“She scrambled into a sitting position, but her legs remained where they were. “Really? You mean like back stage and stuff?” “Uh-huh. Close your knees I’m seeing too much.” She brought her knees together quickly. “Why are you looking?” “Hard to miss when you’re sitting there like you’re giving birth!”

“Despite his awkwardness Alec couldn’t deny it felt good to be in receipt of spoiling. “I’m buying our house, no arguments. Something understated, like a castle with a moat and a speedboat so you can get to the front door quickly!”

“What you’re saying is this spider, with a brain the size of strawberry seed, hid in your car with its face covered to avoid being gassed by insect spray.” He stood in front of me, laughing, peering down into my eyes. “And then, when the fumes dispersed, he set about plotting revenge. Once he’d come up with his plan, he exited your car and, even though he didn’t see which direction you went in, he found the front door because he knew you were inside this house.” Biting down on his bottom lip, Ric smirked. “Don’t you think, if he was as smart as all that, he’d have worn a mask before he ran out from under visor so you couldn’t recognise him on your doormat?”

“You’ve been working hard, a sandwich isn’t enough. I’ll make you dinner.” From the freezer she took out a TV meal and threw it in the microwave.”

“Had your eyes tested?” “Yeah. My vision’s fine. They’ve done brain scans, too.” “Did they find anything?” “Nothing.” “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

“Cylindrical peg into the round hole. It's not that hard. Actually, yes it was that hard, which is why I didn't want it deflating before he figured out what to do with it.”

“Get off my bed before you make it smell like girl germs.”