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Hayley squeezed her foot and grinned. “Who said they were free? I’ll be expecting some rubs in return.”

Anna laughed.

***

Anna went back to work while Hayley stayed at home. She was apparently going to do all the laundry and then go for a potter around Balbuinidh. They’d had sex all over the house last night. Even for them, it had been epic. She kind of liked the idea of Hayley waking up in her bed, all fucked out from the night before, picking up the pieces, and waiting for Anna to get home so she could fuck her again. That would be some life. But such ideas were dangerous. Because what was going on right now between them was only temporary, surely. Balbuinidh couldn’t hold Hayley’s interest for long.

The distillery was in the peak of the summer season, so it was all hands on deck at work. It wasn’t possible to do her usual routine when she’d got in, given everything that needed to be done and the number of visitors in the building. She didn’t have time to catch up on her emails or even to chat properly with any of her colleagues, not even Kelly. It flew past in a blur, and she’d felt unusually off kilter for most of the day.

It wasn’t just that it was her first day back in two months or that it was busy. She was unsettled, knowing Hayley was at home but imminently leaving. As the day ticked on, everything that was going on between them came crashing down amidst the reality of being back at work, back to normality.

By the time Anna got home she longed to be back out on the road with Hayley or watching a sunset over mountains somewhere, like how they were before reality had hit.

“You’re back!” Hayley called out from the kitchen.

“Hi!” Anna put her keys on the table by the front door. There was music playing in the living room. One of their songs from the trip about cold water swimming. For a moment, it took her right back to their amazing trip.

Hayley came through to the hall. She was wearing a crop-top and denim shorts. She looked so fucking beautiful.

Coming home to Hayley was surreal. Anna paused to savour the moment as Hayley wrapped her arm around her waist, lovingly.

“I missed you.” Hayley leaned in and kissed her once on the lips. She smelled of cooking and relaxation. Her skin was warm and glowing. “How was it being back?”

Anna could get used to this. Why did Hayley have to leave when all they needed was right here? It made no sense to her.

“You’re awfully pale. Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine. It’s so good to see you.” Anna shook her head and shrugged out her shoulders. “So you know that grace period I said I was hoping for when I got back to work?”

“Yeah?”

“Not happening. So much stuff has built up while I’ve been away. This whisky business is more serious than you’d think.” Anna laughed, hesitantly. “I might have to work longer hours this week. I’m really sorry.”

“No problem. I can start working on my business and get the equipment I need. It makes sense to put that stuff in place now so I can pick up work while I’m travelling.”

Travel. Anna suppressed a sigh. Sometimes Anna felt like them not being in the same place was the most certain thing about them. “That’s handy then.”

“I made dinner.”

“Wow. Thanks.”

“And I did all the laundry from the trip, yours as well, and tidied up. I hope you don’t mind.”

Anna did a double-take. It was hard to believe Hayley had wanted to spend the day in Anna’s little house and town. “Playing house with you feels so surreal. But thank you for doing all that. And for cooking.”

“It feels pretty good to me.” Hayley wrapped both her arms around Anna’s waist and ran her hands up and down her back.

Anna pulled her in close for a hug. “Does it?”

“It absolutely does. Why do you sound so unsure?”

“It’s just hard to get my head around.”

“Get your head around it. I have housewife potential in me.” Hayley laughed. “Let’s eat!” She strode off.

Anna stared at the incredible woman walking towards her kitchen. Hayley was happy on day one but would surely grow restless the longer she spent in captivity. What would they do then?

At bedtime, they went about their routine getting ready for bed. It was all so normal and domestic, two things Anna never thought she would experience with Hayley.