Chapter 33

My legs were wobbling so badly that it was almost impossible to run in the heels that Kate had loaned me. My hand gripped hold of the wall to hold me steady and I didn’t stop until I was safely back in sight of the crowd of gyrating bodies

A hand landed on the small of my back and I whipped around to give Simon a slap. My hand just barely stopped, grazing Dale’s ear. His eyes were wide and dark as he looked down at me with concern. “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”

“Si…Simon,” I gasped and suddenly I realized that I was crying.

“Who’s Simon?” Dale asked and glanced over his shoulder to Lee who was stood behind him for a little help.

“Simon is Rhea’s crazy ex,” Lee responded. “What’s the matter? What did he do to you?”

“He followed me into the bathroom,” I gasped and clutched at my chest. Now that the adrenaline was wearing off, I realized I was having a panic attack. I gasped and panted for breath as Lee slipped between me and Dale to take me into his arms.

“I’ll be right back,” Dale promised.

“No! Don’t!” I yelled after him but he didn’t seem to listen. I was suddenly scared for what might happen next. There was no telling how Simon would react to Dale barging in.

“My bag,” I gasped. “I left my bag in there.”

“I’m sure Dale will grab it for you,” Lee assured me.

When Dale returned, he was carrying nothing but a heavy expression. “Looks like he’s gone.”

“Did you see my bag?” I asked. Perhaps he’d missed it.

“I didn’t see any bag.” Dale shook his head and threw his thumb over his shoulder. “But I can go back and look if you like.”

“I bet that creep took it,” Lee growled angrily and I could feel him shaking against me. “Oh, I’d love to get my hands on him.”

“Forget about it.” I suddenly felt weak. “Just take me home please.” 17

It wasn’t until we arrived home again that I managed to stop trembling. Lee had a hold of my hand the entire way in the back of the taxi and I was more than a little grateful for it.

I punched the code into the pad on the front door of the apartment, relieved that I didn’t need a key because it most likely would have been in the bag that I had lost. I tried not to think too hard about the theft. That was a fact for tomorrow morning.

“Are you sure you are alright?” Lee asked when we finally stepped into the apartment. I felt much better as soon as the apartment door was closed between us and the outside world.

“Yes,” I assured him. “I could just do with another drink.”

“Coming right up.” Lee nodded and wandered into the kitchen area of the open plan apartment.

I settled myself down on the sofa and took the glass of wine that he handed to me. The crisp white wine was comforting and I drank it in, willing myself to think of anything but the creep who’d tried to force himself on me.

“We should really call the police,” Dale suggested.

“In the morning,” I promised. “I don’t want to think about it right now.”

Both men nodded but looked more than a little reluctant to just let it drop.

“I’m going to grab us all something to eat,” Dale offered. “Any requests?”

“Something sweet,” Lee suggested. “I think we could all use a pick me up.”

That was an understatement, but I didn’t voice my opinion for worry that they might start questioning me again. The last thing I wanted to do was show them that I wasn’t alright.

“Come here.” Lee held up his arm for me to wiggle in beside him. I snuggled into him and rested my head upon his chest, still sipping at my wine glass.

Dale returned with a tray that held a plate of cheese crackers and grapes. On the side were cookies and a huge pot of ice cream.

“I wasn’t sure what you fancied so I brought a little of everything.” He placed the tray on the coffee table in front of us.

“Thank you.” I smiled at him and leaned forward to take a cracker from the plate.

“Hmm…That’s good cheese,” Lee exclaimed when he picked one up and bit into it.

“I think it’s the one that Dad got me last week,” I told them. “He went on a business trip to Switzerland.”

“What a lucky man.” Dale sighed. “I wish I could take a business trip anywhere in the world that wasn’t London.”

Usually I loved my home city, but right now I had to agree with him. Anywhere would be better than here right now. The further away from that lunatic the better.