‘In the beginning, yes, I suppose it was,’ Josh admitted. ‘It was no hardship, though.’ He gave me a wicked grin. ‘I fancied you right from the off. Crutches and all.’
‘That’s all right then,’ I said sharply. I wasn’t in the mood for his banter. ‘At least we know now where we stand.’
Josh reached across the table for my hand; I jerked it away. He grabbed it again, more securely.
‘Come on, Sally, surely you know better than that. Yes, I admit, I did ask you out at first so that I could keep an eye on you. But it wasn’t long before I was having feelings for you that really didn’t help with what I was supposed to be doing. You worried the life out of me, damn it! You were so stubborn, you just wouldn’t listen when I told you that you were playing with fire. And you were a whole lot too friendly with Jeremy Winstanley, too. For all I knew you could have been playing a double game – trying to get the low-down on who I really was, and what I was doing.’
‘You couldn’t really have thought that!’ I said, shocked.
Josh pulled a face.
‘In my game you can’t be too careful. A pretty girl is often the downfall of an undercover officer – well, never mind the undercover officer, the downfall of a man, full stop.’
‘Hmm.’ Something about the way he was looking at me was making my anger dissolve, starting the treacherous warmth deep inside me once more. ‘So what are you saying?’
‘You know very well. Now this is all over, we can start again. If you want to, that is.’
Oh I did, I did. But I wasn’t going to let him off the hook so easily.
‘I’ll have to think about it.’
Josh glanced at his watch.
‘I’m going to have to go. I’m afraid a normal working day doesn’t exist for a policeman. But I reckon I can drop by again tomorrow evening. Will that give you enough time to think?’
I had to laugh. There was absolutely no thinking to be done.
‘I should think so, Officer,’ I said mischievously.
Mum was in the doorway.
‘Oh – are you going?’ she asked.
‘’Fraid so. I’ve got a whole load of reports to write. And Sally needs an early night too after all she’s been through today.’
He squeezed my shoulder, dropped a kiss on top of my head, and made for the door.
‘Take care of her,’ he said to Mum. And was gone.
‘Well, well, what a turn-up for the book!’ Mum said. ‘A policeman! Perhaps he’ll be able to keep you in order.’
I grinned.
‘I wouldn’t hold my breath if I was you,’ I said.