Chapter Ten #2
‘Wonderful! Saves me finding places to park,’ she declared cheerfully, as she typed lightning-speed instructions to her office – presumably to tell the billionaires no one was coming to see their house today.
Ellie wondered if Barbara was the most optimistic woman she’d ever met. ‘Next stop St Katharine Docks.’
Despite the usual choking London traffic, Martin made quick work of ducking and diving through the streets to the marina – black cabbies were worth their weight in gold, Ellie thought with a smile.
They stopped outside a huge redbrick Victorian warehouse, and Barbara was the first out.
‘This beautiful warehouse conversion has a four-bed penthouse with beautiful views over the marina. If you have a yacht, I can negotiate the docking costs. There’s a daytime porter, residential lift, and an underground car park with two allocated spaces.
It’s close to the tube – if you wish – as well as all the high-end bars, shops and restaurants that are so abundant here. ’
‘And there’s one less number on the price tag,’ whispered Ellie, tapping the brochure as they followed her into the building.
Alex’s blue eyes sparkled behind his glasses. ‘No need to sell my other properties after all.’
‘Wouldn’t want to burden yourself financially now, would we?’ she teased, and he gave a good-natured laugh.
‘Fair point. Thanks for reminding me of how much of a douche I sound sometimes.’
She smiled sweetly. ‘Any time, except, you’re such an adorable douche.
’ She tried to add to the friendly banter by giving him a playful punch on the bicep.
Her knuckles met with the formidable muscle of his arm and her body warmed in several places as she imagined how good those arms would feel wrapped around her.
It took her several minutes to get over it.
The inside of the penthouse was a wonderful mix of modern luxury and original features.
Exposed brick walls, double-height ceilings, arched windows and doors that made the building light and airy.
The master suite had a walk-in wardrobe and an ensuite; the spare bedrooms were all double, if not triple, the size of her own bedroom at home.
The kitchen was stylish, with a large dining area to the side.
The lounge had beautiful double doors out onto the first of two terraces, and it was the terraces that took her breath away.
The one from the lounge came out into a lovely little seating area overlooking the shiny yachts in the marina, while the other faced out towards the city and river, and also had a hot tub and bar.
‘Well, it’s a real bachelor pad,’ said Ellie, nodding towards the hot tub, her mouth drying at the thought of Alex and his muscular arms relaxing after a long day. She tried to imagine herself beside him.
No, he’d have actresses and starlets beside him, not her. She’d probably be making margaritas at the bar.
‘With both terrace doors open, the breeze can run right through the apartment, creating that light and airy atmosphere you mentioned in your email,’ enthused Barbara.
Alex smirked at Ellie, unrepentant. ‘Sorry, I ripped off one of your wishlist points.’
It was one of the ways she’d described the flat she wanted. ‘Why not? I have excellent taste. I really like this one.’
Barbara was beaming at them like a proud mum. ‘I’ll give you a minute. See you at the front door when you’re ready.’
After she’d gone, Ellie said, ‘You could have some awesome parties here.’
Alex snorted. ‘I don’t really entertain.’
Ellie turned to face him, trying to read his reaction. ‘But do you want to?’
He looked out at the harbour and then back at her. ‘Not really, that time of my life is over. But I can imagine living here. It reminds me of my New York place.’
‘Well, that’s good, right?’
‘It’s a maybe…’
‘Talk to me,’ said Barbara as they approached her at the apartment’s entrance.
‘It’s a possibility,’ said Alex.
‘Well, there’s only one left on our list, but it’s a cracking property and in your first-choice area. Spitalfields.’
Ellie sniggered at the now-blushing Alex and dared to swat his arm once more. Yep, still like a muscly block of granite.
‘In my defence, you made it sound so great.’ He shrugged.
They arrived outside a neo-Georgian townhouse that looked stunning with its arches, orange-red brick and huge black-leaded windows. The road it was nestled in was one of those sleepy side streets that you don’t realise exist in London until you happened to get lost and find one.
This was Ellie’s dream home – if she ever allowed herself to dream this big.
‘Now, this home is bursting at the seams with original features, but also has a real liveable feel. I know one of your requirements was to have a house with a sense of history, but this isn’t austere like the first house I showed you,’ said Barbara, who seemed to instinctively know that Ellie was already falling in love with this building.
She nodded with approval at Ellie’s gasp when they entered the beautiful square-tiled entrance with its sweeping staircase.
They walked through the house slowly, almost reverently. Each room was decorated in warm neutrals, but filled with unique and vibrant artwork that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Tate Modern.
Ellie hadn’t seen this brochure. Perhaps it had been at the bottom of the pile, waiting patiently for its time to shine.
A family home.
The ground-floor rooms had wooden floors, original cosy fireplaces, a large farmhouse kitchen and a dining area with gorgeous windows looking out onto a mature courtyard garden, which even had a rope swing attached to a crab apple tree in its centre.
The bedrooms were all spacious; even the smallest bedroom was huge, and was currently set up as a nursery.
After a quick, awkward glance in, they moved on; Ellie didn’t dare look at Alex.
As they walked from room to room, both she and Alex were silent for the first time that day.
There were five floors in total, the top one being a huge room with bi-folding doors onto a roof terrace, which when opened – as they were now – gave stunning views of Christ Church’s spire.
