He leaned in closer. ‘Lottie, I wish I could …’
‘Trevor!’
Lottie sprang away from Connor at the sound of Jay’s shout from the rear of the house. Seconds later, Trevor dashed into the sitting room, barking. He jumped up at Connor, and knocked him backwards onto the settee.
‘Jesus, he’s drooling on my jeans!’
‘It’s only Trevor.’ Lottie dived for the dog’s collar but Trevor eluded her. His tail thumped wildly against Connor’s legs and he shoved his snout into his crotch.
‘That’s disgusting!’ Connor seized a cushion to fend the dog off. ‘Get him off me. These are Hugo Boss jeans.’
Lottie could have hugged Trevor. He’d saved her from being lured into who knows what with Connor.
‘Trevor doesn’t read the fashion mags and he won’t hurt you!’ She tried to pull Trevor away but he thought Connor was playing a fine old game with the cushion and barked in delight.
‘Trevor!’ Jay burst into the room, with a wooden box of holly and mistletoe in his arms. ‘Come here!’
Trevor was most reluctant to leave Connor but at Jay’s command, he slunk back to his owner.
‘Sit!’ Trevor dropped to the carpet, sinking his nose on his paws, but with his eyes on Connor.
Jay’s gaze darted from Lottie to Connor, cowering on the sofa. ‘I came round with your Christmas tree and some greenery for the Bothy and Trevor darted round the back of the house. Your back door was open. I’m sorry, he gets overexcited.’
‘You can say that again,’ Connor snapped. ‘Look at my bloody jeans.’
‘Oh dear.’ Lottie saw a trail of drool glistening on the denim and grabbed a box of tissues from the dresser.
‘Sorry,’ Jay said as Connor dabbed at his jeans with the tissues. ‘I wouldn’t have walked in if I’d known you were with a client,’ he said to Lottie.
‘Client?’ Connor laughed sarcastically. ‘Lottie and I are old friends.’ He threw the tissues on the carpet, sat back down on the sofa and shot Trevor a nasty look.
Trevor’s head sank lower onto his paws.
‘Of course, I won’t intrude.’ Jay put the box down on the floor. ‘I’ve left the tree outside for now. I’ve trimmed and sawn the bottom ready for the stand.’
He was clearly taken aback at Connor being in her sitting room in such a cosy manner. Even though Jay was aware they were acquainted, he must wonder what was going on.
‘Thanks,’ she said, trying to keep things light. ‘That’s a lovely thought. I can’t wait to put the tree up. It’ll brighten the place up.’
‘Right …’ He aimed another glance at Connor. ‘I’d better get back to work, then. Give me a call if you want a hand with the tree.’
Connor picked up the newspaper and started leafing through it again as if Jay didn’t exist. Lottie was furious that Jay was being treated like a servant.
‘Thanks,’ she said, more firmly. ‘I know how busy you must be.’
‘It was no bother, I needed to come down to the offices anyway,’ he said. ‘See you later, then. I’ll let myself out. Come on, Trevor.’
‘Bye,’ Connor said, flipping over another page.
Furious with him, Lottie followed Jay to the back door. ‘Jay. Connor – Mr Moran – just popped round to talk about the wedding. I think he wants to organise a surprise for Keegan.’
Jay shrugged. ‘I’m sorry Trevor jumped on him.’
‘He’ll live. Trevor was only being friendly, but he’s always been wary of dogs.’ Damn, Lottie could have bitten out her tongue. ‘I mean he seems scared of dogs.’
Jay frowned. ‘Right. Well, I’ll keep Trevor well away from him in future.’
‘Thanks.’ She smiled. ‘I’ll look at my tree as soon as he’s gone.’
He nodded, and she realised that he’d probably been expecting her to ask him to bring it in and set it up. Which she would have done if Connor hadn’t been there. ‘Jay – I’ve been meaning to say that I’m really pleased you decided to come to the Christmas ball.’
He nodded. ‘I decided I’d been a hermit too long. Thanks for making me come.’
Lottie hid a smile at his choice of words. ‘I hope I didn’t make you come.’
‘I didn’t mean that. I wanted to come …’
Wanted to? Past tense? Had seeing Connor in her cottage changed that?
‘I really hope you still want to,’ she said, aware that Connor might be listening. ‘You’ll have a great time.’
‘I’m sure I will.’
Jay’s faint smile was at odds with his words, and in a moment, he was gone, walking determinedly up the path towards the woods.
Lottie shut the door, and leaned against it. It must have looked very off that Connor was in her house, acting as if he owned the place, even if she did know him. Maybe Jay thought she and Connor were closer than they were letting on … It could easily appear like that. She’d slipped up with the dog comment too.
Fired up with irritation at herself and Connor, she marched back into the lounge.
Connor had put the box on the coffee table and picked out a sprig. ‘A Christmas tree and mistletoe?’ he said, with a smirk. ‘Wow. And what’s this about a Christmas ball? I heard you talking. Are you seeing this woodsman bloke?’
So he had been listening at the door? Lottie was fuming. ‘He’s not a woodsman. He’s the estate manager.’
Connor held up his hands. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to touch a raw nerve.’
‘It’s not a raw nerve and no, I’m not seeing him, not that it’s got anything to do with you.’
‘OK. Simmer down. I hadn’t meant to pry but I did happen to overhear you saying you were really looking forward to going to this do with him.’
‘That doesn’t mean anything! Everyone’s coming. Jay’s a colleague and a friend and … and someone I can trust,’ Lottie exclaimed, mad for him eavesdropping and that she’d let him wind her up. ‘Look,
