Page 38 of All Wrapped Up
‘Why don’t you take her inside,’ Ash suggested, ‘and I’ll bring in the rest of her stuff?’
‘Is there much?’
‘Um,’ he grinned, looking sheepish. ‘Perhaps a bit more than you might expect.’
It turned out that he’d treated Pixie to practically every toy on the pet market.
‘I was trying to draw her out of herself,’ he said defensively, as he carried in a huge rattan basket of brand-new looking things and caught the astonished look on my face.
‘I never said a word,’ I said, as I put up my hands and grinned and Pixie, with perfect timing, woofed and wagged her tail.
‘Neither of you had to,’ Ash laughed and I gave Pixie a further fuss. ‘Shall we put her crate in the Land Rover?’ he then suggested. ‘She doesn’t sleep in it and there’s not going to be room to swing a cat if we put it in here with everything else.’
‘That’s a good idea,’ I agreed. ‘If I give you the keys, would you mind doing it? There’s loads of room in the back and her harness can go straight in there, too.’
I was so preoccupied with Pixie that I forgot until later that Callum’s work boots were still behind one of the seats in the Land Rover, but I didn’t think Ash had noticed them anyway. Or, if he had, he hadn’t commented on them.
Once I’d given Pixie her breakfast and while she further acquainted herself with the cottage, I ran through the list of questions I’d prepared the evening before to further ensure a smooth transition of ownership.
‘Now,’ I said seriously, addressing the first thing I’d thought of and added to my list, ‘Pixie’s jabs. Is she up to date? I’m guessing she is, but wanted to check.’
‘She is,’ Ash confirmed, ‘and all of the paperwork and dates are in her folder, along with the practice details.’
‘And what about flea and worm treatment?’ I asked, having ticked off the immunisation question. ‘What do you recommend I use for that?’
‘Again,’ Ash grinned, ‘all in the pack.’
‘Why are you grinning?’ I asked, once I’d added more ticks to my list and noticed his expression. ‘I’m a responsible dog owner and this is serious stuff.’
‘Oh, I know it is,’ he continued to smile. ‘That’s why I’m so happy. I love you for thinking to ask me all these things.’
I felt myself blush, more as a result of what he’d said than what he thought. He looked quite warm, too.
‘So.’ He then cleared his throat and carried on. ‘What else have you got written down?’
Once we’d gone through everything, with the standard answer being that it was all covered in the pack Ash had put together, I offered him some coffee and toast.
‘Thanks, Clemmie, but I won’t stay,’ he declined. ‘I’m going to get off now actually.’
He sounded reluctant and I hoped he didn’t feel obliged to go.
‘Don’t feel that you have to,’ I said quickly. ‘You said you’re not working today, didn’t you?’
‘I’m not,’ he explained, ‘but I’ve got a flat to view and I think it would be best if I left you to settle Pixie in on your own.’
Just like before, she’d already made herself at home, so I wasn’t sure what the time I’d set aside to settle her was going to involve now.
‘Well, in that case,’ I said, still showing Ash out because of his impending appointment, ‘good luck with the viewing.’
‘Thanks,’ he said, wrinkling his nose. ‘I’m not keen on its location because it’s a bit of a drive from here and the rent seems optimistic given the size of the place, but we’ll see.’
‘You can tell me about it later,’ I suggested. ‘That is, if you’re still up for the meeting tonight?’
‘Of course, I am,’ he confirmed adamantly. ‘And like I suggested last night, a bite beforehand, too. I’ll swing by about six, shall I?’
‘That will be perfect.’ I smiled, though I still wasn’t sure I’d be able to eat anything.
Ash looked over my shoulder at Pixie.
