So sorry about tonight. I owed James a favour so I said I’d help him with a business meeting. Didn’t want Matt to find out. Please don’t mention anything to Hailey or the girls. Can we have a chat and I’ll explain?

A reply came back a few minutes later.

No problem. Just surprised. How about Monday?

She replied with Perfect, although she knew she’d be worrying about things all weekend, then switched off her phone, put it back in her bag and gave James a quick smile. ‘Just had to remind Hailey about something.’

They drove in silence for a while, then James started chatting about the dinner and she tried to focus her mind on the rest of the evening. But a voice in her head kept on interrupting, asking questions she didn’t want to answer. What if Matt finds out? Have I ruined my friendship with Fiona? Will she tell Hailey that she saw me with James?

Chapter Eighteen

The hotel was outside Harrogate, a handsome new building designed to look like a stately home, with a gritstone facade and a sweeping driveway planted with an avenue of trees. It was set in landscaped grounds, the lawns dotted with mature trees that must have been there before the place was built. They arrived at a circular drop-off point in front of the entrance, punctuated with a bubbling fountain at the centre. Sara stared about her, bemused by the grandeur of the place.

‘If you’d like to wait here, I’ll go and park up.’ James hopped out and came round to open her door for her. ‘Won’t be two ticks,’ he said, before getting back in the car and driving round the side of the building, where the car park was hidden behind a screen of shrubs, keeping first impressions of the place picture perfect.

Nervously she waited for him in front of the imposing entrance, which featured a gritstone arch with a couple of gargoyles guarding the smoked-glass doors. She felt exposed in her evening dress, and wrapped her arms around her chest, turning her back on the building and anyone inside who might be watching her. Goose bumps prickled her arms, and she shivered in the evening breeze, wishing she’d thought to bring a pashmina or a jacket.

James was humming to himself as he walked towards her a few minutes later. He beamed and offered his arm, which she took gratefully, needing support to navigate the gravel in her high heels. ‘You look stunning, by the way. Did I tell you that?’

A blush crept into her cheeks. She could feel his eyes on her as she concentrated on where she was putting her feet. ‘Oh, I don’t know about that,’ she muttered, unsure what to do with such a compliment.