He smiled at her over the rim of his beer glass. ‘I promise I’ll think about the repayment terms. Perhaps we can give it some proper consideration while we’re relaxing at the spa, and I can assure you that by the time we get back, we’ll have sorted something out. How about that?’
A weekend away? It was a tempting prospect, and she couldn’t deny she enjoyed James’s company. If, by the end of the weekend, she decided she didn’t like whatever terms he came up with, then she’d try and devise a different way to pay him back. Matt kept telling her he was very close to finishing the contract. When he was paid, they could catch up with the mortgage, pay off their temporary overdraft extension, clear a couple of the credit cards. Oh God, will there be anything left? It seemed unlikely. Panic froze her thoughts. I don’t think I’ve got a choice.
‘When were you thinking?’ she asked.
‘This weekend. I’ve got it booked.’
She gasped, incredulous. ‘But it’s Monday now! I can’t just drop everything.’
‘Oh, I think you can.’ His hand reached across the table and covered hers, his voice gentle. ‘I love spending time with you, Sara. Just this once, please. Humour a lonely man and give me the pleasure of your company.’ His eyes met hers, hypnotic, appealing.
The lure of a break, some time to regroup and re-energise, was tempting. It was exactly what she needed. Hadn’t Hailey said as much just the other week? Despite her better judgement, she was almost persuaded. There was one major stumbling block, though. ‘What will I tell Matt?’
James looked at the ceiling, then back at her. ‘I think a friend from college has invited you to a hen party. Nothing raucous. A spa treatment for the girls, a weekend of relaxation and pampering. That won’t be far from the truth, so it won’t feel like a lie.’ His thumb stroked the back of her hand.
She gazed at him, getting hotter by the minute, wondering if his intentions were what she thought they might be.
‘I’m a married woman, James.’ Her voice wavered and she cleared her throat before carrying on. ‘I want to be clear. I’m not having sex with you.’ It wasn’t that she hadn’t thought about it. He was an attractive man and she was undeniably drawn to him, to his easy company. The way he was so considerate and gentle with her. But she wasn’t about to cheat on her husband. That was something she’d never do.
He snatched his hand away as if he’d been burned, looking thoroughly shocked. ‘Oh my goodness, no. There’s no hidden agenda here.’ With a surge of embarrassment, she remembered they’d had a similar conversation when he’d first suggested the deal, and she felt mortified for even suggesting his intentions might not be honourable. ‘I honestly think of us as friends. That’s all.’
‘I just don’t see how you taking me to a spa is repayment for a debt when it’s going to cost you quite a bit of money.’
The smile faded from his face and she could see a sadness in his eyes. ‘The truth is, I’m lonely. I have no wife, no contact with my daughter, and my father is being very difficult.’ He sighed. ‘The handover of the business is stressful, and I need to switch off for a couple of days. I don’t want to do that on my own.’ He glanced up at her. ‘It won’t be too much of a chore for you, will it?’
She felt bad then for questioning his motives, and desperately started backtracking lest she cause more offence. ‘No, no, not at all. It sounds like a lovely treat.’ In fact, the idea of a spa weekend – no children to think about, no meals to cook, and a bit of pampering – sounded like bliss.
‘I feel like we’re pals now, and we work so well together. I’d really appreciate it if you’d just accept that your company has value to me.’ He gave a rueful laugh. ‘I suppose it’s quite hard to understand when you’re in the opposite situation, and every minute of your day is spent dealing with other people’s needs.’ He took another swig of his beer, put his glass down and held up his hands. ‘There it is. Nothing complicated or untoward. I’d like the pleasure of your company and we’ll knock some money off your debt.’
She considered the proposition for a moment. All that mattered was the fact that James considered this as part repayment.
Nine thousand pounds.
She wondered how much her time was worth. How many meetings, how much companionship James would need before he considered the debt repaid. It could take years. The thought landed with a thud in her belly. Years before she could put her crime behind her without fear of repercussions. She looked at the man across the table, and heard Fiona’s warning to stay away, remembered the vitriol in her voice. What had he done to make her react like that?
Chapter Twenty
It was the end of Thursday – football practice done and dusted, children settled – and Sara was finally getting ready to go up to bed when Matt bounced into the kitchen. He reached into the fridge for a beer. ‘Finally,’ he said, with emphasis, ‘I’m getting there.’
She looked up, his words not really registering. Now’s a good time, she decided, having been wondering all week how to break the news of her impending weekend away without causing friction. Time was running out. Do it!
Her mouth went into action before she could chicken out. ‘I forgot to mention… I’ve been invited to a hen party with the uni girls this weekend. You remember Louise? I said no when she first asked because you’re so busy, but someone dropped out and she’s asked me again. It’s years since I’ve seen them and… well, I’d really love to go.’ She took a deep breath. ‘I’ll be going Friday night, coming back Sunday.’
I’m paying back the debt, she reminded herself. This is the only reason I’m doing it.
‘You must remember her,’ she said, when Matt’s confusion seemed to have rendered him temporarily speechless. ‘We lived next door to each other in halls.’
Matt scowled, banging his beer onto the worktop while he looked for the bottle opener. ‘I didn’t think you were in touch with any of your old uni mates. I thought you’d outgrown them.’
Her jaw clenched and it took a beat to dampen her annoyance. ‘We chat on Facebook and I fancy meeting everyone again, so I already said I’d go.’ Sara hated how defensive she sounded. Why shouldn’t I have some time with friends? Even if they were imaginary, it was the principle of the thing.
He opened his beer, took a long swig, then leaned against the worktop, giving her a hard stare. ‘And I’m looking after the kids, I suppose?’ He sounded like she’d asked him to lick the toilet clean.
‘They’re your kids as much as mine.’ She spat out the words, annoyed that he was making it sound like he was doing her a reluctant favour. He was being so awkward about her being away for two measly nights when he’d been off on all sorts of jaunts with his football mates over the years without a backward glance. In fact, now she thought about it, this would be the first time she’d been away from the family since the twins were born fourteen years ago.
Her resolve hardened, forming a lump in her throat. I deserve a break. The idea that she should be able to take some time for herself was rooted in her mind now, blossoming into full-on indignation.