‘Maybe I was a real arse?’ Seb asked, unable to hide the amusement in his voice.
I felt a knot unwind. ‘Maybe.’
‘I wasn’t.’
‘So you say.’
The low chuckle came again. ‘It’s a good job I like you.’
‘Just saying it as it is.’
He tilted his head so that he was looking more directly at me. ‘So am I.’
I bobbed my head.Yep. Definitely need that water. There was still way too much alcohol sloshing about in my brain. And with Seb lying on my sofa, looking sexily rumpled, that was not a good thing.
‘Not much of a guard dog, is he?’ I nodded my head at the still softly snoring lab sprawled over him.
‘Not really.’
‘Isn’t he heavy?’
‘He’s not exactly light.’ He smirked. ‘My own fault. I did this with him all the time as a puppy and now, if I’m ever prone on a sofa, he thinks that’s a cue. He doesn’t really get the fact he’s a tonne heavier now.’
‘You OK?’
‘I’m tougher than I look.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘Machismo is not attractive.’
‘Isn’t it?’
‘No.’
‘Never?’
‘Not really.’
‘Bugger.’
I gave a muscular arm a prod with my toes. ‘Right. I’m going to bed. Do you want me to pass you this?’ I pointed to the glass. ‘No, I’m OK. He’ll wriggle a bit in a while, stand up and stretch, probably tread on something delicate and then get down and spread out on the floor. I’ll get it then.’
‘Something to look forward to.’
‘I always think so.’
‘OK. Well, goodnight. Again.’
He lifted his hand off the dog’s back and caught my fingertips. ‘’Night, Lottie. Thanks.’
* * *
When I got up the next morning, the blankets and pillows were stacked with what could only be described as military precision, and there was no sign of either Seb or Scooby. Humphrey, however, was still spread out like a fur rug in his bed at the side of my bed and hadn’t bothered to follow me in to the lounge. He’d get there in his own time.
I looked around. Seb’s bag was gone. The only sign that he’d ever been there was the neat stack of bedding.
I frowned, casting my mind back to the previous night, or more accurately early this morning. Oh god, had I told him he was probably an arse before his injury? I leant on the counter, my head in my hands, not only because my brain was dancing a samba in my skull but at the thought of how I’d just blabbed on.
‘That doesn’t look like a happy pose.’ Seb’s voice broke into my thoughts and I simultaneously stood up way too fast and jumped, neither of which was good for my balance and I stumbled back, bouncing off the sink.
