CHAPTER 1

      Izzy Shaw glanced around the hotel lobby full of loved-up couples revelling in the sumptuous luxury and wondered in what universe she’d thought a night here by herself could succeed where ice-cream, wine and support sessions with the girls had failed.

      To pass the time as she queued for check-in, and to strengthen her resolve, she mentally ran through the list she’d made of Joe’s faults, which according to her friend Shauna should be referred to at moments of weakness.

      1) Leaves boxer shorts on the floor.

      2) Watches more than one show at once on TV resulting in infuriating flicking of remote control.

      3) Obsessive preoccupation with major football events plus outrageous cash outlay on season ticket.

      4) Leaves toilet door open.

      5) Has one night stands while supposedly working away.

      Of course, that last one was the only one that really counted. She’d put up with all the others for three years, none of them had been deal breakers.

      She reached down for the handle of her overnight bag and moved up two spaces in the line. The couple in front of her were so closely entwined together that she could hardly tell where one person stopped and the other began. As she watched the girl nuzzled into her partner’s neck and Izzy averted her eyes and stared at the glossy marble floor.

       Urgh! Get a room!

      She supposed that’s exactly what they were doing. Just as she would have been, in that parallel universe where Joe hadn’t let her down.

      A few nights in the company of her friends in the wake of her discovery of Joe’s betrayal had certainly filled her with temporary bravado. Opting to take this night away herself as a pamper break instead of just cutting her losses and cancelling had seemed like a great idea when she was buoyed up by wine and chocolate and pep talks.

      ‘It’ll just be a waste of a good room if you don’t go,’ Shauna had insisted. ‘You won’t get the money back now. It’s luxurious, it’s expensive and best of all it’s got the perfect access for Selfridges and Harvey Nicks. An evening in the spa, a gourmet dinner and then you shop until you drop. You’ll be over him within 24 hours.’

      The moment six months ago when she’d booked this place flashed into her mind. Just great. Because what she really needed right now was a flashback to a time when Joe had been everything to her. She gritted her teeth hard. This was her Reinvention Mini-Break, her Get-Strong Mini-Break. It was NOT the planned Izzy-and-Joe’s Surprise Romantic Mini-Break. Plans could change.

      People could change too.

      She reached the front of the line. She carried her bag to the Receptionist and forced a smile across the high marble counter.

      ‘I have a booking in the name of ‘Shaw’,’