Mills & Boon Christmas Delights Collection. Rebecca Winters

that…stuff. Do you have another job I’m unaware of?’

      I rolled my eyes. ‘Why do you care?’

      ‘Because I’m interested in you.’

      The smile on my face faltered for a moment. ‘Why?’

      ‘What do you mean, why? It’s not every day a woman walks into my house, secretly armed for combat.’

      Why I thought he was being anything than intrigued at the situation, I don’t know. Although the bigger question currently bouncing around my brain was about the weird feeling I’d got when he’d clarified his area of interest. If I didn’t know better, I’d have called it disappointment, which was ridiculous. Of course, I wasn’t disappointed that my client’s interest in me didn’t go any deeper…It was fine. More than fine. Ideal, in fact. And hardly surprising, anyway. All right, Michael O’Farrell and I were definitely in a better place than we had been, but we weren’t exactly best buddies, and he certainly wouldn’t be interested in me. It was clear that his interests, when it came to women, were of the knockout stunning kind and although I did OK, I definitely wasn’t anywhere near that category. And I generally liked my relationships to last more than one night which was another thing we disagreed on, apparently. And he drove me nuts. And I drove him nuts. So…what was I even doing thinking about all this stuff?

      ‘Katie?’

      ‘Huh?’

      ‘You were miles away.’ He almost looked concerned.

      ‘Oh…no. I was just thinking of…um…’

      Michael raised an eyebrow and I could see the grin he was struggling to stifle.

      ‘For goodness’ sake. They are a client’s, OK? Sometimes, when people can’t quite decide as to whether there is something they should throw away, I’ll keep it for a few weeks until their head is a little clearer on it and then they decide. Admittedly, it’s usually something like a wedding album or a bunch of old love letters, but I am nothing if not adaptable.’

      ‘So I see.’

      ‘Do you think you can focus on something else now?’

      ‘I don’t know. I have to say it was all quite shocking for a man of my delicate disposition. I might need a lie down. If you could see yourself to placing a cool flannel on my head and saying “there, there” occasionally, I might just recover.’

      ‘I can see myself saying a lot more than that if you don’t get your backside in gear in the next thirty seconds.’

      ‘A man’s got to try,’ he said, opening another cupboard and reaching in to begin emptying it. ‘I wouldn’t want you to say I wasn’t trying.’

      ‘Somehow, I highly doubt anyone would ever say that about you.’

      ***

      ‘Is this him?’ I asked Mark as we approached the kennel.

      ‘It is. Meet Rooney. What do you think?’

      My smile gave him the answer.

      ‘He’s had a behaviour test and come through with flying colours. He’s just a big, soppy dope really but he loves to play. Having said that, he’s equally happy to just snooze or lounge on you, so he’s pretty adaptable. He’s really good on the lead and off it, and comes back when he’s called.’

      ‘Why on earth is he here?’

      ‘Got too big, apparently. They didn’t realise that a Labrador Rottweiler cross might get bigger than a miniature poodle.’

      I gave a head shake.

      ‘At least they’ve trained him well.’

      ‘I think it’s really just his nature. He’s a pleaser.’

      ‘Has anyone shown an interest in him yet?’

      ‘I’ve not put him on the website yet because he sounded exactly what you were after. But I don’t want to keep him in kennels too long if I can get him out to a good home.’

      ‘Of course not. Can we take him out?’

      ‘Sure.’ Mark opened the kennel and the dog loped towards us, nuzzling his head into my hand where the treat hid.

      ‘Ooh, smart boy,’ I said, holding my hand flat so that he could take it, which he did with the gentlest of movements.

      ‘So he’s good with kids too?’

      ‘His owners said that he was, and the two little kids that came with him were clinging to him like they never wanted to let him go. He didn’t react to it at all and all the tests we’ve done would indicate he pretty much gets on with anything and anybody. Does the potential new owner have kids then?’

      ‘No, but I’d guess he might in the future, I don’t know. But he does have nieces and nephews he’s very close to, so it’s vital that the dog is kiddie-friendly.’

      ‘This one is everything friendly.’

      From the way the dog had curled up and put his head on my lap as we sat on the floor talking, he certainly seemed that way.

      I left Mark and took Rooney on a long walk, meeting plenty of dogs, people and livestock, and he behaved beautifully throughout. My excitement was mounting at the prospect of finding him a forever home.

      ‘How was he?’ Mark asked as he saw us plodding back in through the gate, the mud halfway up my wellies as the wind blew Rooney’s ear inside out. I bent over and folded it back.

      ‘Brilliant. I love him. I want him!’ I laughed, honestly wishing that I really could take the dog home.

      ‘He’s a great mutt.’

      ‘He is.’

      ‘Do you think your friend will like him?’

      ‘Client more than a friend. But I hope so. Although he is adamant he doesn’t want another dog.’

      Mark looked at me.

      ‘What?’

      ‘You know people have to get a dog when it’s right for them. If it’s not the right time, it’ll only end up bad for everyone involved. He’s too good a dog to be messed about.’

      ‘I know.’

      Mark didn’t seem convinced.

      ‘I promise. He’s not a man to do anything lightly so if he really doesn’t want a dog, believe me, I’m the last person who’d be able to persuade him. I just want to, I don’t know, remind him of what he’s missing and how much happier he was when he had a pooch keeping him company.’

      ‘OK. I’m not questioning your motives, you know that.’

      ‘Of course I do. You want what’s best for the animals. I do too. I promise.’

      Mark flicked the bobble on my bobble hat. ‘I know. So when can you get your guy down here?’

      ‘Tomorrow? Can you hold him until then?’

      ‘Sure. Let me know if anything changes.’

      ‘Will do. Thanks again Mark. I really appreciate it.’

      ‘No problem.’ He frowned up at a sky that was becoming increasingly leaden. ‘I grew up with Bondi Beach and endless days of sunshine. What the hell am I doing?’

      ‘Loving every bit of it.’ I winked.

      ‘You’re smarter than you look, you know that?’

      ‘You’re not as funny as you think, you know that?’

      He grinned and I did the same.

      ‘OK. Better go and wash this boy off and get him looking super-duper for his visitor tomorrow.’

      ‘Have fun. Give me a shout when you’re ready to go and