CHAPTER 69

Peyton didn’t speak as she entered the elevator. Dale followed, wringing his hands like some old woman from a fifties television show. She didn’t look at him. She couldn’t. It was taking all her effort not to haul off and hit him. God! She wanted to hit him so much! Instead, she kept her eyes averted - not looking down, just away from him. She had nothing to feel ashamed about and she wouldn’t let him intimidate her into feeling that way.

When the elevator reached her floor, the doors opened and she strode out and down the hall towards her apartment door. He followed. She unlocked her door and walked into her apartment, leaving the door ajar for him. She put down her bag and slipped off her shoes then walked the seven steps to the kitchen to put the kettle on. She needed more than just tea, but that could wait until after he left.

She could feel him standing behind her, watching her. She didn’t turn around. He was the one who had turned up on her doorstep, she wasn’t going t