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efficient. Everything has to be orderly. Until recently, of course. Now you’re a crazy, discombobulated mess. Personally, I find that rather enchanting.”
    Using my elbow, I jabbed his arm. “Watch it. I don’t intend to be like this forever. I’ll soon be back to my old ways.”
    “I like your old ways too,” he said. His grin faded and he looked more serious. “If you hadn’t seen the aura thingy over Rebecca’s head, would you still be worried about her? I mean, she hasn’t hinted about being ill, threatened, suicidal?”
    I thought about it for a few seconds. “No. Nothing. So no, I wouldn’t be concerned.”
    “Well, perhaps you should try not to worry then,” he said. “There’s every chance that there’s no real meaning to the aura and that the two deaths you’ve told me about are just coincidences. Besides, Rebecca is a grown-up. I’m sure she’s very capable of looking after herself.”
    I looked up at him. There was something about his tone of voice. “You don’t like her?”
    “I don’t know. I’ve only met her a couple of times, but she does seem kind of superficial.” He stopped when he saw the expression on my face. “Ok, that’s judgmental. I’m sorry. I’m sure she’s a good person.”
    “She is, once you get to know her. I think with her being so beautiful, it changes how people relate to her.”
    “You’re beautiful, but you’re also kind and thoughtful. You’re real.”
    I took a moment to let Josh’s words sink in, like warm honey on my skin. But, seconds later, the old chill was back. I wanted to believe what Josh was saying about the aura being coincidental, but I was sure it wasn’t. It was his way of dealing with my bizarre confession.
    “The aura’s real too, Josh.”
    He nodded. “I believe you. Just tell me what you want me to do and I’ll do it. We’ll get it sorted out, I promise.”
    My eyelids were feeling heavy. I realized I was really tired. I drained my wineglass and leaned back against the cushions. “I’m sorry. I need an early night. Everything still hurts.”
    “Are you sure you’re going to be okay by yourself?” he asked. “I could sleep on the sofa if you don’t want to be alone.”
    I shook my head. “I’m so tired, I’ll be asleep before you even reach the bottom of the stairs. Thank you though for listening, and for caring…”
    Leaning towards him, I kissed him briefly, on the lips. It was tempting to have him stay, but I knew that I wasn’t in control of my emotions. I felt capable of laughing hysterically and bursting into tears, both at the same time. I didn’t want to weird him out any more than I already had.
    His jacket was still damp when I picked it up. While I watched him pull it on, I wrestled with conflicting desires. To sleep, or to stay up all night, drinking wine and talking with him. He pulled me towards him, stroking my hair back from my face.
    “Get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    I wanted to answer but my throat hurt too much. Tears made my eyes burn as I watched him close the door gently behind him.

CHAPTER TEN
    There was a meeting with the Montgomery group on Tuesday morning. Arriving early at the conference room, I took a seat, and watched everyone else file in. Josh sat opposite me.
    “You okay?” he asked, while Peter Montgomery and three of his associates took their seats.
    I nodded, grateful for his concern.
    “Are we ready to begin?” Alan asked. He seemed to be more orange than usual, or maybe it was the lavender polo shirt that exacerbated his skin tone.
    “Where’s Rebecca?” I asked, looking at Montgomery.
    He shrugged, glancing at his assistants with an eyebrow raised in query.
    “I don’t know,” one of them said.
    “Is she sick?” I demanded, leaning forward in my chair. I caught a glimpse of a warning glance from Josh and sensed Alan tensing at the end of the table.
    “She was away from her desk yesterday?” the man replied, his voice rising into a question of his