Chapter Twenty-nine
Ellie
Thursday 27 February
Ellie gave a squeal of excitement. Spencer had texted her.
Hope you’re having a good week. I really don’t want to wait until Saturday to see you. Are you free tonight?
Not one for playing games, she fired back a quick text. You’re in luck. I was supposed to be washing my hair.
He replied almost immediately . Excellent. I thought we could go for a drink after work then dinner. How does that sound?
Perfect.
Great. Text me your work address and what time you finish and I’ll pick you up. Do you have any particular preference with regards to food? She liked that he’d asked. It was fine to take the lead on a first date but by the second date, it felt right that he should check she was on board with whatever cuisine he chose, or that he gave her the chance to choose. Since she wasn’t a fussy eater, she told him she was happy to leave matters in his hands. She’d leave herself in his hands too, she thought, then laughed at herself. What was she like?
Ellie had texted Chloe to fill her in on the latest. She hadn’t wanted to be all jollity with regards to her love life when poor Anouska had no idea what was happening with her own relationship, and Jess was probably on her way to the airport by now.
Chloe had suggested a meet-up at a child-friendly café in town since she would have Rosie in tow.
Ellie had blown in, late as usual, her curls tumbling around her face and plonked herself down on the chair opposite her sister. Once she’d greeted them both and stopped smiling, thoughts of Spencer ever-present in her mind, Chloe finally got a chance to grill her.
‘So, what’s he like?’ Chloe asked as she bounced a tearful Rosie on her knee. Her niece was being a bit clingy, wouldn’t even go to Auntie Ell.
‘He’s nice, really nice.’
‘Nice? Seriously? Els, that’s an insult not a compliment. You can’t call the poor bloke “nice”.’
‘OK. He’s gorgeous, a little over six foot, blonde hair, amazing blue eyes, lovely smile. Easy to talk to, down to earth, runs his own company, artistic. Has all his own teeth, as far as I know. Unattached.’
‘Now, that’s a better picture you’ve painted,’ Chloe said.
‘So glad to have met your expectation this time.’
Chloe made a face. ‘So, when are you seeing him again?’
Unable to hold back the smile dancing on her lips, Ellie said, ‘Tonight. He texted to say he couldn’t wait until Saturday to see me! I can’t wait. He’s been away for work. Drawbacks of owning the company.’
‘You know what they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder.’
‘Yes, but we’ve only just met. We haven’t had time to fall madly in love and then miss each other when we’re apart. What if he meets someone else? Or what if he has someone in every city he visits?’
Chloe shook her head. ‘Oh my God, you’ve got it bad!’
‘No, I don’t,’ Ellie protested.
‘Yes you do, otherwise you wouldn’t be making such wild, stupid accusations. Why would he fool around when he’s only just met you and is obviously into you?’
‘He wouldn’t be the first,’ Ellie muttered.
‘C’mon, you’re just scared because of what happened with Scumbag. I think you should let things take their course,’ Chloe said. ‘Don’t get me wrong, don’t take any crap from him, but don’t spoil something that could turn out to be amazing by overthinking and overanalysing it, or tarring the luscious Spencer with the same brush as Scumbag.’
‘Maybe you’re right. Ooh, I have some good news, at least, I hope so.’
‘Oh?’ Chloe tilted her head to one side.
‘I suggested to Anouska that she try to get Zach to come back by proposing on the radio on the twenty-ninth.’
‘You did not!’
Ellie nodded. ‘I did, and she’s agreed to give it a try. I’m praying both Jess and Anouska’s proposals go off without a hitch, even if my own was never meant to be.’
Chloe took Ellie’s hand. ‘You know something, Ellie Macpherson? You’re a good soul.’
Ellie reddened and was fortunately saved by Rosie.
‘Auntie Ell, can I sit on your knee, please?’
‘Sure, poppet. Up you come.’
‘Good, that means Mummy can go and get me some chocolate buttons.’ Rosie shot her mother an angelic yet smug smile, then clambered down off Chloe and onto Ellie as the two adults shared an incredulous look.
‘That one’s too clever by half,’ whispered Ellie.
‘Oh, don’t I know it. Would you like some chocolate buttons too?’
Giving Chloe a look as if to say, ‘What am I, five?’, Ellie then said, ‘Of course. Can’t believe you had to ask. Can you grab me a latte, too? I need to be back at work in half an hour.’
