From Scotland with Love by Katie Fforde

that last forever did among the heather, or the wild mountain thyme. She was just starting to feel more than a little sentimental when everyone was on their feet and going.
    There was a lot of hugging and seasonal greetings and then suddenly everyone was gone. It was just Rory and Daisy, confronting each other. No one spoke for long seconds. Daisy caved in first. ‘We’d better check on Grizzie,’ she said.
    Rory nodded solemnly. ‘Yes. She was only checked by one of the best vets in the Highlands a few minutes ago.’
    ‘Well, I haven’t seen her for a while!’ said Daisy and tiptoed into her room.
    Griselda lay, almost as long as a man, on the special bedding Hamish had brought with him, her pups all latched on, sucking away. She raised her head when Daisy entered and lifted her tail, half proud and half bemused by what had happened to her.
    It took Daisy a long time to convey to Grizzie just what a clever girl she was and how beautiful her (slightly rat-like) puppies were. Rory came in just as she was finishing. He took Daisy’s hand and raised her to her feet.
    ‘I’m going to sleep in here with Grizzie. Hamish says these big dogs can be a bit clumsy.’
    ‘Well, let me know if you’d like me to take a turn. I wouldn’t mind at all.’
    ‘I know you wouldn’t. You’re very loyal.’
    ‘Well, to Grizzie, I am!’ said Daisy.
    ‘To us both, you are.’
    Daisy was suddenly desperate to get away. She’d longed for him to take her into his arms, to his bed but now she didn’t seem able to handle the situation.
    ‘You go to bed now, Daisy,’ he said gently. ‘You must be exhausted.’
    She was awoken the following morning by the smell of bacon frying. For a while she lay there, wondering what was going on and then she remembered the puppies. She got out of bed and grabbed Eleanor’s abandoned dressing gown (also cashmere). She was still doing it up as she ran down the stairs to see how Griselda was getting on.
    She was lying on her side, seven rat-sized puppies kneading her side as they had their breakfast. The previous evening they’d been tube shaped. Today, they were little balloons. They’d obviously been feeding all night. Rory came in while she was still kneeling, telling Griselda what a good and clever dog she was.
    ‘It’s amazing, isn’t it?’ she said, looking up at him.
    ‘It is. And there’s breakfast. Come and have some. Grizzie will still be here afterwards.’
    Daisy got to her feet and tightened her dressing-gown belt. ‘I’ll pop up and get dressed.’
    ‘Don’t, come as you are. You look enchanting. I like you without make-up and your hair in a bird’s nest.’
    ‘It took me hours to get it like this,’ she said solemnly.
    ‘Yes, about eight hours,’ he said, grinning. ‘Come and have bacon and eggs.’
    There was definitely a feeling of celebration as they ate the enormous breakfast cooked by Rory.
    ‘I don’t usually have much first thing,’ said Daisy, on her second slice of toast having eaten a very ‘full Scottish’.
    ‘Well, it isn’t first thing, being ten o’clock,’ said Rory. ‘Are you sure you won’t try the fried haggis? It’s very tasty.’
    ‘I’m sure it is but I’ve eaten enough bacon and eggs for six PR girls already. I couldn’t manage another thing.’
    He leaned forward and scooped a tiny blob of marmalade from the corner of her mouth.
    ‘I’m going to get showered now,’ said Daisy, suddenly feeling very under dressed.
    She came down a little later, showered, dressed and with a bit of make-up. It was all very well for Rory to say she looked good without it but she knew better. She’d replied to a long text from Venetia who was pleased about the pups but wanted to know if she’d managed to ask Rory to sign up for the four books Athene so wanted from him yet. Daisy had replied she was waiting for the right moment when in fact, she’d forgotten all about that. She just wanted to think about Rory, Griselda and the puppies, not book