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He shook his head and braked as they took the corner.

`Client with a grudge. It happens, I'm afraid. She and her husband took out massive life insurance. Then he killed himself. The policy didn't cover suicide but she won't accept that.' Greg breathed out slowly. They were safe now; his hands had stopped shaking. `Poor woman, I think she's lost her mind. I've told her a hundred times the insurance isn't valid and that the company aren't going to pay out. But it just doesn't sink in. She thinks I'm cheating her out of three hundred grand.'

`You're kidding!' Miranda's eyes were like saucers. `That's terrible.'

Greg nodded.

`She's been harassing me at the office. Now, clearly, she's found out where I live. I mean, I feel sorry for her, but what can I do?'

`Tell the police, for a start.' Urgently, Miranda clutched his arm. `She could be dangerous!'

Bloody dangerous, thought Greg.

`We've already spoken to the police. It's not worth it.They can't arrest her until she actually does something illegal. But they're aware of the situation,' he added. `If my windows get smashed or the house burns to the ground, they'll have a good idea who to blame.'

`If your house burns to the ground?' Miranda echoed the words, aghast.

`Don't worry,' Greg smiled at her, `I'm fully insured.'

Was that meant to be reassuring? Miranda wasn't the least bit reassured. It was, she thought indignantly, an outrageous state of affairs.

`But what about breach of the peace, can't they get her for that? Or… or, those stalking laws,' she exclaimed. `I mean, that's what this madwoman's doing, isn't it? Stalking you?'

Any minute now, Greg sensed, Miranda was liable to make a dash for the nearest phone box and start dialling 999.

`She's an old lady,' he told her, `who's just lost her husband. She's out of her mind with grief. Would a spell in Holloway really do any good? And besides,' he went on gently, `imagine how I'd feel, knowing I'd helped to put her there. I wouldn't be able to live with myself.'

`Stop the car,' said Miranda.

`What?'

`I said, stop the car.'

'Why?'

Nervously, Greg looked around for a phone box. He couldn't see one, but dare he risk it?

`Because you are the nicest, kindest, most generous man I have ever met.' Her voice catching with emotion, Miranda reached for him. `And I'm sorry, but I just have to give you a massive, massive kiss.'

`Okay, moment-of-truth time,' Greg murmured several highly satisfactory minutes later. `You may be about to change your mind about me.'

Miranda, wondering if she'd ever been happier in her life, kissed his earlobe before snuggling her head further into the

curve of his shoulder. 'Why?'

`I have a confession to make.' `About what?'

`The bit about me being generous.' 'Why?'

`My credit card. I forgot to pick it up.'

`Oh. Well, I've got eight pounds in my purse.'

`I've got about eight pounds fifty.' Greg's smile was rueful.

Miranda turned his watch towards her and peered at the

hands in the dim amber glow of the overhead streetlight. `We've missed our table now anyway. That's all right.' `Why is it all right?' said Greg.

Between kisses, Miranda whispered, `Because sometimes I actually prefer pizza.'

Chapter 16

Saturday was always the busiest day in the shop. By five o'clock Chloe was looking forward to getting home and putting her aching feet up. Or she would have been, if only she knew her mother wasn't going to be there, ready to launch into round three of her tirade against Greg.

`Hell,' Bruce said suddenly, `I haven't done the present yet.'

`What present?'

`Mother's. It's her birthday, that's why we're all trooping round there tonight.'

By the way he rolled his eyes, Chloe guessed he wasn't enthralled by the prospect of a duty visit to Florence. `What are you getting her?'

`God knows.' Faster than a lizard's tongue, Bruce's gaze flickered over the stock on display. `Something around the hundred-pound mark. That fruit bowl, maybe. No, she had one of those for Christmas. Ah, candlesticks,