‘I’d love to. What time?’

‘Six. We can chat over drinks before we eat – and I do know how to make interesting non-alcoholic ones.’

‘You don’t have to limit your drinking for me. Truly.’

‘I enjoy good company more than alcohol.’

‘Jez!’

He pulled away. ‘Sorry. Got to go.’

But he refused to leave till he’d called Kevin to see her safely home.

It took her a while to settle down to her writing again. There were no phone calls for the rest of the day, and time itself seemed suspended, as if she were encased in a bubble, living in a world apart.

It took her a while to work out that was because she was happy.

When they got back to the hotel after the physio appointment, Jez said, ‘I’m going to have dinner with Sophie tomorrow evening. At her house.’

Kevin frowned. ‘Is that wise?’

‘I don’t know. But it’s what I want and it’ll help keep me sane.’ He looked round with distaste. ‘I’m going stir-crazy here. I want to start my life moving again.’

‘Be careful what you wish for.’

The following evening Jez went to his own house and walked across the gardens with Kevin to visit Sophie.

‘Is this necessary? I should be able to walk through my own gardens without an escort.’

‘There are a couple of security glitches to sort out first. And Talbin’s still hovering.’

Jez sighed. ‘What does that sod want?’

‘Stories that bring him money. It seems to be his modus operandi to drum up a hue and cry by obnoxious behaviour then make mega-bucks by selling exclusive stories about the person in question.’

‘Maybe I should just behave in a more open manner?’

‘You’ll still need protection until they catch the fellow who attacked you.’

Jez shuddered at the memory of those few minutes when he’d been at the mercy of a lunatic holding a knife to his throat, when he’d been sure he was going to die as the knife sliced into him. ‘I’m trying to forget about that incident.’

‘Don’t. You need to remember it and stay vigilant.’

‘OK, OK. You’ve made your point. I do still need protection. But once he’s caught, I intend to live more openly.’ He caught sight of a pitying look on Kevin’s face. He hated having people feel sorry for him.

To his surprise, there was now a brand-new wooden gate in the shade of his chestnut tree, with a touch-pad lock embedded in the stone wall. He looked at Kevin. ‘Your doing?’

‘Yes. Watch carefully. This is the number.’ He keyed it in and turned the handle.

The gate opened noiselessly. Jez preferred the creaky old one.

‘I’ll take you to the door. Ring me when you want picking up. Remember to tell Sophie what the security number is. They only just finished installing it this afternoon, so I’ve not had time to tell her.’

They arrived at the back door and Jez smiled as Sophie opened it, standing framed in a halo of light, her hair gleaming darkly golden, her dress made of a floaty material in shades of blue with a frill round the hem. His heart began to beat faster as he stepped over the threshold.