“You don’t sound very thrilled about that.”
“Well, no, what with all the ravenous carnivoring they do. They might make a snack of Bernard.”
I look at the dog, who is currently looking rather embarrassed in the pumpkin jumper that Xavier bought in the village yesterday. “I don’t think even dinosaurs would get through that sweater.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to know fashion. Bernard feels the same about dinosaurs as I do. We’ll leave the dinosaurs to you. You can be the hunter-gatherer in our family.”
A sweet thrill runs through me at those careless words, but I don’t show it. “Is that because you don’t mind if I die horribly?” I say wryly.
“No.” The violence of his retort seems to shock him, and he licks his lips. He clears his throat, and his usual cheeky expression slowly settles back on his face. “It’s just that I’ll look a hell of a lot better in my animal fur loincloth than you.” Against my will, my cock kicks at the image, and he shoots me a wry look. “You’re far too easy.”
“Only for you,” I say in a low voice.
“Hush,” he says, but his mouth is a soft curve of pleasure that he can’t hide.
The ferry docks with a juddering groan, and we join the rest of the foot passengers, as visitors aren’t allowed to bring cars to Iona.
When we step off the gangplank, I spot Logan waiting for us in his truck. I raise my hand in recognition and pull Xavier to the side out of the way of the other passengers.
Logan drives over and leans out of his window. “Okay, Reuben? Can’t thank you enough for doing this.”
“No problem,” I say easily. “I wanted to show Xavier the island anyway. You gave us a good excuse.”
He jerks. “Xavier?”
Xavier looks at him curiously. “That’s me. Oh no, has my fame travelled before me? What asmallworld we live in.”
Logan shoots me a look that Xavier isn’t supposed to see. I should advise him not to bother because Xavi is eerily perceptive. “Well,” Logan says in a tone of repressed excitement. “This is a proper turn-up for the books.”
“What is?” Xavier asks, his lip quirking in a way that never means any good and often presages mayhem.
Logan scratches his head. “Oh well, you know.”
“Not really,” Xavier replies unhelpfully.
I elbow him, hearing him snort, and I smile at Logan in a way that hopefully suggests he shut the fuck up. “So, the parcel’s over there.”
“What parcel?” I raise my eyebrow. “Oh yes, that one. Well, lovely to see you, Reuben. Erm, nice to meet you, Xavier.”
Xavier nods serenely. “Yes, it was.”
Logan hesitates and then sets the truck in gear and sets off in a manner last seen at the siege of Troy.
I look at Xavier and shove him when he starts to laugh. “Oh, shut up.”
“No, really. I don’t think I’ve been such a topic of conversation since I fell in the Trevi Fountain.”
“Fell?”
“Well, okay. Jumped. I was trying to recreate a scene inFlashdance.”
“Brave choice. I heard that they had to drain it.”
“Yes, sadly, the edible body paint wasn’t good. It actually stripped the coins, did you know?”
“I think I read that inThe Mail, but it was hard to drag my attention away from your bare arse.”
“When isn’t it?”
