She had to get her head in the right frame of mind for today. Had to focus on why she was here and what she should do. She glanced down to the pool area, right below the terrace. She couldn’t hear anybody else. Abby checked her watch. 7.15am.

Would an early morning swim help to work off some of her sexual tension and excess energy? It had to be better than staying in her room and fretting.

She went to her suitcase and got out her black swimsuit. The one that wasn’t built to get attention. She’d save her more sexy attire for the yacht, when she had an audience.

Abby walked into the kitchen, its shiny white floor showing some long, dark hair. That’s what happened when you had a gaggle of women in a house. She went to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water, drinking some as she did every morning. She loved this time, when the day was still there to be written. Later on, there were sure to be dramas about hair, make-up, clothing, and itinerary. But for now, the day was unsullied.

She left her bottle of water on the side, then strolled through the sunroom, and drew back the large glass doors. She stepped out onto the ground-floor terrace. The view was magnificent. Terraces and pools stepped down the hill below the villa to the sea. Dazed sunlight caught the water’s surface.

“Good morning, Cannes.” She couldn’t help the grin that split her face as she stretched her arms high up above her head, her muscles waking up one by one. For a perfect moment, she forgot all her doubts. Now, it was just Abby, the sunshine, and the view.

She threw her head back, and shook her dark hair out behind her. She walked over to the pool, the concrete warm under her feet. It was what she always loved about being outside the UK. Heat made her happy. The pool’s surface rippled as she dipped her toe, then drew back. It was colder than she’d thought. But she should just dive in, take the plunge.

A little like she should do with this weekend. Decide to be the bride she wanted to be. Self-assured.

She nodded. That’s just what she was going to do. Starting right this second, by jumping in the pool. Project-Manager Abby was coming out. Only, for this weekend, the project was her.

The shock of the cold water woke her system, and it was all she could do to hold in her scream. She just about managed it. As her head broke the surface she flailed a little. But then, after a few deep breaths, she spread her body long and began to swim. She’d made the right call. The water was cleansing, and as she began to pump her muscles, her worries started to melt, too.