‘What is this place?’ she asked, and he turned to her and pushed her back gently against the wall. He kissed her softly at first, then moved her lips apart and she felt something papery pressing against her tongue. Her instinct was to pull away, but he held her firmly, his fingers massaging into the small of her back, until the tab dissolved between them. For a moment, they just stood there together, his forehead lightly touching hers in the quiet shadows, the moon high above them.

‘What was that?’ she asked.

‘I want us to party – just you and me.’

‘I do too, but—’

‘It was just half a tab,’ he assured her. ‘Don’t worry.’

Then, he added softly: ‘I really like you, Eva,’ and there was a seriousness about the way he said it that melted her distrust. When he unlocked the door and led her inside, she felt the fear within her dissipate, a lightness coming into her. He switched on a lamp and she looked around at wood panelling, shelves bowing under the weight of books, a battered leather sofa and an old partners’ desk.

‘It’s my dad’s,’ Callum explained. ‘He works from home a lot. This is kind of his office.’

‘I like it,’ she said, trailing a finger over the bookshelves, conscious of him watching her as she moved slowly through the room. ‘So, is it true?’

‘Is what true?’

‘That your dad represents Nicky Kehoe?’

Callum leaned back against the desk and smiled slowly. ‘You heard that rumour?’

‘Well? Is it?’ she asked teasingly. ‘Does your dad launder money for a criminal gang?’

‘He doesn’t launder money. But yes, he does give Nicky financial advice.’

She widened her eyes, feigning shock. She was enjoying herself – Callum’s attention, the masculine feel to the room, the looseness of her limbs, her body light as a feather. Why had she been so nervous?

‘He’s actually pretty sound, you know. Not like how they portray him in the media – some sort of gangland thug.’

‘You’ve met him?’

‘Once or twice, he’s called into the house.’

‘Aren’t you scared? You know, getting caught in the crossfire of some gangland feud?’

He snorted. ‘No! Dad’s got nothing to do with any of that. It’s just business, that’s all.’

‘Are you allowed in here?’

‘Nope.’

‘Naughty boy,’ she said, laughing at the mashed sound of the words coming out of her mouth. ‘God, I’m so wasted,’ she giggled.