“Can’t say I’ve got an exact itinerary as such. We’ll see where the old girl takes us, shall we? Whoops, I meant the boat, not your mother.” He leaned over and kissed his stunned wife on the lips.

Sally’s mum appeared mortified by his comment. “Bloody cheek. I’m glad you cleared that up.”

Sally laughed as the stresses of the week floated off into the ether. “I’m just looking forward to sitting down with a good book—I have Linda Prather’s latest, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, on my Kindle—and drifting along. That is if you don’t mind driving, Dad?”

“You carry on, love. Enjoy your time off. You need to recharge your batteries after moving last weekend and dealing with a tough case this week. I’m happy to take the helm and lead you two ladies astray.”

Her mother gently cuffed her father around the head. “I think you’ll find you used the wrong terminology there, dear.”

Her father placed a finger to his lips. “Did I?”

Sally kicked her father’s shin under the table. “Yes, Dad. I’m with Mum on this one. Yummy, here comes dinner.”

They laughed and chatted like old times during their meal, which was exceptional and well worth the extravagant amount it had cost them. None of them had room for a dessert, which helped keep the costs down for the evening. They left the pub at around ten and drove back to the boat. Dex was eager for a wee, so Sally picked up the torch and walked him along the riverbank for about thirty minutes. She missed not having her dog with her full-time and intended to make sure they spent a lot of time together on and off the boat that weekend. When they neared the boat, she stopped and bent down for a cuddle with her pal. He moaned joyfully in her ear and turned over on the damp grass so that she could tickle his tummy. “Come on, you. It’s bedtime, and we have to make up the beds yet.”

Aboard the small cruiser, she found that her parents had already made the beds.

“Fancy a cocoa before you call it a night, love?” Sally’s mum asked.

Sally wrapped her arm around her mum’s waist. “Just like old times. Sure, why not?”

By the time six o’clock on Sunday evening came around, Sally and her parents had large grins stuck firmly in place, and the stress wrinkles embedded in their faces were less visible. It had been a memorable weekend for all of them. Even Dex was sprawled out, exhausted from all the attention and long walks he’d received in the past forty-eight hours. When they arrived back at her parents’ home, Sally insisted on carrying out a thorough inspection of the property with her father, just in case the neighbours had seen them go off for the weekend. But nothing at all seemed out of place, and there were no bodies impaled on the spikes in the back garden. After squeezing her parents tightly and saying farewell, she jumped in her car and headed back to her flat just as a patrol car came towards her. She waved at the two uniformed officers in the car, who returned her greeting and gave her a thumbs-up.

Once she’d arrived home and unpacked her bag, she had a bath. Then she fell into bed, feeling more relaxed than she had in over five years. She vowed to go on more trips with her parents over the coming months, to make up for the time she’d spent apart from them while she was with Darryl. She had so many wrongs to right, not only with her parents but also with the friends she’d lost contact with. It’s time to start afresh, girl.

CHAPTER SIX

Scott pulled on his jacket and admired his reflection in the hotel’s full-length mirror. “She’ll be clawing at your shirt later on this evening. Who could resist you when you exude so much magnetism?”

He laughed at himself then went in search of his prey. He’d spotted a busy pub along the high street. He tended to zero in on those, where he had less chance of being recognised should the police come asking questions.

He strode confidently through the lounge bar of the Royal Oak and approached the young woman serving a couple of male customers. He could tell instantly that she was flirtatious in nature. However, he knew to play it cool for a while—like he always did, just in case one of the chaps at the bar was her significant other.

Settling on the stool, he glanced her way. Their eyes met, and an instantaneous spark of interest filled her stunning hazel eyes.

“Hi, I’m Alexina. What can I get you this evening?”

He flashed her a brief smile. “A pint of lager, thanks.”

“I haven’t seen you around these parts before. Have you just moved into the area?”

“Not really. I’ve been around, but you haven’t noticed me before,” he lied, playing “the- little-boy-lost” sympathy card that had served him well many times.

“Oh? I’m usually pretty good with faces, and yours is one of those I’d never forget in a hurry.” She laughed and placed the pint glass on the bar in front of him.

He avoided eye contact, pretending that her comment had embarrassed him. He’d refined his act to perfection over the past year or so. Only for the latest batch, he’d travelled to another area.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause you any discomfort. Don’t mind me. My mouth tends to run away from me at times.”

“No problem. I’ll just sit here quietly and have my drink, if that’s okay.”

“Sure. I apologise again.” She walked to the other end of the bar and served another customer, who laughed and chatted with her as if he’d known her for years.

A jealous grip took hold of his insides. How dare she! Is she trying to make a fool out of me? I’ll punish her for that later.

Every time she looked around to see if he was watching her, he let his gaze drift off to the side. When he’d finished his drink, she returned to refill his glass.

“I’m not sure I want one just yet.”

“That’s a shame. You’re not thinking of leaving us, are you?”

“That depends,” he told her quietly.

“On what?” She furrowed her brow.

“On whether you want me to stay around or not?” His gaze latched on to hers. He kept his expression blank while he watched hers twist with what he perceived as awkwardness. Surely not! She’s too outgoing for that. The colour rising in her cheeks is because of me turning her on. Her blood is boiling as she imagines us together in bed. Oh yes, I have her hooked, all right.

She leaned toward him, exposing her heaving breasts for him to ogle—but he kept his eyes on her face. This was a ritual of his; he knew how girls reacted to his intense stare. She was no different from the others. “I knock off in a couple of hours, if you fancy seeing me after.”

He cocked an eyebrow and suggestively ran his tongue across his lips. She watched the movement and shuddered a little. She’s hooked. Now reel her in, boy. Reel her in. “You do? I’m sure your boyfriend will be keen to have you home.”

She chuckled. “I don’t have a boyfriend, silly. Do you really think I’d be giving you the come-on if I had one of those hanging around?”

“Is that what you’re doing? Giving me the come-on? I wouldn’t have known if you hadn’t told me.”

“You’re winding me up, right?”

He sensed hesitation in her tone. He laughed, cutting through the sudden tension, then smiled at her. “Yes, I was joking. What did you have in mind?” he asked quietly, so the other customers couldn’t hear him.

A middle-aged man at the far end of the bar called her name. She swore under her breath and fixed a smile in place before she turned to the customer. “I’ll be right back. Hold that thought.”

Oh, I have every intention of doing just that, my dear. He watched the beautiful brunette walk away from him and wondered why she didn’t have a boyfriend or husband. Their loss, not mine. He knew she had the hots for him—and he revelled in that knowledge. Her amenable nature would make his mission so much easier when he got her in the back of his car, unless another more appropriate place sprang to mind in the meantime.