Free Lola's House (Lola Series) by Suzie Groers Page B

stroke his ear and he wags his tail like a little propeller.  ‘Is he going to be okay on his own when you are out at work all day?’
    ‘I work from home so he’ll have company ,’ he says, realisation crossing his face.  ‘That’s okay isn’t it, me being here all day?’
    ‘Yes, of course, although with Ned and co still working on renovations you might not get much peace.’ I take in his blank expression.  ‘Sorry, they’re my builders.’
    ‘I don’t mind, I can tune out.  Maybe I can help you out a bit here and there?’ 
    ‘I don’t want to put you to any trouble,’ I say, he does look genuinely eager to please but I can’t really put him to work when he’s only been here for half a day.
    ‘It’s no trouble, really and I’m no stranger to a bit of hard work.’ My eyes flick down to his biceps for confirmation, he’d certainly being doing something to pump them up.
    ‘Okay, well thanks.  I’ll leave you to settle in .’ I leave the room quickly, and back upstairs with my snack before I get carried away checking him out again. 

Chapter Eight
     
    Sunday morning I get up around nine and creep quietly down the stairs.  I listen briefly by Robert’s door but there’s no sound coming from within.  I hadn’t seen him or his mad dog at all yesterday, his car had been gone when I got home, but I’d heard him come in some time after midnight.  And with him out of the way yesterday I had been able to nab my parking space back so that was a bonus, I thought to myself.  It had been a bit weird having him here initially, but I hoped it would all settle down now, with us both having our routines.  Chances were we wouldn’t bump into each other that much.
    Once in the kitchen I can hear the sound of the shower running in the downstairs bathroom.  I put some bread into the toaster and pour myself some orange juice and then sit down at the table to eat breakfast. 
    As I am about to bite into the toast the bathroom door opens and my head shoots up.  Robert walks out wearing nothing but a towel and water droplets, which glisten on his firm body in the early morning light.  My eyebrows shoot up and my jaw drops down.  He clearly hasn’t seen me sitting at the table and walks straight back into his room closing the door behind him.  I am still poised with my mouth open after he has disappeared and I feel myself getting a little hot under the collar.
    I sink my teeth into the toast to try and get my mind off the vision I ha ve just seen.  It isn’t going to do me any good having a hot man parading through the kitchen half naked first thing of a morning.  
    I can hear him moving about and talking softly in his room as I finish up my breakfast. It sounds as if he might be talking to Harley and smile to myself.  Then his voice gets a little louder.  I stop and prick up my ears to hear him better.  He is getting a little irate so perhaps he is talking to someone on his phone; I can’t imagine him getting annoyed with his dog.  Whoever he is talking to has certainly got an ear full, as I hear him say good bye and hang up angrily. Oh God, perhaps it was his girlfriend.  I had never considered that.  I don’t know why but I feel a little bit put out.  I hear him start moving around again and quickly make myself look busy in case he comes into the kitchen.
    I put my plate in the dishwasher and go to fill up the kettle for tea.  The kettle isn’t in its usual place so I turn around confused wondering where it could have gone when I spot it on the worktop on the other side of the room.  I stomp over to fetch it, muttering under my breath.  He’s only been here five minutes and already he is re-organising my kitchen for me.  No wonder he’s having arguments with his girlfriend if he bosses everyone around like that and just takes over.  I fill up the kettle and put it back where it’s supposed to be.  I lift the plug to the socket and find a hole where the socket should be.  I