She shakes her head. “Leave it for now. I just wanted to get your reaction and see if I was being oversensitive. If weird things continue happening, or he doesn't back off, then I'll give you a call; I promise. I've already been to the police and have given them the evidence of the flowers he’s been leaving everywhere, and all the notes and messages. They said there's not a lot they can do unless he makes a threat, but they are aware of his behavior. I suppose if he escalates, then I'll have the police deal with him.”

As far as I'm aware, the police aren't great in these kinds of cases. Often things must escalate to a point where the woman gets hurt before the police can act.

In fact, I resolve to talk to Samuel when we get home. I can at least ask him how much his services cost, and if he has anyone within his organization he could recommend if Jade does decide to go down that route.

We chat about mundane stuff for a while, and then she fixes me with a serious look. “I want you to have some fun, but do be careful. Don’t let yourself fall for tats and muscles over there.”

I bristle a little at that. Does she think I'm so innocent, or worse, uptight, that I can't have some fun without falling head over heels in love? I'm about to say something but I realize she's looking at me with genuine, soft concern in her pretty eyes. Instead of going on the defensive, I simply smile at her and shrug. “I suppose one ought to be careful when playing with matches. One could get burned.”

“Darling, that man is not a box of matches.” She taps one long finger on the table. “That dude is a Molotov cocktail, and he's already lit.”

With those words, she stands and heads to the bar to get another round in.

Two hours later, and I'm kissing her goodbye on the cheek outside the pub. Samuel opens the car door for me, and I slide into the back seat, Brutus jumping onto my lap as usual. Halfway through the evening, Jade bought crisps, and Brutus ate his body weight in ready salted snacks. I doubt he'll want much of his evening meal.

I lean forward and call out to Jade as she walks away. “Are you sure we can't give you a lift?”

“Honestly, I'm fine. I'm going to call a friend; he only lives about five minutes away.”

By friend I'm presuming she means lover. I wouldn't mind dropping her off for some fun times, but maybe she will be embarrassed with Samuel in the car and Simon driving. I don't push it any further, but I do give her one last wave as I watch her walk down the street.