Chapter Twenty-six
Ellie
Saturday 22 February
‘Hey, sis!’
‘Hi, Ellie. Check you. What time did you get into the city this morning to have so many shopping bags already? I was going to ask you to come shopping with me after lunch.’
‘I’ve been in since early,’ Ellie said as Chloe shrugged herself out of her coat and cast off her gloves and scarf. ‘Perks of being on holiday.’
‘Lucky you. Brr, it’s freezing out there.’
‘Yes, roll on spring. Anyway, how’s my darling niece?’ Ellie asked after giving her sister a peck on the cheek and a brief hug.
‘Causing havoc as ever. I asked her what she was building today with her Duplo and she said “a care home”.’
Ellie burst out laughing. ‘At least it’s original.’
‘Last week it was an orphanage. She’s going to have social services at my door shortly if she tells anyone at nursery. Can you imagine the conversation?’
Ellie grinned then picked up the menu and flipped it over, then turned it back. ‘New menu?’
‘Yep, out today,’ said Chloe. ‘That’s why we’re here.’
‘You get fed up with eating the same things after a while,’ Ellie said as her phone pinged with a message.
Her eyes flitted to the screen and her lips curved upwards.
‘What?’ asked Chloe.
‘What?’ said Ellie, one of her dark curls falling across her eye.
‘Well, I may need pliers to prise that smile off your face, so what’s causing it?’
‘Oh, a message from a friend, that’s all.’
‘Which friend? Not that I’m being nosy or anything, but that’s the kind of smile usually associated with the opposite sex.’
‘Is it?’ Ellie asked nonchalantly.
‘Els.’ There was no mistaking the warning tone in Chloe’s voice. She was pulling the elder sister card.
‘OK, OK, I was going to tell you. That’s why I suggested lunch today.’ She paused for effect then shrieked, ‘I have a date!’ Realising too late how loudly she’d spoken, she then ducked under the table.
‘Els, get out from under there. You’re making a spectacle of yourself. And me,’ Chloe hissed.
Ellie slid back up. ‘I dropped my spoon.’
‘Liar,’ said Chloe good-naturedly. ‘So, c’mon, spill. You have a date? That was fast work.’
‘Yes, and I was hoping for some advice.’ Ellie gave Chloe her best puppy eyes.
‘Right, right. What do you want?’ Chloe knew her well.
‘The little black dress you got from Whistles, the one with the mesh panel.’
‘You mean, my favourite dress, the one that I have never lent to anyone, because I’ve only worn it three times and it cost the equivalent of a month’s mortgage?’
‘Well, I suppose it’s all relative as it depends how much your mortgage is, doesn’t it?’ Ellie said.
That warning glare again.
‘OK. Yes, that dress.’
‘Wow, you must be really into him, and think I’m a sucker.’
‘I do.’
Chloe’s eyes were wide.
‘Like him. Obviously, you aren’t a sucker.’
Chloe sniffed dramatically. ‘OK, you can have it, but on one condition.’
‘Anything.’
‘The Eagles.’
‘No, no way. I hate that stuff.’
Chloe folded her arms. ‘That’s my offer.’
‘I can’t believe you are asking me to go and listen to a band whose music I’m not remotely interested in. Can’t you take someone else? Someone who can name one of their songs?’
‘Nope. That’s the deal.’
‘What about babysitting? I could babysit and you guys could go out for a meal?’
‘No can do. You love babysitting.’ Chloe smirked.
Damn, she was right. She loved Rosie. Chloe could be so infuriating.
‘Fine. But you’re buying the tickets.’
‘Already have done.’ That smirk again.
Ellie’s mouth fell open.
Chloe said, ‘I knew you’d need a favour at some point. So, shall we order, then you can come back to mine for the dress?’
Three minutes to seven. Ellie was starting to get nervous. She smoothed down Chloe’s dress for the hundredth time, fluffed up her curls for the thousandth time and spritzed herself with her favourite perfume. Not too much. She didn’t want him to suffocate in a cloud of Joy.
A car door closed outside. Careful not to be seen, Ellie peeped through the curtains. Moment of truth. Giving herself the once-over, she deemed herself ready, grabbed her handbag and hoped she appeared less nervous than she felt.
Ding-dong.
‘Hi,’ she said shyly on opening the door.
‘You look incredible.’
Ellie considered saying ‘What, this old thing?’ then thought better of it, as it was, after all, a gorgeous dress and perhaps now was the time to start accepting compliments graciously rather than batting them away.
‘Thanks. You don’t look too bad yourself.’
