“Ah?”
 
 “Ah, I didn’t know that about you.I mean, not for definite.Not that it’s a problem.Obviously, I’ve seen you fooling around with Ronnie, but I figured that was just—”
 
 “The Ronnie thing is just messing about.He’s not my type.Look, I’m bi by virtue of not being a hundred per cent straight, same as most of planet Earth’s population, but I’m like ninety per cent there, and a hundred per cent into you, so anything else is now irrelevant.”
 
 “Sweet talker.”
 
 “You betcha.”He clasped her around her upper arms.“How’d you feel about coming up here and dangling your tits in my face?”
 
 His irreverence made her snort, but she shifted readily enough, and straddled him, then shuffled upwards a bit so her tits were dangling right over his face.“Well, hello,” he said before diving in and lavishing both their fullness and her nipples with his full attention.It was only a few minutes later she was crouched over him facing the opposite direction, the pair of them sixty-nineing so she could suck him into complete wakefulness.After that, the rest of the afternoon glided by between bouts of urgent thrusting and catnaps and eventually resolved into evening.
 
 It was dark again out when Paul’s phone lit up and wailed at him while he was rustling them up halloumi burgers naked but for an apron, while Jodi watched him from the sofa, snuggled inside one of his jumpers and a pair of his socks, making occasional remarks about the bounciness of his arse.
 
 Dad: Any chance you could make it over this weekend?
 
 RG: Sorry, no can do.In Sweden.But soon.
 
 There’s someone I’d like you to meet.
 
 Dad: That why you’re avoiding us, son?
 
 RG: I’ve no idea what you mean.
 
 RG: We’ll see each other in Ireland.I’ll be there for the fire festival.
 
 Dad: Samhain?
 
 He replied with a thumbs up.
 
 Dad: Not sooner?
 
 RG: I’m on tour.Sorry, can’t get away.
 
 Besides, Samhain was right around the corner.Less than two weeks away.
 
 “Problem?”Jodi asked when he looked up.
 
 He shook his head and turned back to the grill.“Family stuff.”
 
 “I wondered if the guys had contacted you about my cats?”
 
 He was about to toss her his phone and suggest she message Lee herself for an update, but thought better of it.He didn’t want to wreck things by burdening her with the knowledge of Nash’s overdose.Guy was fine, pending a heart assessment, and probably a lengthy lecture from a cardiologist.Her cats hadn’t been mentioned during the update Lee had sent earlier, but it was the work of seconds to ask about them.
 
 The photograph that came back, he instantly turned to her, knowing it would make her smile.Balin was sitting on the tour bus bog, trousers around his ankles, one cat in the sink beside him and the other perched on his shoulder.Lee had captioned it, the pussy whisperer.
 
 “They’ll take care of them until we can collect them.”Meanwhile, Flugwhump was stretched out on his back on the rug by the log fire swatting invisible invaders.“Burgers are done.”He dished up and slid hers towards her across the kitchen table.
 
 Jodi joined him on the perch stools.“Looks great.I love squeaky cheese.”
 
 “Me too,” he agreed tucking in.
 
 He’d cut the halloumi slices thick, so they were extra squeaky, and matched them rather perfectly, if he did say so, with sweet chilli mayo, avocado, and lamb’s lettuce.Plus, a side of mushrooms for him.
 
 The sound of a car outside caused them both to look up.The cabin was set back from the main road down a dirt track driveway.Paul’s brows furrowed.
 
 “What?”she asked, mirroring his concern.
 
 He rose, heading towards the window, muttering under his breath.“He better fucking not have.I told him not to.”A lanky figure humping a large holdall was approaching the door.“You have got to be kidding me.”Sure enough, a rap on the wood followed.