Lettie harrumphed. ‘I could say the same about you. You’re the one who’s offered to keep him.’
She was right. ‘I was only being professional.’ He laughed when he saw she didn’t believe him. ‘Never mind me,’ he said pulling a face. ‘I suppose I should let you get back to the farm.’
Was that a disappointed look? No, but it was wishful thinking on his part. When she didn’t move, he wondered if maybe she might want to join him for something to eat. ‘If you’re not in a rush and haven’t had supper I’ve got a lasagne and salad I’ll be happy to share.’
‘I, oh.’
Damn, he had misjudged her reaction. ‘No, you’ve probably got something to eat already. Or maybe you’re meeting someone for supper?’ Why had he said that? Fool.
‘Um, no. None of those. I was just wondering how much I owed you for checking Thistle.’
Hurt that she expected him to charge her for examining the dog, Brodie had to bite back a retort. ‘There’s no charge.’
‘Are you sure?’
He bent to stroke Thistle’s head, not wanting her to see how offended he was by her question. ‘Yes. You’ve been good enough to bring this little guy in to me and I’m happy to take care of him for now. Why would I charge you for that?’
She frowned. ‘Because you’ve given your professional time when I’ve asked you to.’
He decided he needed to get to know this girl better so she would read him better in future. ‘I tell you what. I won’t charge you if you’ll keep me company and help me eat the food I bought earlier. Agreed?’
Lettie’s expression softened.
He suspected she was feeling as awkward as him. ‘Well?’
‘Only if you have something for Thistle. I only had two gravy bones to give him, so he’s probably very hungry.’
‘We can grab a bag of dog food from reception and I’ll settle up with Bethan in the morning.’
‘Good idea.’ She lifted Thistle down from the steel examining table, giving him a cuddle before placing him on the floor. ‘In that case, Thistle and I are happy to accept your invitation to supper in your cottage.’
He led the way out of the surgery and opened his cottage door and held it back for Lettie to lead Thistle inside. She stopped and looked around the tiny hallway, ‘I was wondering what this place was like inside.’
‘Run-down.’
‘It is a little, isn’t it? This way?’ She pointed to the door on the left.
‘Yes, unless you want to go to the kitchen and start the cooking.’
Lettie shook her head. ‘I’ll leave that to the host. I’ll make Thistle’s supper though, if you can find me a bowl for him.’
Thistle fed and drinking water from the second bowl, Brodie stabbed the film on the top of the lasagne and popped it into the microwave before he set to work washing the salad. ‘It’s not exactly the sort of fare you’re used to.’
‘How do you know that?’ Lettie asked leaning against the opposite worktop to where he stood at the sink.
‘I’ve been in your mother’s kitchen, don’t forget. I’ve seen the cakes she made and tasted one. I can imagine how well she feeds her family.’
‘Ah, but I haven’t been living at home for several years,’ Lettie reminded him. ‘When I was in my flat in London I tried to cook proper meals but most of the time I was too hungry after work to be bothered. This sort of meal is very much what I’ve been used to.’
‘So you don’t consider this a proper meal then?’
She laughed, clearly embarrassed. ‘Sorry, that did sound a little insulting.’
‘It’s fine. I’ll have to make sure to show you just how well I can cook another time, won’t I?’ He expected Lettie to continue the banter that had been flowing between them but when his only answer was silence, Brodie turned to face her to see what was wrong. ‘Sorry, did I say something I shouldn’t?’
‘No, it’s just that…’
She was embarrassed and he had inadvertently put her in an awkward position. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to make things awkward between us. I know you’re seeing someone, so I understand that you coming here for a meal probably isn’t appropriate.’