The afternoon passed surprisingly quickly. Ellie had been so embroiled in the work she was doing shadowing Trish that she had barely notice the hours go by. It was almost five o’clock when her desk phone rang.
‘Ellie, there’s someone in Reception for you,’ the receptionist told her.
‘He or she?’
‘He.’
‘Did he give a name?’
‘No. He said you’d know who it was.’
Spencer.
Ellie thanked her and replaced the receiver, a skip in her step as she strode towards the elevator bank. Her body zinged with anticipation. It had been a long time since she’d felt like that.
As the lift doors opened, her jaw clenched and her fists involuntarily balled up.
Scott.
Why couldn’t he leave her alone? She was doing fine without him. Yes, she had the occasional pang when she thought back to the few positive memories of their relationship, but in retrospect those were so long ago, they were barely worth mentioning. She routinely asked herself why she had ever considered marrying him. Surely she deserved better. It must have been a case of not wanting to give up on the relationship, having already put so much into it.
She could about-turn, then call down from her office to ask the receptionist to deal with him, saying she wasn’t available after all, but he’d only come back another time. She had to sort this once and for all.
‘Scott. To what do I owe the pleasure?’ Ellie’s voice held a note of steel as she strode towards him.
He had the good grace to look shamefaced at least.
‘Els,’ he said, setting down on the reception desk the heart-shaped balloon he had been carrying and reaching his hands out towards Ellie’s shoulders as if to pull her towards him.
‘Don’t Els me,’ she spat, her voice dangerously soft. ‘I only came down here to advise you not to come here again. Get it through your thick head. I don’t want to see you ever again.’
‘But Ellie–’ for once he’d taken note of her insistence and not used her nickname ‘–I just want to explain.’
‘There’s no need to explain,’ she hissed. ‘I’m not blind. Nor is Chloe. I don’t need someone like you in my life, and anyway, for what, two nights a week? We weren’t going anywhere. That’s clear now. It just took me a long time to realise it.’ She leant in to him. ‘Now. Don’t. Come. Here. Again.’ She glared at him for a long moment to hammer home her point then stalked back to the lift.
When she returned to her desk, the phone was ringing.
For goodness’ sake, this had better not be him again .
‘Hi, Ellie. Sorry, but I couldn’t help overhearing. Well done. He looked right up himself, that one. Glad you put him in his place.’
Ellie grinned at the receptionist’s comment. She had acquitted herself quite well. ‘Thanks.’
‘He left something for you, though.’
When Ellie didn’t answer, she said, ‘It’s in a White Company bag.’
‘Small mercies,’ Ellie muttered under her breath. ‘I’ll pick it up on my way out.’
There was no point in whatever was in the bag going to waste and since she’d spent plenty of time, effort and money on Scott in the past, if he’d bought her a gift and she liked it, she’d keep it.
As Ellie sat back down at her desk, she received a message from Anouska, saying that the radio proposal was a go. Fantastic. She smiled, praying this would work.
It was a pity matters with Anouska and Zach were still unresolved. It had been going on for well over a week now, with Zach not quite able to forgive Anouska, yet saying he would one hundred per cent support the baby when it came. Personally, Ellie wanted to take Zach and shake him until he saw sense, but she didn’t think telling Anouska so would be particularly productive. She just felt so sorry for Anouska and her situation. She needed to avoid undue stress. It was bad for the baby. Surely Zach must know that.
Fingers crossed, the proposal would do the trick.
She wondered how Jess was getting on. She hoped her proposal would go well. For a moment her thoughts turned to Scott and the Eilean Donan Castle proposal that never was, then she mentally shook him from her head and replaced him with Spencer. He was far more deserving of featuring in her daydreams.
Twenty minutes later, Spencer was not featuring so much in her daydreams as her nightmares. He hadn’t turned up. Surely she hadn’t been stood up again.
This was ridiculous. The building would be closing soon, leaving only the security guard for company. Most people in the company tended to leave on time. They had lives to lead, or parties to go to.
Ten minutes later, Ellie had had enough of waiting around. She texted Spencer. Pity you couldn’t make it. I was looking forward to tonight, but I don’t appreciate being messed about. Have a nice life.
Hot tears pooled in her eyes and she brushed them away angrily, glad no one else was around to witness her pain. How had she been taken in again so soon? Half an hour late on a second date, with no message, nothing. No, she was done with being treated like crap. Spencer Delaney was history. As if to press home the point, she deleted his number, then ordered herself a cab. Since he’d suggested he pick her up, she had no transport to take her home.