When they reached it, they paused and stared at the sunny rooftops of London and the spires in the distance. Alex spoke first.
‘It’s perfect, but I don’t think I’m ready for this. I mean, I was… But not now.’
She was surprised by the hot stinging in her eyes. Her heart was a dead weight in her chest. ‘I understand.’
And she did.
Except, this was something she was ready for.
She’d just not met her forever person yet, and increasingly wondered if she ever would.
Her heart was so filled with longing, she could have sworn it was tearing at the seams. She wanted a family, a partner, someone to grow old with.
A quick sidelong look at Alex’s pained, handsome profile made those seams tear a little wider.
There was nothing worse than having a dream ripped apart.
And they both knew the bitterness of that first hand.
‘So, perhaps the bachelor pad?’ she asked.
‘Perhaps.’ Alex turned towards her with sudden enthusiasm. ‘Shall I ask Barbara to make an offer on your flat in Point Clear? Unless you want me to buy you this… I mean, I can tell you like it—’
‘No!’ Ellie jolted as if she’d been punched awake. ‘There’s no way I could afford the bills for this place. Plus, it’s a family home…’
‘So, flat four it is?’
Ellie took a deep breath. They’d been back and forth over text about the available flats in Point Clear, the building her ideal flat was in.
She’d already viewed the building a hundred times with Hannah or on her own.
Every time something had come up for sale she’d viewed it, so she knew the building inside and out.
Two flats were currently on the market, and Alex had wanted her to get the larger one, flat four – the one she’d originally wanted to buy with Hannah.
‘The one-bed is plenty of room for me, and it will be far more manageable bills-wise.’
‘Yes,’ said Alex, and she could tell he was about to argue his case.
‘But the two-bed will give you room to grow. You could always get a flatmate – share the cost of the bills and earn a little extra from their rent. And what if Hannah comes back? She could move in with you just as you’d originally planned. ’
That was a good point. If Hannah did come back, it would suck if they couldn’t return to being flatmates. ‘True… Okay, let’s go for number four then, the two-bed. Thank you.’
‘Great, I’ll get Barbara on it.’
Ellie chuckled. ‘Go Barb! She’ll be skipping all the way to the bank when her commission comes through. She deserves it though – that’s one challenge ticked off both our lists.’
Alex’s face sobered, and he ran his hand through his hair. Immediately Ellie knew she was in trouble. ‘I’ve been thinking…’ he said lightly, before fixing her with a devastatingly intense look. ‘We should probably practise a kiss.’
Ellie gulped.
Alex took off his glasses, and used the corner of his t-shirt to clean them.
The fabric lifted, revealing a strong stomach, the black waistband of his boxers and a line of dark hair above his belt buckle.
Her mouth watered, and she couldn’t help but imagine how heavenly it would feel to have his body pressed against hers.
‘Just so you know what to expect and it seems natural when we do it in public. Are you okay with that?’ he asked casually, putting his glasses back on.
Embarrassed that he might have caught her ogling, Ellie turned and stared out at the beautiful view from the perfect house, and nodded. This whole day had felt like fantasy land and make-believe. Like they were role-playing lives they didn’t actually have. In for a penny… ‘All right.’
Firm, strong hands turned her towards him.
‘You sure?’ His eyes were gentle, and her shoulders relaxed as she looked up into his kind and handsome face, the spring sun warming her flushed cheeks.
A muscle in his jaw feathered as his expression became more serious, and his blue eyes slowly shifted from her eyes, down to her mouth and up again.
‘Yes.’ She breathed out the word, warmth spreading out from her belly in anticipation. His eyes brightened and he stepped forward, her chest brushing against his and causing her nipples to tighten.
She closed her eyes, but the sudden darkness did nothing to ease her pounding heart.
The breeze ruffled her hair, and a large warm hand cupped her jaw.
Soft, full lips pressed against hers in a chaste kiss, that still caused fireworks to burst behind her eyelids.
She had to battle with every nerve in her body to stop herself from leaning into him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him close.
He pulled away, and her eyes blinked open, dazzled by the aching lust racing through her body at such a simple touch.
‘Good, just like that,’ he said, his voice husky and breathless for some reason, and she wasn’t sure if he was explaining the PG nature of their kiss or the fact that she was looking at him like a lovesick puppy.
Desperate to regain control over the situation and her racing heart, she said, ‘Good. Great. PG kisses only, hand-holding, hugs. No tongues, or sex, right?’
Alex’s eyes widened and he gave a gruff cough – no doubt shocked and horrified by the suggestion – and she wished she would just shut up, but her mouth was like a runaway train.
‘Of course not. Why would we use tongues? Or have sex? We should have some boundaries, right? So we do nothing that could lead to hurt feelings or awkwardness later on.’
He nodded dumbly, and she took a deep cleansing breath before forcing a cheerful expression. ‘We’re friends… I’d hate to lose that.’
It would break her.
His expression turned solemn and he took her hands in his, giving them a light but heartfelt squeeze. ‘I’d hate to lose you as a friend. You mean a lot to me.’
Her chest tightened painfully, but she resolutely ignored it. ‘Well, we should probably get going before Barbs sends out a search party.’