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'Isn't it?' he drawled, but so in his voice ain

When they had drunk their excellent coffee, they went for a stroll along the river under the s The afternoon was hot, and there were lots of other people out, so a boat on the water with the ducks scattering around the bread

They sat down on the grass under a shady tree and talked for a while, but Sian tried not to catch his eye or let the conversation touch on anything personal or intimate She kept their talk firmly centred on books, films, television, current affairs, and skiet too close to hiet too close

Perhaps she had known on sight, or perhaps the realisation had grown on her gradually—but she was now quite convinced that thisto let that happen

They went back to the pub and chatted to Danny for a while, then said goodbye and drove back into London Sian firoodbye to Cass in the car She did not want hi hiht see him in the rooms when he wasn't there, just as when she leaned back in the car and closed her eyes she still saw his dark, lean face gli on the inside of her lids

He could easily become an obsession Sian didn't want that When they drew up outside the building, she hurriedly began to gabble a thank you, her hand on the door-handle

'Wonderful meal, lovely place to spend a Sunday, thank you very ets over his heart attack and everything is OK' She took a deep breath 'Well, thank you, goodbye'

She didn't dare look at his out and quickly sla across the pavement She heard his voice behind her and ran faster, until the sound was too far away to hear She didn't stop running until she was inside her flat with the door fir hard and torn between relief and a funny seeping feeling of depression

She would never see hilad about that She never wanted to see hiain; she could do very ithout a man in her life at the moment Men were too much trouble: they wanted too much of you, they demanded more than just your attention now and then, they resented everything else in your life if it came between you and them Louis had been violent about it!

It h Mothers encouraged their sons to think the world revolved around them

The doorbell rang loudly and she ju at the door with round eyes and an open mouth

The bell rang again, even more loudly Sian reluctantly opened the door and Cass stood there

'Look—' she began aggressively, then stopped as he held out her handbag

'You were in such a hurry that you left this in the car'

She groaned 'Oh, thanks Sorry'