clive was upset last night and wouldn’t settle properly. Jack tried sleeping sitting up but that wasn’t working, despite his protestations that it was. And the last thing he needs to do is knacker his neck or back whilst he’s trying to build up his business.’