April had pulled out of her parking space and as Faith watched her drive off she put the Range Rover into reverse. ‘I don’t think I’ll want to face going out again once I’m home. I might just order a takeaway and have an early night.’

‘I understand.’

‘We could always try again another time,’ she suggested, her body suddenly craving more than simply warmth.

‘No pressure,’ Nick said. ‘And if nothing else, I’ll pick you up next Tuesday for the group meeting. Drive carefully, Faith.’

‘I will,’ she replied, feeling slightly deflated that he hadn’t tried harder.

Faith put her foot down as she drove out of Pickering’s Pasture, zipping down Hale’s country lanes and on through the densely populated housing estates in Speke. She crossed Speke Boulevard and carried on through Hunt’s Cross where she imagined Nick was either relaxing in front of the TV with a bottle of beer, or shrugging into his coat to set off to meet someone who wasn’t so difficult to please. Her yearnings only increased as she sped past.

Faith liked Nick, more so now that she knew April held no competing interest, but could her heart stand it? She had learnt at an early age not to rely on anyone else for her future happiness, and if anything, her marriage to Derek had reinforced her resolve to guard her independence. As she neared home, Faith told herself not to do anything stupid, but then she saw Nick’s car outside her house and her insides twisted.

13

The gurgle of the central heating as it fired up pulled Faith from a deep sleep, and she opened her eyes to find her bedroom awash with the languorous glow of a wintry dawn. A mournful wind howled through the eaves and, as she snuggled under the duvet, the weight that had been pressing against her bare back moved. She smiled.

When she had arrived home the night before to find Nick waiting, her immediate reaction had been annoyance. She had dismissed him on the phone so he had no right to be there, but then Nick had emerged from his BMW with takeaway bags and a very good bottle of Argentinian Malbec. Someone wanted to look after her.

To all appearances, Nick had had no intention of staying, but Faith hadn’t wanted to eat alone, and then she hadn’t wanted to spend the night alone, and now here they were. She listened to him stirring next to her and felt a draught of cool air as the duvet was lifted to expose her shoulder. Warm lips kissed her skin.

‘Morning,’ Nick whispered.

Faith turned onto her back and Nick manoeuvred himself over her. It wasn’t a position she favoured. How had she let this happen? ‘My head hurts,’ she said, regretting that she had drunk so much.

‘Can I get you anything?’