He shook his head. ‘I was here on a work’s outing at the Gravesend Golf Club. We played yesterday, I was supposed to play this morning but chickened out and said I’d make my own way home.’

‘So, home’s not Gravesend then?’ The question was out before she could stop it, she hoped he’d see it as natural curiosity, nothing more.

‘No, Woolwich. Originally from Bristol though, and you?’

‘Living here in Gravesend now, originally from Hampstead.’

‘What brought you here?’ He put his mug down and leaned forwards, looking at her intently as if really interested in her answer.

‘I’m a nurse. I worked as a theatre nurse in a hospital in Dubai for several years and when I came home, I got a job in Guy’s.’ She found herself drowning in his eyes and gave herself a mental kick, dropping her gaze to her coffee and picking it up to take a sip.

‘I know Guy’s. You’re still there?’

He sounded so genuinely interested that Jodie smiled. ‘No, I wanted a change and moved into care of the elderly. I work in a nursing home, not far from here.’

‘A big change,’ he said, echoing her smile. ‘Has it worked out for you?’

She put her cup down and shook her head. ‘I love what I do but I hadn’t anticipated how difficult the job itself would be. We’re always short-staffed. The home is part of a big conglomerate. They say the resident comes first and at the same time make decisions that prioritise profit over care. It can be frustrating.’

‘I bet.’

His expression and tone of voice were sympathetic but she guessed he probably didn’t really understand, not if he worked for a company that took him away for a golfing break. ‘Your employer sounds okay. What is it you do?’

‘I’m a sales rep for London Medical. It’s a pharmaceutical company, the biggest in the city.’

‘You like it?’

He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans and sat back, stretching his legs out so they almost touched Jodie’s. ‘I love it. It pays extremely well, there are great perks, to a certain extent I’m my own boss and I get to spend my days meeting and speaking to people, most of whom are delighted to see me.’

I bet they are. The thought leapt into Jodie’s head as he finished his coffee and raised a wrist to check the time.

She decided to get the goodbyes in first, draining her coffee quickly and reaching behind for her jacket. ‘I’d better be off. Thanks for the coffee. The second one made the difference.’