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‘What you got there, girl?’ he asks, his s above his wraparounds

‘Nothing,’ I stuff it inht into the traffic and starts the therapeutic tapping of his pal wheel, and I wonder how the leather hasn’t developed a dent in it froirl’

My inquisitive eyes bore into the side of his head He can’t possibly know that because I’ve ensured my work diary remains under lock and key, just like my mouth ‘How do you know?’ For the first ti, blackto look atyou followincreases ive him time to think about his answer, but I can tell by the look on his face that he knows I’ve got him ‘Girl, someone tried to ra a little jittery Where a’

‘Lansdowne Terrace,’ I reply ‘So what’s your excuse for all of the other times he’s stalked me?’

‘I don’t have one’ he answers candidly ‘Those tih and John joins et bored?’ I ask, thinking that he must see me as a royal pain in the arse This definitely can’t be in his job description

‘No,’ He quits with the laughing and turns tofondly ‘That crazy irl’

I have to press et the better ofsob I know John won’t appreciate it ‘I don’this affection off because I know he’ll appreciate that, and his quiet laugh confir over and opening the glove compart tapping of the wheel

I read the title, and then again to ht’

I start flicking through the pages, ad John bent over one, delicately clipping at the fragile branches ‘It’s a hobby?’

‘Yes, very relaxing’

‘Where do you live, John?’ I don’t knohere the question cos that I would naturally put together, but with this strange, neledge, I’irl’

‘Alone?’

‘All alone’ He laughs ‘Me and ht it This is a ht was a eezer, who patrols The Manor, keeps over exited men, and perhaps women, too, in their place, and now I find out that he lives with trees? Fascinating