Ellie sat in the toilet cubicle for a full ten minutes, willing herself not to cry. She’d come in here just in case Security could see her sobbing at her desk.
What was wrong with her? Why did she attract assholes? He’d seemed so genuine too, so into her. Clearly she had no idea how to read men. Well, she was done with them now– Scott, Spencer, all of them. She sobbed harder into her hands as she perched on the closed toilet lid, a tissue in her hand to wipe her dripping nose.
She finally came out and baulked at the sight in the mirror. Oh well, that mascara wasn’t waterproof after all. She cleaned herself up as best she could, then returned to her office to pick up her bag and phone.
Three missed calls. One text. Unknown number.
In her foggy state, it took Ellie a minute before she realised this would be Spencer’s number, which she’d deleted.
Tentatively, she opened the text.
Ellie, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to mess you about, but when I saw you with that guy earlier, it was clear there was something going on with you both. We’ve all got baggage, but I think yours might be too fresh still. I’m not sure you’re ready to move on just yet, and honestly, I don’t think I’m strong enough to unpack it all. For the record, I really like you, which is why I didn’t want to wait until Saturday to see you. I wish you all the best. Spencer.
Shit! He saw me with Scott. Ellie groaned, and the sound was almost primeval. How could that two-timing, lying scumbag still be ruining her life? Aargh!
After a few minutes of trying, and failing, to calm down, she did her best to focus, then her heart soared. Spencer liked her. Ellie gritted her teeth. She was not letting Scott screw things up for her. He’d been doing that for quite long enough. She picked up her bag and flew down the stairs, two at a time, her final thought that Spencer was still up for grabs… if she could only talk to him.
Her fingers flew over the keys of her phone as she stood outside her building, impervious to the cold.
If you really do like me, trust me. Yes, that was my ex, emphasis on the ex. And our issues are most definitely resolved now. If you still want to see me, I’ll be outside my building for the next fifteen minutes. If you’re not here in that time, I’ll take that as your answer. Ellie.
Ellie’s toes went numb first, despite her hopping from foot to foot to try to keep warm. Why had she said she’d wait outside the building? That was a dumb move. In February, in Scotland. Her neck hurt from constantly craning to see if any of the cars coming were Spencer’s. Ten minutes gone.
Her fingers were freezing. Whose idea were fingerless gloves anyway? She was only wearing them because she’d lost her other ones, and Chloe had gifted her these. Useless they were. Twelve minutes.
She tried to think warm thoughts in an attempt to forget how cold she was. Hot water bottle. Latte. Hot chocolate. Flames. Scalding shower. Nope, it wasn’t helping.
Fourteen minutes. She sighed. The tears threatened to fall again. This was it. She’d made an even bigger fool of herself now, but not only that, she’d got it wrong– again. She checked her phone. No new messages.
The lights of an approaching car blinded her and she shielded her eyes as Spencer Delaney unfolded his long, lean body from the driver seat and loped towards her, his eyes twinkling.
She hadn’t realised how much she’d missed him until he was standing there in front of her, all sexy and dishevelled.
‘Hi.’ He pulled on his gloves as he reached her, his eyes searching hers.
‘Hi,’ Ellie said, barely daring to speak. ‘You came.’
‘I did.’ He smiled.
‘Spencer, I can explain.’
He shook his head and held up his hands. ‘No need. I’ve given myself a right talking-to since I left that message, knowing I’d messed up. I was actually talking to myself out loud in the street. I got some right funny looks, I can tell you.
‘I had no right to assume or presume anything. The past is your business, and it’s just that– the past. And we have to move on from it.’ A soupcon of a smile escaped his lips. ‘I probably don’t deserve it, but can we start again?’
Ellie breathed a sigh of relief. ‘I’d like that. Very much.’
‘Good, because I think you might need me to heat you up. You look frozen.’
Ellie grinned. ‘I am, and I do. Just one thing first.’
Spencer quirked an eyebrow, his cheeky smile disappearing into uncertainty for a second. ‘Go ahead.’
‘Don’t ever stand me up again.’ Her tone was playful, but her message was clear.
‘Oh, don’t worry, I won’t. I couldn’t be that stupid twice.’ Then Spencer bent down, their bodies met and as they embraced, Ellie’s soul fizzed with happiness.