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“No!” I gasped in shock.

Tristan’s shoulders hunched in a small apologetic shrug.

“How could you?”

He held his palms up.

“Listen, Beauchamp, you’re a fucking painful place to be. The first time—”

“First time!” My voice rose as I fisted my hands on my hips.

“Yes. The first time I didn’t know who you were, what you had to do with him. I just wanted information. I didn’t stay there long. Trust me.” He winced. “But it wasn’t nearly as painful as the second time. You know. The tablets.”

I held up my hand and raised my voice. “Just stop! Just stop now!”

“Emily—”

“Don’t ‘Emily’ me. I don’t want you reading my thoughts, going into my body. Or whatever spooky thing you do! It’s a huge invasion of my privacy!”

Tristan stared, and not in a suitably chastised manner but in awe and wonder.

“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are when you’re angry?” he whispered.

“What?” I swallowed the word, so it came out in a hoarse whisper.

What an awful, cheesy line!

He leaned toward me, his green eyes gazing into mine, his scent swirling around us, heady and sweet. “Believe me,” he whispered, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his.

“Shit!” Tristan glanced toward the door and stood up straight as Dylan barged into the room without knocking. Tristan’s mouth flattened into a thin line of disapproval.

“You okay?” Dylan asked as he glanced around the room. “I heard shouting.”

“I’m fine,” I whispered.

Tristan said I was beautiful. It was a corny line, but no one had ever said it to me before—well, except Mum and Dad.

“Why were you shouting?”

My mind went blank.

“Tell him you stubbed your toe,” Tristan said, not taking his eyes off Dylan.

“I stubbed my toe. Sorry to disturb you.”

Dylan took a few steps toward me.

“It’s not broken, is it? Do you want me to check it for you?”

Hell! “No. It’s fine. I’m fine. I’m sorry.”

Dylan eyed me suspiciously, and I stooped to pick up my cello so he couldn’t see that I was lying to him.

“I’ve set up your computer. I need your old phone to transfer everything across to the new one—if that’s what you want. Right now, I need to go to Sainsbury’s. I wondered if you wanted to come with me.”

“Um…” I wanted to stay and talk to Tristan.

“I know yesterday’s supermarket trip was a bad experience, but there might be some things you need.”