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‘That’s so thoughtful of you,’ I said gratefully.
‘Janey thinks you ought to get out a bit more instead of being alone with your thoughts. Which is why I’m here to tempt you to stray beyond these four walls. Staying in every night can be dangerous.’
I nodded sheepishly. ‘Very dangerous. You start thinking all sorts of mad things. Like someone’s stalking you!’
He frowned. ‘Stalkingyou?’
‘Well, that’s what it’s felt like.’ I stared at him, feeling suddenly unsure of myself. Hadn’t he been listening to what I’d told him? But he was right, of course. Stalking was far too emotive a word to use when I didn’t actually have a clue what was going on...
‘Is that what you really think this is?Stalking?’ He shook his head. Then he said abruptly, ‘If that’s the case, Rori, maybe you should phone the police.’
‘I did think about it. But . . .’
‘But then you realised you were being a touch melodramatic?’ He sat forward on the chair, studying my expression. He seemed suddenly tense.
My heart sank. It seemed like he was revising his opinion of my state of mind... and thinking that I was clearly crazy, after all!
I shook my head, trying to make light of it. ‘I’m not being stalked. Of course I’m not. As I said, it sometimes... felt like that.’
He nodded slowly and relaxed back.
‘So... what have you and Janey got in mind for me?’ I asked cheerfully. ‘I must admit, I do like the idea of getting out of the flat more often in the evenings.’
He smiled broadly and slapped his thighs. ‘Excellent. Let’s go, then.’
‘Now?’
‘There’s no time like the present.’
‘I’d better get changed.’
He grinned. ‘Now you’re just making excuses.’
‘No, I’m not. I just feel... well, I’ve been wearing these things all day.’
‘Rori, you’re perfect as you are.’ He got up. ‘Come on. Let’s go.’ In the hall, he called back to me. ‘I’ve got something very special in mind for you.’
‘Ooh, nice. Okay, I’ll just grab my coat and I’ll be down in a minute.’
He was waiting for me outside, holding the passenger door of his car open like a chauffeur and we both laughed.
‘I thought we’d just be walking over to the Swan for a drink?’
He smiled mysteriously. ‘It’s somewhere more special than that.’
‘But what about Janey?’ I assumed we’d be picking her up on the way. ‘I’ll sit in the back seat, shall I?’
‘Janey’s at her mum’s tonight.’
‘Oh, of course she is. She told me she was staying over when I spoke to her earlier. I’d forgotten about that.’
‘So, Rori... your carriage awaits.’ He gave a formal bow, and I smiled and slid into the seat. I felt a twinge of uneasiness thatJaney wasn’t with us. But I told myself not to be so ridiculous. Janey and Lance werebothmy friends.
I socialised with Janey on her own all the time at the art classes.
Why should having a drink with Lance be any different to that?
CHAPTER THIRTY
