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Frankie could say no, that she was fully booked and leave the past firmly in the past.

‘Is it someone looking for the Canine Cupids Christmas Club?’ Valentina asked, pulling a woolly hat out from her coat pocket.

‘No, someone looking for their dog to be walked a couple of times a week.’

‘Great! You don’t want to turn business away.’

‘I suppose not.’ Frankie put her phone away, planning to reply later.

Valentina was right. Business was business.

CHAPTER 7

ROCCO

Rocco knew it had been a while since he’d been for a run, but given the difficulty in locating his sports gear, it was probably a little longer than he’d first thought.

Thinking he’d ease back into his running career with a comfortable five-miler, he set out, full of positivity. He’d left work early and now, in the late afternoon, the sun was already low, a blindingly bright orange on the horizon with streaks of apricot and blush pink across the rest of the sky. Glad of the meditative pounding of his feet against the road and the cold air filling his lungs, Rocco let his mind wander over that day’s events. He’d managed to put his encounter with Sienna behind him, though thought it best to give the Drumkeldy Arms a wide berth for a while, especially if he was starting a new fitness regime. He’d far rather have a glass of kale and spinach smoothie than a pint of lager. Well, he wouldn’t really if he was being perfectly honest, but healthy was often just a case of mind over matter and he really needed to start minding what he put in his body.

His running route took him through some beautiful country lanes and he felt good for being out, exercising in the fresh air. Rocco glanced down to check his watch, to analyse his heart rate performance levels, and felt a twinge in his right calf. A couple of steps later, the twinge turned into burning, searing pain.

Unable to put the entire weight of his body onto his leg, he hopped toward a large tree-trunk and leant against it to see if the pain would ease after a couple of minutes. It didn’t.

This was not good. In fact it was very, very bad. He was two and a half miles from home, surrounded by nothing but fields, in agony, and with no idea how to get back. And it would be getting dark soon. He’d have to call someone. Rocco mentally ran through a list. His friends would find it hilariously funny and he’d never live it down. His mum and dad would be there in a flash but then they’d fuss over him and he’d feel as if he was twelve years old and a complete idiot. He didn’t want to bother Valentina because each time she got behind the wheel of her car he feared she’d get wedged in, her bump was growing so fast. Frankie would help and wouldn’t make him feel a complete fool but he really didn’t want to face her at the moment, as he didn’t know what to say about Jay turning up.

As another hot bolt of pain shot through his calf Rocco decided to call his dad. Maybe his father would be on his own when he took the call and he could be persuaded not to say anything to Rocco’s mum. And if his mum did happen to overhear, a little bit of mollycoddling might be quite nice after the day he’d had.

Rocco was just about to say, ‘Call Dad’ into his watch when he was aware of a car with squeaky brakes pulling to a stop beside him. Even better, if it was a helpful stranger, Rocco could get a lift home and then no one would know anything about it.

He turned and the smile on his face disappeared.

Jay Costello was behind the wheel.

‘Need a lift?’ Jay said through the open window as he leant across the passenger seat.

‘I’m okay.’

Jay moved his sunglasses to perch on top of his head and raised an eyebrow.

‘I’m fine,’ Rocco said, wincing as he tried to take a step.

‘You don’t look it.’ Jay gave a weary sigh and looked back out the windscreen toward the sun for a moment before turning back to Rocco. ‘Just get in.’

Rocco momentarily weighed up his options then resignedly hobbled over and got in the car.

They sat a moment in silence.

Jay cleared his throat. ‘Uh, want to tell me where to go?’

Rocco shot him a look.

‘I did mean location-wise but if telling me to fuck off would make you feel better, go for it.’

Rocco resolutely stared out of the windscreen, squinting at the sun shining directly into the car.

Jay sighed again. ‘Give me something here, Rocco.’

‘I’ll need some painkillers.’