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Everything the pair said was simultaneous, as were the red hues that coloured their cheeks. Daisy waited, wondering if the man was going to speak again. When it didn’t look like he was, she started.

‘I was just going to say that I need to get this guy out to stretch his legs.’

‘Sure, and I was going to suggest that if it’s all right with you, you could join us. We have a pretty standard loop we do. It has nice parks and some good views of the river too.’

Daisy looked down at the pair of dogs and then at the man. Was walking her dog with a person wrong? She wouldn’t have batted an eyelid if it was a woman asking her to join them, so why did it matter if it was a young and attractive man?

‘You’re in running gear,’ she said, suddenly grateful she could say something that wasn’t outright turning him down. Becauseas little as she knew about him, that wasn’t something she wanted to do.

‘I am, but I really didn’t want to go for a run. In fact, Bruno had to drag me out the door. I was dreading this morning’s walk, but now I’m kind of looking forward to it. Assuming I have some company, that is.’

A smile followed. The type of smile that made Daisy’s stomach flutter, even though she really didn’t want it to.

‘Well, Johnny does need a walk,’ she said.

‘Great,’ the guy said, before stretching out his hand. ‘I’m Ezra, by the way.’

‘Daisy.’

62

The weather was grey and miserable. It was the type of day that Daisy normally had to drag herself out of bed for, particularly as there would be no need to open up the shop early. Johnny was the only reason she would get up at all, and even then she would give him the shortest walk possible in the hope that the weather would clear later, or that he would get a decent walk while he was out at work with Theo. But even though the rain pelted down and she constantly stepped in puddles, as she walked beside Ezra, chatting away, it didn’t seem that bad.

‘So you just found him?’ Ezra said. They had now moved on to talking about Johnny’s arrival in Daisy’s life.

‘Or he found me,’ she replied. ‘We’re not exactly sure.’

‘And you took him with you? Just like that. That’s incredible.’

‘Well, it wasn’t quite that simple.’ Daisy had already told Ezra about taking Johnny to the vets and trying to find his owners, but it was true – those parts felt insignificant compared to how much time they had spent together now.

‘You should write a book about it,’ Ezra said. ‘I think it would make an awesome story. People love that type of thing, don’t they? You know, that fortitude of spirit.’

‘Maybe,’ Daisy replied. ‘I’m not much of a writer, though. And I’m not sure I have the time. Not with everything else. The business and such.’

‘I just love it,’ Ezra said, a broad smile lighting up his face. ‘I love the way you talk about your life. And the fact that Johnny just lives with you on the canal boat that you’ve turned into a coffee shop. You know, I’ll have to come and visit one day. To see Johnny, that is.’

‘That would be nice,’ Daisy said. ‘Although Johnny doesn’t spend the day in the coffee shop. He goes out to work with my boyfriend Theo in his van.’ It wasn’t until his name passed Daisy’s lips that she realised she hadn’t mentioned Theo at all. But it wasn’t as if she had deliberately been avoiding him. Was it?

‘You have a boyfriend,’ Ezra said, eyebrows rising. ‘That’s a shame. Bruno was already getting quite attached.’ He glanced ahead of him, to where Johnny and Bruno were walking side by side, so close together they kept bumping into one another as their tails beat furiously.

‘Yes, they do seem to get on incredibly well,’ Daisy said. Taking on a dog where you had no idea of its history was always going to be a risk, but Johnny had been incredible. No nips, no growls – nothing but the occasional bark. Still, she wasn’t sure if her comment was entirely about the dogs.

‘So this boyfriend of yours, he lives on the canal too?’

‘He does,’ Daisy replied. She wasn’t sure why she called Theo her boyfriend rather than fiancé, other than it didn’t feel right to change and suddenly start referring to him differently.

‘Ah, just my luck, right?’ Ezra said with a shake of his head. ‘I meet the girl of my dreams and she’s taken. I should have known my week could never start that well.’

It didn’t matter how cold the rain was, it didn’t stop the heat rising through Daisy’s body.

‘Oh, I don’t think I’d be your ideal woman,’ she said, trying to alleviate some of the tension that was building between them. ‘I’m pretty average.’

‘Really? Loves dogs, independent, creative, and absolutely stunning. Trust me, Daisy, you are anything but average.’

63

A large lump filled Daisy’s throat, and she couldn’t swallow it down. Instead, her heart was racing as Ezra stared straight at her. It was the first time she’d noticed how dark his eyes were. Their deep brown was so intense, she could barely see the irises from the pupils even though she was looking intently. That was the instant Daisy realised she was staring back at him. She was causing this moment between them too. And it was definitely a moment.