white and endearingly crooked; he still looked like a scruffy tennis player, but today he was a scruffy tennis player who’d just won a Grand Slam tournament and couldn’t believe his luck. His eyes crinkling, he rubbed a hand across the golden stubble on his jaw. ‘We know you did. So anyhow, the contract’s been signed. Our feet have hardly touched the ground, but we’re back in London. So now you understand why we had to come and see you.’
Ellie was overwhelmed. ‘I’m so glad you did.’
‘Ellie?’ There were actually tears of happiness swimming in Kaye’s eyes. ‘Is it OK if I give you a hug?’
Ellie laughed and got herself enthusiastically hugged. Meanwhile Joe shook hands with Zack, then Kaye let go of Ellie and gave Zack a hug too. This was followed by a slightly awkward moment when Ellie swung around and held out her arms, expecting it to be her turn with Joe. But it didn’t happen; he was too busy looking at Kaye, waiting for her hug with Zack to be over.
Never mind. It was sweet. They were so madly in love.
‘OK,’ said Kaye, when they’d finished. ‘Well, that’s it!’ She gave Joe’s arm a light tap. ‘I’ll wait outside.’ Turning to Ellie, she added, ‘Joe wants a quick word with you. Is that OK?’
Joe in turn glanced at Zack. ‘A quick private word, if you wouldn’t mind. It’s just something about Tony Weston… kind of private…’
‘Of course. No problem.’ Zack opened the office door and indicated for Joe’s wife to go ahead of him. ‘I’ll show Kaye out.’
The door closed behind them.
‘I lied,’ said Joe.
‘In what way?’ Ellie really hoped he hadn’t made up the whole sold-the-film script story. Kaye would disembowel him if he had.
‘This isn’t about Tony Weston.’
‘No?’
‘OK, of course we wanted to thank you. But I also had an ulterior motive for coming here today.’ He exhaled. ‘Bringing you those flowers is my way of saying I think you’re gorgeous and I’ve fancied you rotten since the first time I saw you.’
Ellie did a double take. Was he serious? ‘What?’
‘Oh yes. So how about it? Fancy meeting up one evening?’ Another pause, then Joe said with an easy smile, ‘You look pretty shocked. I’m not that bad, am I?’
Were all men like this? Ellie felt herself flush with anger.
‘What about Kaye?’
‘What about her?’
‘You’re married!’
‘I’m not married! Who would I be married to? Kaye?’ His eyebrows disappeared up under his tousled blond bangs. ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe you thought that. Kaye’s my sister.’
Oh.
Oh.
Well.
‘Oops,’ said Ellie. ‘I got it wrong. Just kind of assumed. You have the same name. You look married.’
Alarm mingled with horror. ‘How? ’
‘I mean, you aren’t anything alike.’ It was an understandable mistake, surely. Joe had messy blond hair and green eyes; he was tall, thin, and gangly. Kaye was small and dark and neat. She also wore a wedding ring. Together they were the Kerrigans.
‘I’m like Mum, Kaye takes after Dad. She’s married. No kids. We write together, that’s all, I promise. I’m completely single. So shall I ask the question again?’
‘Hang on, just let me think this through.’ Seeing someone in a whole new light took a bit of adjusting to. Joe Kerrigan wasn’t married to Kaye. He’d just asked her out on a date. He was physically attractive but not in an obvious way. His nose was beaky, he had a ready smile and a scruffy, laid-back approach to clothes which she found captivating. Basically, he wasn’t the kind who’d intimidate you.
‘Just so you know,’ said Joe, ‘I’m starting to get nervous now.’
‘Really?’
‘Oh yes, really. The worst thing is, Kaye said you’d turn me down. And I hate it when I’m wrong and she’s right.’
‘Is she unbearable?’
He shook his head mournfully. ‘Kaye’s a gloater. She could take it up professionally. You can’t imagine what it’s like, having her as a sister. Actually, I’ve run out of nerve. Can we forget this ever happened? I’d rather back out now than get turned down.’
‘Can I just ask a question?’
‘Feel free.’
‘How do you know I’m single? I might not be,’ said Ellie.‘I could be living with someone.’
‘I asked Tony Weston. You’re not. You broke up with some guy recently. But you’re definitely not heartbroken about it,’ said Joe.‘I checked.’
Ellie relaxed. He was funny, unthreatening, and good company. Now that she was trying to weigh up the pros and cons, she was finding it hard to muster any cons. The more she thought about it, the more attractive the proposition