He couldn’t stay, he reminded himself firmly, setting his jaw and ruthlessly stamping out the guilt. He didn’t need to. Celia was fine. She hadn’t needed him. The two cases bore no resemblance whatsoever. Besides, the potential fallout from being some kind of white knight here was huge, and why he kept forgetting that he had no idea.
Or was it as big a deal as he was making out?
Zoe hadn’t recognised him, he realised, his head suddenly pounding with possibilities. No one else here seemed to. Had he really become so paranoid that he thought everyone everywhere was out to get him? Was he really so vain that he thought everyone knew who he was? And how long was he going to let what Jasmine had done influence his decisions?
‘Dan?’
The sharpness of Zoe’s voice jerked him out of the tangled confusion of ideas and thoughts churning around his head. ‘What?’
She pushed at his chest. ‘Let me go.’
‘In a minute.’
‘What?’ Her eyes widened and filled with alarm that mirrored his own. ‘No. Now.’
‘Why?’
‘Why? Because it’s what we agreed, and if you don’t release me right now it’ll be too late.’
It already was. At least for him. Because now all he could think was that he could help her. That he had to help her. ‘What if I’ve changed my mind?’
She looked aghast. ‘You can’t.’
‘Why not? I got the impression you wanted more from me than just a kiss.’
‘Maybe, but that was before.’
‘Before what?’
‘Before I changed my mind too. You were absolutely right. I’m in way too deep for this kind of thing. I’ve had enough and I really don’t think I can take any more.’ She flicked a quick glance to her right. ‘Oh, God, they’re on their way over, and believe me you do not want “us” to be subjected to the horror that is Samantha Newark.’
Dan felt a shudder rip through her and any lingering doubt that he was doing the right thing instantly vanished. ?
??Is she the one who gave you the bruises?’
She looked back at him as confusion flickered across her face. ‘What? Oh. Well, yes, but who cares about that now? If we don’t leave right this minute, as you so cleverly pointed out things will get really complicated.’
He set his jaw. ‘Complication is my middle name.’
‘What?’ she asked with something akin to panic. ‘No. This is insane.’
‘You started it,’ he felt obliged to point out.
‘And I want to finish it.’
‘So let’s finish it. Properly.’
‘I’m trying to,’ she said through gritted teeth.
‘Where’s your spirit of adventure?’
‘I don’t have one.’
‘I find that hard to believe. Haven’t you just produced a boyfriend out of thin air?’
‘Would you mind keeping your voice down?’ she said in a furious low voice.
‘And that kiss was something else.’