Johnny got up and took the fleece out of her hands. When he held her, her body went limp and she breathed deeply. She could smell the river and the mountain air and she sucked it in, storing it for the week ahead to keep her sane. He ran his fingers up her skull, gently but firmly, and she arched her back. What to pack for a trip to London became suddenly irrelevant as he undid her blouse and she pulled his T-shirt over his head. He didn’t have the body of a fifty-year-old. It was hard and smooth, and much younger. His face showed signs of wisdom that could be seen as age, but it was insignificant. He led her to the bed and she kicked off the clothes waiting to be packed. They landed on the floor, along with her bra and pants.

It didn’t matter how many times Johnny took her to bed; each time she was surprised. She expected to grow bored, or at least crave some kind of new thrill, but it never happened. She was satisfied every time. The longer she knew him, the safer she felt, and the more natural it became to fall into bed on a midweek afternoon without worrying about who thought what or what might happen tomorrow. If she were ten years younger, she’d want to have babies with this man in her bed, making her laugh, making her gasp. But they were too old, and the world had enough kids.

She didn’t want to get out of bed, and neither did he. Their bodies fitted together perfectly, and they lay like spoons listening to the steamer puffing in from Glenridding.

‘I’ll be here waiting.’

‘I know.’

‘What time do you go?’

‘I’ve told you already, the car comes at five. We’re hoping to miss the M6 traffic.’

‘I’ll make you something to eat. I’m still hungry.’ He got out of bed and dressed quickly. He was tanning already from his work on the fells for mountain rescue. Men who spent a serious amount of time outdoors aged differently, Kelly thought. His eyes were bright and his skin glowed. She couldn’t help think of Matt Carter, and how all the time she’d been in his bed, she’d never felt like this.

She got up and pulled on sweatpants and a T-shirt. She’d change into her plain-clothes garb at five minutes to five and not a minute earlier. Her hair was washed and dried, though a bit tousled now, and her make-up relatively intact. A quick shower would freshen her up later.