‘Hey, Bailey, how are you?’

‘So-so. I went to visit my dad today.’

‘How is he?’

‘Getting worse,’ she sighed. Knowing what she now knew about Jennifer, she’d kind of been dreading the visit, afraid that he’d ask about Mister Snigiss and she’d somehow blurt it all out to him, but he had been asleep for the most part, so she’d been spared the trouble. But it made her sad seeing him like that, knowing the end was worryingly near, and that she wouldn’t be able to give him the resolution with Jennifer that he so desperately wanted. As for letting him know that his eldest daughter was alive, and not mentioning the rest of it, she knew that wasn’t an option as he’d just be tortured by the knowledge that Jennifer wasn’t interested in seeing him, and Bailey knew that would be worse for him. She paused. ‘Is everything okay with you? Why did you want to talk to me? Was it important?’

‘Kind of.’

‘Oh?’

‘I wanted to ask if you wanted to go out for dinner tonight.’

She smiled.

‘I know it’s a bit short notice,’ he said. ‘But you know, special occasion and all that.’

She frowned. ‘What special occasion?’

‘Let’s make the special occasion “Bailey Morgan”.’

It sounded like a proper date. A beam of gratification struck her as she realised that he hadn’t given up on her after all, despite all the drama she’d been immersed in recently.

‘Sure,’ she said with an eager smile. ‘Why not.’

‘Phew. I’ve already booked the table.’

‘Oh? Where are we going?’

‘It’s called House of Bamboo. It’s just opened. Have you heard of it?’

‘No, I don’t think so. Sounds fancy.’

‘It is apparently. Pick you up at seven?’

‘See you then.’

She ended the call and held the phone to her chest for a moment. What a great guy. It was almost like he knew she’d been feeling anxious. Her beneficent feelings towards him increased even further.

She looked at her watch. She had forty-five minutes or so to get ready. She jumped up off the sofa and went into the bathroom to take a shower.

Afterwards, she stood in front of her dresser wrapped in a towel trying to decide what to wear.

There was a pleasant feeling in her stomach, like warm butterflies, as she realised that tonight was the night that she would surrender herself to Dale… if the evening panned out that way. For the first time in some years she felt ready to get intimate with a man again. Maybe it had been the emotional catharsis of the encounter with her sister that had triggered the change. Either way, tonight was going to be his lucky night. And as for that whole thing about maintaining a professional distance… to hell with it!

Bailey opened one of the drawers and took out a lacy black thong and matching bra. Poking around a bit more, she found a garter belt and a pair of stockings to go with them. Tonight she’d go for the full set-up. She’d bought the lingerie in Agent Provocateur back when she’d been with Mark but had never worn it since then. Ever since the torture and the scars, she’d been too self-conscious to. And she’d never thought she would wear it again. But subconsciously some part of her had told her not to throw it away – a good decision because now it seemed the time had come to try it on again.