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been something else, something significant, or he wouldn’t have mentioned it.
    â€˜Stop.’ Alex said it sharply and without thinking. ‘Pull over and let’s talk this through.’
    â€˜It’s slippery. Best to keep going.’
    â€˜So you don’t know how to slow down and stop … no, don’t stop, keep going. I’m not myself and I’m jumpy. Sorry. We’re almost at my place.’
    Tony had slowed down but he drove on and they didn’t speak until they had climbed the hill, passed on the far side of the woods and dropped into the Dimple.
    Stone gateposts, each with an unlikely griffon on top, guarded an open iron gate in front of Lime Tree Lodge. The gateposts were probably the most distinctive feature about the property. Two stories of pale yellow stone, a solid but unimaginative box of a house, had sold itself to Alex because she knew how much she could do with the inside, and the small grounds were pretty.
    Tony idled outside the gate. ‘Hope I haven’t offended you somehow.’
    â€˜Is there someone waiting for you at home?’
    He turned his head slowly toward her and cleared his throat at the same time. ‘Not unless squatters arrived during the day. Why?’
    Fortunately, realizing how funny the question sounded, she laughed before she could blush. ‘I was going to invite you and the dogs in for a drink. Didn’t want to impose if you’ve got something on, is all.’
    His conflicted thoughts were almost audible as he steered carefully down her driveway. ‘That would be great if you’re sure you’re OK with the dogs coming in.’
    â€˜Hah. You’d have to choose between the dogs or me, hmm? And the dogs would win.’
    This time he was the one who laughed.
    Motion sensors turned on lights at the front of the house. Tony got out of the Land Rover and Katie erupted from her kennel the moment she was freed. When Alex opened the front door the dog bustled inside, her big nose sniffing overtime. Alex continued to carry Bogie, who struggled to stay close to her whenever she tried to set him down.
    â€˜Come into the sitting room,’ Alex told Tony. ‘Put that coat somewhere. You’ll need it to warm you up when you go back outside.’
    â€˜Yes, Mother.’
    â€˜I’m nobody’s mother.’ She sounded like a shrew.
Damn, lighten up.
‘But thanks for the compliment. It’s the take care bit in me; it pops out very occasionally.’
    She didn’t miss the very direct look he gave her before taking one of her sleeves to help her from her own coat and waiting for her to get a fresh grip on Bogie before pulling it all the way off and laying it over a chair.
    His own coat followed.
    â€˜Coffee or something stronger?’ she asked, drawing heavy draperies over the windows.
    â€˜Stronger.’ He tilted his head toward a brass tray with two cut glass decanters and some glasses. They were meant more for decoration than use.
    â€˜Left is Scotch, right is sherry,’ Alex told him, sitting on an overstuffed couch covered in a rough fabric of stylistic roses and leaves. ‘I’ll have Scotch,’ she added, seeing him reach for the sherry.
    Tony smiled to himself and poured equal measures in two glasses.
    â€˜This place was falling down before you bought it,’ he said, tucking a glass into the hand she freed from Bogie. ‘It might be a good idea to let him sit on your lap for just a couple more minutes, then put him down.’
    â€˜He’s frightened.’
    â€˜I know.’
    Alex took hold of two shaky front legs, pried them free and settled the dog on her lap. ‘There’s no need for him to get down altogether,’ she said. ‘Sit down, please.’
    â€˜The house is warm,’ he said, and sat across from her in a green tapestry chair.
    â€˜I had heating put in. It cost so much to do it, I won’t be able to afford to run it if the