But she couldn’t. The tears kept coming, as did the shakes. She gripped his sweater and locked her knees to prevent them from buckling. It was all such a mess. God, imagine if I’d had to get the police here? Imagine if Brendon couldn’t persuade him to leave. And Gucci…

“Is Gucci…okay?” she asked, pulling back and looking for the little dog that had defended her so valiantly. “Where is he?”

“He’s fine. Perfectly fine.” Brendon manoeuvred her so she could see the opposite end of the room. “Look.”

Gucci was indeed fine and happily humping Megan’s cat doorstop. His little body was infused with even more enthusiasm than usual.

“He was so brave.” Megan sniffed.

Brendon released her and reached for the kitchen roll. “He’s never liked Dylan. Remember that time when he chewed his new Nikes?”

“God, yes, he went ape. And that time…” Megan paused to gulp in air. Her sobs were under control but her chest was still heaving. “When he peed on him, just before…he went to that job interview.”

“Bloody hell. I’d forgotten about that. Dylan went so red I thought he was going to blow a gasket. Steam came out of his ears.”

Megan laughed, a little hysterically. She dabbed at her wet cheeks with the tissue and licked her dry lips. “Thank you for coming round so quickly.”

“Thank goodness I did.” Brendon wiped the back of his hand over his forehead. “Had to run like the wind, mind you.”

“I’m glad you’re fit.”

He laughed at that. “I think it was fuelled by adrenaline. When I saw your text, the brevity of it sent alarm bells off in my head. I knew whatever was going down wasn’t good.”

“It wasn’t.”

“And man alive, that tattoo.” He took Megan’s hand and steered her to the sofa. “Sit.”

She sat, glad to take the weight off her legs. “I know, not the most stylish bit of artwork.”

Brendon pulled the main curtains in the living area then went back to the kitchen. “I trust you have wine, we need some, medicinal purposes of course.”

“Yes, there’s red open.” She laced her fingers together and hoped the shaking would stop soon. “Make mine large.”

“Already done that.” He walked over and set two full-to-the-brim goblets on the table before her. “Because I think you’re going to need it.”

“I do need it.”

“But there’s something else.”

The slow, serious way Brendon spoke sent a chill over Megan’s skin. He had a slight frown marring his usually smooth brow and his lips were pressed tight together.

“What? What is it?”

“Take a sip.”

“Tell me.”

“Sip.”

She did as he’d asked, letting the rich berry flavour spread on her tongue.

“There, so tell me.”

“When I was running, up the path, coming here…”

“Yes.” She made a circle with her hand. “What?”