‘I might ask her if she fancies a date….’ Pip stared levelly at him. ‘When she comes back.’

‘Comes back?’ Jake asked. ‘Comes back from where?’

‘Nepal,’ Pip said. ‘The Himalayas, to be precise.’

Jake felt himself go pale. Very pale. ‘What the hell’s she going to the Himalayas for?’ He could hardly speak.

‘Why not?’ Pip shrugged. ‘Seems to be a popular thing to do.’ And Jake couldn’t help but hear the slight irony in his voice.

‘Yes, but not for Lyssa! She’s…she’s…she’s not the type!’

Pip seemed to be suppressing a smile. ‘Perhaps she’s thinking of becoming “that type”.’

‘She can’t.’ Jake could feel panic rising in him. ‘She wears nail varnish. And make-up. Every day.’

Pip didn’t look the slightest bit concerned. But then Pip wasn’t her boyfriend. Yet. And come to think of it, neither was he, anymore. ‘Who’s she going with?’

‘No one,’ Pip supplied. ‘She’s going alone.’

Jake nearly gasped out loud. ‘Do you think she’s unhinged?’

Pip laughed. ‘No.’ His friend was suddenly serious. ‘I think she’s more together than I’ve ever seen her.’

Jake shook his head. ‘I’ve got to talk to her. She can’t do this.’

‘I think you’ll find she can,’ Pip said. ‘She’s jacked in her job and she’s off.’

Jake’s heart had started to pound. He thought he might be having an anxiety attack. The only time he ever felt this bad was trying to keep up with Neve in the gym. ‘Jacked in her job!’ Jake put his head in his hands. ‘She’s completely lost it.’

‘Why do you think it’s great that Neve is doing the same sort of thing, but with Lyssa you view it as a catastrophe?’

‘They are very different women,’ Jake said. ‘Lyssa won’t be able to manage on her own. Neve doesn’t need anyone.’ The thought nipped painfully at his subconscious. He shot an accusing glance at Pip. ‘I can’t believe you didn’t tell me sooner.’

‘I didn’t think you were that interested anymore.’

‘She can’t do this. She’s very vulnerable. I need to talk her out of it. I’m going round there tonight.’

‘Then you’ll be too late.’

Jake heard himself squeak with terror. Where did that come from?

Pip glanced at his watch with rather less haste than Jake would have liked. ‘She’ll be on her way to the airport in the next couple of hours.’

Jake stood up. ‘Then I’m going right now.’

It was Pip’s turn to look surprised. ‘What about the presentation to the Egg Marketing Board?’

Jake frowned. ‘What about it?’

‘The suits are due in soon.’

The frown deepened. ‘Says who?’

‘Says Neve.’ Pip was frowning too. ‘She’s set it up with Alec. Didn’t she tell you?’