Was this a discussion about living together? Like proper grown-ups? Imogen wondered. They had so many things to think about before that could happen. He hadn’t even told his son, Tom, they were dating and she didn’t want him to, didn’t want to jinx it. They hadn’t even said the l-word to each other yet. Not that she was playing a game or anything, but Imogen didn’t want to be the one to say it first. Self-preservation, she imagined, especially when she considered how much more complicated that made things. When love comes into play the stakes get much higher.

‘It’s like a fishbowl. I have always seen myself as a cottage-by-the-sea kind of a girl,’ Imogen said.

It was true; she had always imagined that kind of future. There was something decidedly un-Imogen about it, but that’s what she wanted. That was the dream.

‘Not in the city, then?’

‘It’s convenient, but if I didn’t have to go in to work every day, I would rather be looking at the horizon. I mean, this is pretty and all, but there is just something about the sea that fills me with wonder. Do you know what I mean?’

‘I do know what you mean. I’ve always lived in the city, though. Couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. What if you want a cheeky kebab in the middle of the night or something?’

‘They have kebab shops in smaller towns, you know?’

‘Yeah, but they are usually shut by eight o’clock.’

‘How would you know? So, no midnight kebab shop is a deal-breaker for you?’

‘At this stage in my life, I feel like it is. I’m a simple man, Imogen.’

‘You can say that again.’

The office light turned off and they watched Reece go downstairs into the lounge where his wife was sitting. Although she didn’t stop what she was doing immediately, her posture changed. She seemed more alert. Something about the way Angela had tensed made Imogen feel a little nauseous. Reece said something, a command maybe, and Angela put her book down on the coffee table before standing.

They spoke briefly and he brushed the side of her face with the back of his hand, bringing it down and gently holding her chin as he kissed her forcefully on the mouth. She recoiled, but he just pushed further. He moved his hand down further still, putting his fingers for a moment around her throat until she kissed him back, opening her mouth and accepting his tongue. He removed his hand from her throat and started to undo his trousers.