What an understatement. He looked breathtaking in a long black coat, kind of like those you saw lawyers wearing over their suits, with a pale pink shirt underneath, no tie. Phew. Ties had their place, but not on dates. She remembered then that she didn’t know where they were going, but guessed her choice of attire would pass muster given Spencer’s classy outfit.
Spencer opened the passenger door of his Mercedes for her, waited till she was inside then gently closed the door. Ellie couldn’t remember the last time a guy had done that for her, if ever. Clearly she had been moving in the wrong circles, and equally clearly she was now moving in the right ones. No, she was getting ahead of herself. Let’s see where he was taking her first of all, and how they got on.
Twenty minutes later, they parked on one of the side streets off Princes Street. Spencer took her arm and they walked companionably together, chatting about inconsequential things. Apprehension bubbled in Ellie. She cast a sidelong glance at Spencer as he spoke with the manager at Monteiths, for he’d brought her to Monteiths, only the hot ticket of the moment, known for its extravagant cocktails and extensive list of whiskies. Part of her was terrified as this wasn’t her usual haunt, the other part was elated. What was she worrying about?
Spencer evidently thought she would fit in. Ellie absorbed the cocktail bar atmosphere, the high stuccoed ceilings, the ornate rose centrepieces and cornicing. Yet she felt oddly at home here. It was her sort of place, albeit with a bit more class than she was used to. She had frequented bars like this with Chloe, just never with a date, and much of that she knew was down to Scott being tight.
At that moment, a server appeared, interrupting her musings as she showed them to their table. Ellie was delighted to see it was the very table she would have chosen, at the window, overlooking Princes Street, with the imposing backdrop of the castle. She was glad they weren’t tucked away in a cosy little spot. It was too soon for that and her nerves were already jangling. That was a good sign, right? If she was nervous, she cared. Spencer seemed like one of the good guys and she could definitely do with one of those after her abject failure with Scott.
‘It’s lovely here,’ Ellie said once they sat down. ‘I was almost too afraid to wipe my shoes on the mat when I came in, in case I dirtied it.’
‘Ha ha, it’s not that fancy. I like it here, though. It’s central and does good cocktails.’
Ellie’s radar went on alert. If he drank and drove he was a no-no.
‘What do you fancy?’
She guessed ‘you’ was not what he was expecting as an answer, so restricted herself to saying, ‘I don’t know. I’ll need to have a look first, but I do like mojitos.’
‘Ah, the mojitos here are fantastic. That’s what I’m having.’
Before Ellie could raise an eyebrow, or give him a black mark, he clarified, ‘A virgin mojito.’
Trying not to exhale with relief, nor blush at the use of the word ‘virgin’, Ellie applied herself to the task of choosing a cocktail, conscious of Spencer’s eyes on her.
Finally she declared, ‘I’ll have a rosehip gimlet.’
‘A what? That sounds like a turkey needing surgery,’ Spencer said. It was marginally funny but Ellie, whose nerves had kicked in, overdid the joining in laughing thing, until people at nearby tables started to give her strange looks.
Mortified, she tried to rearrange her curls so they covered her face. Spencer leant over and his fingertips grazed her forehead, sending a zing to parts of her that hadn’t zinged in a while as he brushed back the lock which was dangling in front of her eye. ‘Relax. We’re just two people getting to know each other. I can tell you’re nervous. Don’t be. Seriously, I don’t bite. It’s more of a nibble.’
Ellie rolled her eyes and Spencer said, ‘OK, that was a terrible pun. I’m nervous too, which is why I’m talking absolute nonsense. So, what do you say we ditch this nervousness and simply enjoy ourselves?’
Ellie couldn’t argue with that. And recognising that she wasn’t the only nervous one made it so much easier. She was a girl, he was a guy, they appeared to like each other, be attracted to each other. There had been a spark at the supper club event, and here they were. Now to see where it took them, if anywhere, and if it didn’t, well that would be that, but if it did. If it did…
Half an hour later, nerves firmly cast aside, starting on their second cocktail each, they moved through to the restaurant. Ellie noted the luxurious cream leather-bound menus with their stiff scalloped card insert. The place oozed sophistication. The dishes were mainly seafood and steaks, with the occasional nod to vegetarians with an appropriate pasta or risotto dish. It would be slim pickings for them and she was glad she wasn’t vegetarian or vegan as her mouth watered at the many offerings available.
