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working with that animal again. Not after last time."
    Danny shook his head, “Look, Reynolds knows that if he pulls that shit again he’s history. He didn’t wor k for months after that gig and if he screws up again no-one will give him another job, that’s been made very clear to him. He will never work in London again. This is his chance to redeem himself. Joel, I know why you feel the way you do, but we need him on this one so you need to give him a chance. Christ, I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t necessary. It was a miracle you got out in one piece that day.”
    “I know, I was there remember.”
    “Look Reynolds has changed. He’s got that control back.” He drew Joel closer to him and lowered his voice. “Don’t fucking breath a word of this but he told me he was taking steroids back then. They messed up his mind and shrivelled his dick. He’s off them now, swear to God. Said his Mrs threatened to leave him cos he couldn’t get it up.”
    Joel laughed and saw the other man smile at him. He knew that Danny thought he’d won him over. “I’m still not doing it,” he said and walked away.
    “Fifty,” said Danny. “I’ll give it to you out of my own cut. I need this. Please, Joel.”
    Joel could hear the emotion in his friend’s voice. The usual confidence and charm was gone. Danny sound raw. Desperate. Joel turned back and walked to him.
    “Talk to me,” he said and then Danny laid it all out. The fact that he was in debt up to his eyeballs. That the bank wanted his house back and his wife had told him that if it went she would too, taking their daughters with her. Danny lived for his family, doted on his kids. Joel knew losing them would kill the man.
    He closed his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply. This felt wrong but he knew he had to do it.
    “Okay,” he said. “I’m in.”
     

Chapter Nine
     
    The restaurant was small and intimate and empty. As soon as they walked in the door a tiny oriental woman greeted them and took their coats. Joel gripped his bag tightly when she tried to take that. He shook his head and smiled. “It’s okay,” he said, “I’ll hang on to this.”
    “That’s fine, sir,” she said and led them to a table by the window.
    “I’d prefer one at the back,” said Joel, “if that’s alright.”
    The woman nodded. Joel looked around the restaurant and spotted a booth with high sides that meant they’d be hidden from the street if they sat in it. “There,” he said, pointing, and the three of them walked over to it. The precautions were probably unnecessary but he’d rather take them and be able to relax with Eve. He looked at her walking beside him, that long blonde hair resting on her shoulders, the ends of it laying on the curve of her breasts. They had to squeeze closer together as they wove their way between empty tables. The waitress was chattering away in front of them but Joel didn’t hear her. Eve was so close beside him he could feel the heat from her body. He could smell her, a floral scent that rose from her and intoxicated him. He couldn’t tell if it was perfume or just her essence. In the pub he had enjoyed talking to her, had felt himself drawn to her personality. Now with her body so close beside him he wanted her physically, wanted to feel her naked skin against his. He looked at her face and knew in that moment that he couldn’t leave her until he had seen it transformed with pleasure. He wanted to watch her throw back her head and clench her jaw as she climaxed. Wanted to feel her body tense and then relax as that moment of oblivious joy swept over her. At the thought of it he could feel himself stiffening; that warm tingle in his groin so familiar.
    The bag at his side collided with a table and swung back against his knee. The surprise of it brought him back to himself. Jesus, he shouldn’t be doing this. Shouldn’t be thinking like this. Every minute he spent with Eve put her in danger. He’d leave after the meal, he told himself,