The beach was some distance from the quayside and Tank was tiring as they approached the tiny roundabout leading to the car park and toilets, whining and sulking to let Liam know he’d had enough. It took a mix of intrigue at the dogs in front, Liam encouraging and tugging on his lead, plus sheer willpower, to get him up the pathway and down onto the sand. The tide was out, the beach stretching for miles, and spotting the other three dogs in the distance, off the lead and playing near the sea, Tank suddenly found a new lease of life. He almost dragged Liam along behind him, as he raced across to join them.

That was the point at which Hannah spotted them, pushing her sunglasses up on her head, her green eyes widening at the beast lumbering towards her, then narrowing again, a scowl settling on her face when she recognised his owner.

‘Are you following me?’ she demanded, as Liam somehow managed to put the brakes on Tank.

‘Just walking my dog. But fancy running into you here.’

‘Looked more like he was walking you. And yes, what a coincidence.’ Her tone was ice.

‘Are those three all your dogs?’

Of course he knew they weren’t, but he needed a conversation opener that didn’t cut straight to Eileen.

For a moment, he didn’t think she was going to answer him, as she turned her back on him and whistled to the poodle, who was getting a little over enthusiastic in his playtime and upsetting the terrier. ‘Rufus! No!’

She had better command over him than Liam had over Tank, as the dog backed off immediately. Meanwhile, his own dog was getting petulant and threatening to pull his arm out of its socket.

‘No,’ Hannah repeated, this time to Liam, her tone less friendly than when she was telling Rufus off. ‘Look, I don’t mean to be a bitch, but I have no interest in talking to you or having anything to do with your book, so can you just bugger off and leave me alone please?’

Her arms were folded and her expression stony.

Liam gave her what he hoped was his most charming smile. ‘Of course. As I said, I’m just here walking my dog.’

He had expected this reaction, so wasn’t disappointed. Time for Tank to work his magic and win her over, he decided, unclipping the dog’s lead.

And that was when all hell broke loose.

5

If she wasn’t so angry, it might have been comical. The giant ball of fur bounding across the beach with the current source of Hannah’s irritation hot on his tail, yelling at him to stop. Of course the dog didn’t take a blind bit of notice. It had been obvious who was in charge in that relationship the moment she had laid eyes on the pair of them.