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that was set permanently to on. And while she kept telling herself that she was only looking out for Jessica, it had been a long time since a man as attractive as Mark had shown an interest in her. If she discovered that they were only friends, or didn’t even know each other, what possibilities did that open up?

    She left number nine, strode out into a bright, blustery morning and drank in the elegant terrace, the verges which were a sea of delicate primroses, the wide pavements drying quickly after the night’s rain. As ever, Cat slowed her pace as she reached number four. It was a rented property and didn’t look as polished as Elsie or Jessica’s houses or the boutique bed and breakfast at number three. The paint on the windowsills was cracked, and the front steps were beginning to crumble at the edges, but the front door was a vibrant, seaside blue with a gold number ‘4’. As she approached, a sleek looking Audi pulled up outside, and the object of her curiosity climbed smoothly out of the driver’s seat.
    Mark opened the back door and Chips bounded up the front steps. Cat found herself coming to an automatic halt. She’d been right, at least, about where he lived.
    ‘Cat,’ he said, folding his arms and leaning against his car, amusement in his barely there smile. ‘The Cat who loves dogs.’
    ‘It’s Catherine, actually. But my friend Polly said that – that Cat was easier.’ Mark didn’t need to know that her best friend had given her the nickname because she was so endlessly curious. ‘How are you?’
    He was wearing dark jeans, sturdy boots and his leather jacket, this time with a dark grey scarf wound tightly round his neck. It looked incredibly soft. Cat had daringly decided to embrace spring and dig her royal blue bolero jacket out of the closet. She was feeling the wind at her throat as a result.

    ‘Good, thanks. I’ve just taken Chips to the cliffs above the lighthouse. Lots of grass to run on, incredible views, clear, fresh air.’ He breathed in deeply. ‘Do you ever go there with your dogs?’
    ‘No, I don’t have a van, and it’s too far to walk.’
    ‘And dogs falling off cliffs is harder to recover from than dogs up trees?’
    She narrowed her eyes. ‘The park does provide fewer obstacles.’
    ‘But today you’re dogless.’
    ‘I’m on my way to Jessica’s. To take her dogs to the risk-free park. Do…do you know her?’ Chips barked from the porch.
    ‘Who?’ Mark frowned. He took a step closer to her, and Cat could smell his aftershave. It was subtle, it smelled expensive. Cat swallowed.
    ‘Jessica Heybourne. She lives at number one. I thought you might have bumped into her.’
    He was staring at her, his lips curved into a smile. ‘I just need to let Chips in, hang on.’ He climbed the steps, unlocked the door, waited as the collie raced inside, then turned to face her. ‘I don’t know many people in Fairview, I’ve not been here very long.’
    ‘Right.’ Cat couldn’t ask him again without it sounding obvious. ‘But you like it?’
    Mark nodded and descended the steps. ‘It has many plus points, many striking views. Lots of things to recommend it. Primrose Terrace seems like a great place to live. Are you near here?’
    ‘I’m at number nine,’ Cat said. ‘It’s a very friendly road. I know Elsie at number ten, the owners of the bed and breakfast seem lovely, and of course there’s Jessica.’
    ‘Of course,’ Mark said. He took Cat’s upper arm and pulled her towards him. Her breath caught in her throat until she heard the pushchair rumble past and a woman calling: ‘Thank you.’ But by then her face was inches from his, and her stomach had discovered it could do somersaults. Never mind her finding out if Mark was being unfaithful to Jessica, she was about to be the unfaithfulness. ‘We’re blocking the pavement,’ he said, not taking his eyes from her face.

    ‘We should move.’ She stepped backwards, swallowed and put what she hoped was a