Ten minutes later, she had made her choices. It had been no easy task as there were so many things she liked and even more she wanted to try. She opted for halloumi, carrot and orange salad to start, and baked cod with tarragon jus and a side order of rustic fries for her main. She salivated at the thought of it. Her lunch with Chloe seemed a long time ago. At least she didn’t have to worry about her dress not fitting her afterwards. When she’d tried it on at Chloe’s, she’d been pleasantly surprised to discover it was a little roomy. The break-up diet had its advantages.
Spencer chose the smoked salmon with capers and the halibut to follow. Once they had ordered, he placed his clasped hands on the table. ‘So, Ellie, tell me about yourself. So far, all I know is you like mojitos.’
Agreeing that was a pretty dismal CV, Ellie then said, ‘Well, I’ve lived in Edinburgh all my life, give or take some time out for travelling. I have family here.’
At Spencer’s quizzical expression, she clarified, ‘Parents, sister, brother-in-law, niece.’
She couldn’t help but note the audible sigh Spencer gave. Hopefully, that was of relief that he didn’t appear to have a rival for her affections.
‘And do you like what you do?’
‘I love it. I’ve been doing it for about eight years now. I love Scotland, love Edinburgh, and love painting them in their best light, as well as helping our many B&B and guest house clients to market their properties so they appeal to tourists. I help them find their USP.’
‘Sounds satisfying,’ Spencer agreed.
‘What about you? I already know a little about your work, and of course I met Courtney, and almost met your mum.’ Ellie smiled. ‘But what do you like doing? Is this where you’d normally hang out on a Saturday night?’
‘Ha, not at all. I’d usually be under a blanket on the sofa watching a quiz show. Sorry, did I say that out loud?’
‘’Fraid so.’ Ellie grinned. She quite liked the idea of being under a blanket with Spencer, although she’d happily forgo the quiz show. Perhaps his comment held a hidden message. No, she had to stop reading into things.
Spencer said, ‘Unfortunately I’m often travelling for work, so I don’t get much time to socialise. One of those decisions you make when you don’t have much going on in your life and then when you do, it’s not something you can get out of.’
Ellie let her thoughts catch up then looked at him, a question on her lips.
‘I said that out loud too, didn’t I?’
Ellie was beginning to suspect he was doing this on purpose, but she found it endearing nonetheless. There was a lot to like about Spencer Delaney. Before she had time to reflect upon it further, their starters arrived and silence reigned.
‘That was delicious,’ Ellie said as they left the restaurant. She was a little unsure of what to do now. It was so long since she’d been on a first date, she didn’t know how to act. She and Scott had only had two proper dates and then they had just been together.
When she thought back on it, their relationship had been more akin to friends with benefits. He hadn’t treated her much, that was for sure, although she had forked out plenty on him, and his miserliness had always been a sore point, particularly given he had no mortgage, maintained his lifestyle through a substantial trust fund his parents had set up for him years ago, and had no responsibilities. She couldn’t believe the relief she felt that they were no longer together, and that wasn’t only because she was here with Spencer right now.
They drove back to Ellie’s, and during the drive, they took the opportunity to find out more about each other. At one point Spencer suggested that in a few weeks they could arrange a quiz to see who had the best recall, who could remember the most of the other’s answers. At mention of the future, Ellie flushed. Maybe they’d have that second date then.
Spencer pulled the car up in front of Ellie’s flat, hopped out and opened her door before escorting her to the main door to her building. She liked that he performed these little courtesies.
He stood facing her, a smile playing on his lips. She studied the contours of his face, as if trying to commit it to memory.
‘Thanks, Ellie. I really enjoyed your company. Could we do this again next week?’
Next week? She knew he’d said he was going away, but a whole week. Her heart had been trashed by Scumbag Scott. She had to be careful with it.
‘That sounds good,’ she said as butterflies did a jig in her stomach. ‘Which day were you thinking and I’ll check if I’m free?’
Spencer’s eyes searched hers. ‘I was hoping Saturday. Can I pick you up at seven?’
Saturday was the twenty-ninth, the day she’d been going to propose to Scumbag Scott, before she knew he was a scumbag. The irony of going on a second date with someone else the day she had been set to propose to Scott wasn’t lost on her. In fact, she decided to deliver one final kick in the balls to Scott. ‘Saturday’s good for me.’
‘Fantastic, see you then.’ He started to head towards his car, then seemed to debate something with himself, turned and loped back towards her.
Ellie’s brows knitted.
‘I forgot something.’
‘Oh?’
‘This.’ He gently cupped her face in his hands then kissed her ever so lightly on the lips. Seconds later, she rested her arms on his shoulders and when they finally broke apart, she gazed up at him, her bottom lip held between her teeth.
Wow.