Page 31 of The House Swap

For a moment none of them moved, then Keira opened her door, climbing out and stretching. ‘Thanks, Jem. Appreciate the lift.’

She was already heading through the gate before he could acknowledge her.

‘Thanks for tonight,’ Poppy said. ‘I had a nice time.’

‘Me too,’ he agreed. ‘So, dinner on Friday after Keira leaves?’

She nodded. ‘I’d like that.’

Jem waited until she was at the front door before driving away, his headlights sweeping across the wall and briefly illuminating the garden.

Later that night as she drifted towards sleep, Jem remained in Poppy’s thoughts. The easy conversation. The way he had listened. The crease between his eyebrows when she had mentioned the house swap.

She replayed the drive back – the quiet, the headlights gliding over the road – and then the moment they had reached the villa.

He hadn’t reacted. Not even a word.

Most people would have. The place was huge, unmistakable, even in the dark. But he’d simply slowed to a halt outside, switching off the engine.

And there had been no hesitation before that. No checking addresses. No asking for directions.

Her eyes opened in the darkness.

They had never told him where they were staying.

Poppy lay still, listening to the silence of the villa.

How had Jem known where to go?

13

WEDNESDAY 4 NOVEMBER

Poppy woke earlier than she intended, and for a few moments she lay still, a little disorientated and unsure what had disturbed her.

The villa was silent and, if she was honest, it was something she still hadn’t grown used to. There was no distant traffic, no doors slamming, and no muffled television from another flat.

Then the memory surfaced.

The drive home. Jem knowing where he was going, even though he hadn’t asked for directions.

She stared at the ceiling, replaying everything in her head. Had she mentioned the address at any point in the conversation, or had Keira?

There had to be a rational explanation for how Jem had known where they were staying. She would ask Keira, and if necessary, she would ask Jem too.

Unable to settle, she slipped out of bed and pulled on leggings and a loose sweatshirt.

Across the hall, Keira’s door remained closed and there was no sound coming from the living area of the villa, which suggested she was still asleep.

It was unusual for her friend to be the last to rise, but they had shared a bottle of wine last night after Jem had dropped them off. Plus, yesterday’s walk must have worn her out.

Poppy kept her movements quiet, not wanting to disturb her. She opened the patio doors, hoping to let the sun in the villa, but the air held a slight chill this morning and the breeze was cooler than it had been the last few days, carrying the distant hush of the sea.

She made coffee, then glanced at her laptop on the dining table where she’d left it yesterday, conscious she had work to do.

Sitting down, she opened it and stared at the manuscript for less than a minute before closing it again.

There was no way she could concentrate.