She caught his expression in the mirror, his eyes narrowed, assessing. He doesn’t believe me. Her stomach churned. She’d never been a good liar and she felt her cheeks redden. Just get out of the house, she told herself as she pushed her feet into her shoes and stood, ready to go. It’s like having another job, she reminded herself. That’s all. Nothing bad.

She could sense Matt’s eyes on her, watching every move. ‘What time are you going to be back?’

She halted, realising she had no idea. If they were going to Harrogate, the journey alone would take the best part of forty minutes, and James hadn’t mentioned when he expected the dinner to finish. Perhaps they go on into the night, she thought, wishing she’d got more details. Oh God, what do I say? She pretended to wipe a mark off her shoe, unable to look her husband in the eye. ‘Um, I’m not really sure. Not too late, I don’t think.’

She straightened up, slung her bag over her shoulder and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. ‘I’d better go,’ she said, hurrying out of the bedroom and down the stairs, where she picked up her car keys and made a swift exit before she blurted out the truth. He’d kill me if he knew I was going out with another man. Even if it is only work.

But was it? Or was there a part of her that saw this blossoming relationship with James as something different? A little piece of her heart that was vulnerable to his attentiveness, his thoughtful actions, his interest in her as a person.

She pushed the thought away. Stupid, stupid woman, she chided as she started the car and pulled out of the drive, focusing instead on her family and wondering how the relationships she’d been trying to protect had fallen apart so quickly. The girls weren’t talking to her because she was missing football practice. Matt was annoyed with her for going out when he wanted to get some work done, and even Hailey had been a bit snappy when she came to pick up the girls.

I’ll do this event, just this one, she told herself, feeling a little sick. Then that’s the end of it. I’ll see if I can negotiate another way to repay the money.