Read Chapter 3: — DANIEL WARD

Outside the restaurant, Emma walked fast enough to make Peter abandon his attempt to follow.

A man stepped out from under the awning.

“You dropped this.”

He held out her scarf.

Emma took it.

“Thanks.”

He hesitated.

“I’m Daniel Ward. County community development. I’ve been seconded to the valley programme.”

“That sounds exciting.”

“It isn’t.”

Despite herself, she almost smiled.

Then he added, “I heard what Price said in there.”

Her expression closed.

“I don’t need rescuing.”

“I wasn’t offering.”

“Good.”

“I was going to say that he can’t cancel public support because you refuse dinner.”

Emma stared.

Daniel was tall, dark-haired, and had the unfortunate confidence of a man who had been told he was charming too often.

“You work for the council?”

“For now.”

“And you think that makes you reassuring?”

“Not especially.”

“Excellent.”

She left.

Behind her Daniel called, “For what it’s worth, I think you were right.”

Emma did not turn.

“For what it’s worth,” she shouted, “I don’t care.”

He laughed.

She disliked him immediately.

Which was inconvenient, because she remembered the sound all the way home.