“If your job was to walk the dog, why didn’t you do it?” The anger in his voice rattled her composure so badly it took her a moment to respond.
“I arrived five minutes before you did. My plan was to take Madi out and then clear up.”
“Two walks.” He spoke between his teeth, as if he didn’t dare move his lips in case a torrent of heated words flowed out and scalded them both. “Debra said she’d arranged for you to walk the dog twice a day.”
“That’s true, but she told me not to come this morning because she’d make sure Madi was walked and settled before leaving her.”
He scanned the rooms, his expression one of naked incredulity. “Does she look settled to you?”
Madi whined.
“Could you lower your voice? You’re making her nervous.” Not only Madi. Ignoring the fact that her heart was thumping and her palms were sweaty, she stood up and crossed the room to Madi. “It’s okay, baby. Don’t be scared. There’s nothing to be scared of.” She was talking to herself as much as the dog.
“It most certainly is not ‘okay.’ What did you say your name was again?”
It felt a little better with Madi in her arms. She could feel the warmth of her body through her sleek fur. The rapid pounding of her little heart. She was sure hers was doing the same.
“Harriet. Harriet Knight.”
“Well, Miss Knight, I have had a long and testing day so you’ll have to forgive me if I’m not altogether delighted to return home and find my apartment trashed.”
“I wouldn’t describe it as trashed exactly—”
“No?” He stared at the pasta that carpeted the floor. “How would you describe that? What even happened to it?”
“I’m guessing she was interested in the contents of the bag so she decided to take a closer look. While she’s living with you it’s probably a good idea to put food away in the cupboards so it’s secure. I’ll deal with it.” Technically it wasn’t part of her job, but she didn’t want him to be angry with Madi.
“And what happens tomorrow?” He prowled across the apartment, advancing on her with an ominous sense of purpose. “And the day after that? Am I going to be coming home to this every day?”
“I d-d—” She tried to respond but she couldn’t get the word out. It was stuck. Blocked. Horror washed over her. Horror and embarrassment. Had that really just happened? Yes, it had. She’d stammered. After all these years of never stammering once, she’d stammered. She tried again. “I d-d-d.”
No. No!
Madi gave a yelp of protest and Harriet realized it was because she was squeezing the dog a little too tightly.
She relaxed her grip and forced herself to breathe.
Why had this happened now? But she knew the answer to that, of course. It was because Ethan Black was yelling at her. She wasn’t good with angry people. Or maybe the stress of continually pushing herself out of her comfort zone was getting to her. Yes, maybe it was that.
Thankfully, he didn’t seem to have noticed her speech issues. He was too preoccupied by the mess in his apartment.
She swallowed, hoping that it was just a blip. She wanted to try speaking again to test that theory.
“There are days when I’m rarely home. Debra assured me the dog would be no problem.”
“Madi was b-b-b-ored.” Not a blip. Now that the stammering had started, she didn’t seem able to stop it. Mortified, Harriet decided the only option was to stop talking. She had to get out of here and try and calm herself down. Had to work out what had gone wrong.
She felt like a teenager again, terrified to speak in case the words jammed in her mouth.
Terrified of impatient glances or, worse, pity.
It didn’t matter what Ethan Black thought of her, she couldn’t sort herself out with him scowling at her.
She scrambled to her feet, grabbed Madi’s lead and her coat and took her to the door, grabbing her own coat on the way.
“Where are you going?”
“Walk.” She used a single word and didn’t hang around for a longer conversation. She fled.