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Trisha buried her hands into the pockets of her baggy brown corduroys. “She’s missed you, she has.”

“I’ve missed you too, haven’t I, girl?” George chuckled and tucked the dog under his arm like a rugby ball.

“Well, the cottage was a little chilly, so I lit the burner and I’ve got a pork casserole on the hob too. I hope you’re hungry.”

“I’ll always make room for your casserole, Trish. Thanks for holding the fort whilst I’ve been indisposed.”

“Glad to have you home, George.”

“Sorry, I’m being rude. Trisha, this is Alice?—”

Alice raised a hand. “Hiya, Trisha. We met last week, remember?”

Trisha raised an eyebrow. “I thought I recognised you. You’re the burglar who wasn’t a burglar.” She turned to Ash. “You look different to the other one though?”

George laughed and put an arm around the funny little woman. “Trisha, this is Doctor Ash. She’s been looking after me, too.”

Ash held out a hand, and Trisha gave it a tentative shake. “Oh, the doctors drive you home from hospital now, do they? No wonder them waiting lists are so long.”

Trisha frowned, but the rest of them laughed.

“It’s okay, Trish, I’m off duty.”

“Right then, shall we go in for a cuppa? I’ve got plenty of biscuits to go around,” said George.

Two pots of tea and one hour later, Pyglet was curled up asleep by the fire. Alice and Ash bid their farewells, with promises to visit again soon and stay for casserole next time.

Stepping outside into the fading daylight, Alice glanced across at Ash, wearing the grin that had barely left her lips all afternoon.

“Do you think he’ll be okay?”

“He’ll be fine. Trisha will keep an eye on him. And he’s got us too now, hasn’t he?”

Alice nodded, the swirl in her stomach easing with Ash’s words. “Thanks for swapping your shift to do this. It was really lovely of you.”

“It wasn’t entirely altruistic.” Ash gently swayed into Alice as they walked along the garden path. “If anything, I’m being greedy. I wanted to steal a little more time with you.”

Alice turned to face her as they reached the car. “Oh yeah? So, what now?”

“Back to mine? I’ll rustle up something tasty for dinner.”

“Mmm, yeah. Sounds good. Then what?”

“Netflix and chill?”

“You know what that means, right?”

Ash laughed. “Yeah, I know what it means!”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure. It starts a bit like this…” Ash tilted Alice’s chin up and closed the gap between them. She captured Alice’s lips in a deep kiss that comprehensively confirmed her grasp ofNetflix and chill. Lost in the moment, they pushed back against the car, Ash’s hands tangled in Alice’s curls, Alice’s hands cupping the delicious curve of Ash’s denim-clad arse.

They pulled apart at the sound of George whistling from his front door.

“About time,” he yelled and gave them a wave.

Ash giggled and wiped her lips. “Shit, I didn’t know he was watching us.”