Then Blake Chadwick stands up and I switch back to the present. ‘I suggest that we all do some training before we go as it’s quite a tough hike. I’m planning to go running three times a week around Furzton Lake,’ he says. ‘It’s a circuit of about a mile and you’re all welcome to join me.’

Training, I think. I need to do training. Lots of it. ‘I’d like to do that,’ I say to BC when he sits down.

‘I’ll be there from tomorrow,’ he tells me. ‘See you there straight after work, Sexy?’

I nod. It’s years since I’ve done any running. Years since I’ve done any proper exercise, to be honest. Unless you count opening packets of Revels as exercise. I should be panicking but I can’t keep the silly smile off my face.

I’ve done it. I’m going. No looking back. This is the start of the rest of my life. This is the new intrepid me. Let the adventure begin!

All I need to do is raise the money. And, of course, tell Greg.

Chapter 30

Chapter 30

The hotel was beautiful. Lauren had to hand it to him, Jude had exquisite taste when it came to booking the perfect destinations for romantic trysts.

They’d quickly collected an overnight bag from her flat before driving down to Brighton. She’d thought that they might find a few moments to talk about their situation in the car on the way down, but Jude had been forced to spend most of his time on the phone sorting out a problem back in the office. So she’d dozed and listened to the radio and planned their future together by herself.

Now he was at his meeting. He’d booked her a treatment package in the hotel’s luxurious spa and she’d enjoyed a relaxing facial, a back massage and a pedicure which had taken up most of the afternoon.

Lauren checked her watch. Jude had said that the meeting wouldn’t take long and it was five o’clock already. Soon he’d be back.

The room was just so chic. The vast king-size bed was upholstered with black plush velvet, as was the chaise longue at its foot. Two black leather chesterfield sofas flanked the grey marble fireplace, while the walls were covered in a silver-grey metallic paper matched by the thick carpet. The view of the sea was magnificent and the sun sparkled on the water.