Toby went bright red. ‘I’m not supposed to ask for things…’
Jed’s voice was gruff. ‘Ask away, Toby.’
‘David at school has got some puppies…’
Brooke groaned. ‘Toby, no! We can’t look after a dog, sweetheart. We’re not at home enough. It isn’t a matter of money. A dog needs company.’
Toby’s face fell and Jed put a hand on his shoulder.
‘Your mum’s right. Owning a dog is a big responsibility. You have to be able to spend lots and lots of time with it and take it for walks. But I’ll tell you what we’ll do if you like animals…’
‘What?’ Toby’s body still drooped miserably. ‘I like dogs best and then horses, but I don’t suppose I can have one of those either.’
‘Well, it might be a bit cramped in your cottage if you shared it with a horse,’ Jed teased, squeezing his shoulder gently. ‘Cheer up. By the time you come home tonight you’ll have spent so much time with dogs and horses you’ll be worn out with them.’
‘Why?’ Toby’s eyes widened. ‘Where are we going?’
‘It’s a surprise. Go upstairs and change into old trousers, grab a warm coat and your wellies, and we’ll leave in half an hour.’
‘Leave for where?’ Toby danced on the spot, the prospect of owning a dog forgotten.
‘It’s a secret.’ Jed turned to Brooke. ‘I was going to do the roof this morning, but on second thoughts we’ll go out now and I’ll sort the roof out later. If that’s all right with you.’
‘I’ve had the roof fixed,’ she told him stiffly. ‘Temporarily at least. They came just before you this morning.’
The truth was, she didn’t care about the roof—it was Jed taking Toby that worried her. But what choice did she have? She licked dry lips and blushed as his gaze dropped to her mouth. She was so aware of him that every nerve in her body tingled.
‘I can’t stop you taking him, Jed, but I’d like to know where the two of you are going.’
‘The two of us?’ He frowned and looked at her quizzically. ‘I wasn’t planning to take him on my own. I thought you’d come, too.’
She stared at him. He wanted her, too? ‘I assu
med you’d want him to yourself.’
‘You assume a lot of things that aren’t true,’ he said wryly, lifting a hand and stroking her dark hair away from her face. His fingers stroked her forehead and lingered on her cheek as his eyes searched hers. ‘Did I ever tell you that you have fabulous hair?’
His rough, male voice was so sexy that she felt her limbs tremble.
‘Jed, please…’
‘Did I ever tell you that?’ His voice was softly insistent and she nodded and looked away.
She couldn’t bear to remember how he’d stroked her hair and how he’d wound it round his strong hands to hold her face still for his kiss.
‘Where are we going?’ She dragged herself away from him and made for the fridge. ‘What do I need to wear? And what do you want to eat? Bacon sandwich or something healthier? Yoghurt, fruit?’
‘Bacon sounds great and you’re fine as you are. Jeans suit you.’ His gaze slid over her gently rounded hips and long legs. ‘You might need a warm jumper and boots. It can be muddy.’
Brooke laid the bacon under the grill and cut some bread. ‘You’re not going to tell me where we’re going?’
‘No.’ He filled the kettle and glanced round the kitchen. ‘It’s a surprise. Where do you keep your mugs?’
‘In that cupboard.’ She gestured with her head, flipping the bacon over with a fork and trying to calm her pulse rate. Having him this close was very unnerving.
‘I’m ready, Mum.’ Toby jumped back into the room, wearing his wellingtons and clutching his coat.
She smiled. ‘Well, sit down for two minutes while we have some breakfast.’