kept winging in her direction and making her heart thump that little bit faster.
‘Then maybe me and Harriet will go?’ asked Jeff hopefully, his face cheering up and his cheeks wobbling a little.
‘Absolutely not!’ Harriet adjusted her outraged expression. ‘I mean, maybe not,’ she said a little quieter. Leaning over the table, she tried to insert herself into Logan’s line of sight. ‘But if you don't feel like going out, we could get a takeaway and stay in?’
He shuffled his empty pint glass on the table mat. ‘I don't think …’
‘Jeff can come!’ offered Harriet in desperation. ‘I’ll collect it and come around to your house. You don't have to go anywhere then.’
Both she and Jeff were looking hopefully at Logan. His eyes flickered across the table at Ellie’s distraught face and then back down to his pint.
‘Go on mate,’ encourage Jeff. ‘It sounds great. That’s not a date or anything,’ he cast another reproachful glance at Ellie, ‘it’s just a takeaway with friends.’
‘Ellie,’ asked Logan gently. ‘What do you think about a takeaway? No dates, just with friends.’
Ellie’s breath caught in her throat. Logan had just asked her if she would like to join him for a takeaway at his house. Her hands were trembling under the table and her stomach was on a rollercoaster of delight as she stared into his eyes. Of course, there was the small matter of Jeff and Harriet but as far as Ellie was concerned it was most definitely an invitation from Logan to her. Logan asking Ellie out.
‘A takeaway. With friends,’ she murmured. She wondered anxiously what Fliss would tell her to do. She knew what Laura’s advice would be. ‘I, er … I…’
‘Hello, Ellie.’
Blinking, it took Ellie a moment to work out where the voice was coming from and reluctantly dragging her eyes away from Logan, she turned round to gape at the figure standing by her side.
‘What are you doing here?’ he asked. ‘I didn't know you were interested in football?’
She saw Harriet give him a quick assessment, her eyes running up and down the compact frame, the sandy blond hair, the pleasant open face with its smattering of freckles across the nose and the clear, light blue eyes.
‘Carl!’
All eyes had moved away from her, swinging in Carl’s direction as he stood relaxed, at ease and with, she realised in surprise, a slightly proprietorial air about him.
They were all waiting for her to answer. ‘Oh, er, my office has a team. I came to support them.’
‘Right.’ Nodding his head, Carl turned his gaze on Logan and Jeff, completely ignoring Harriet. ‘Did you win?’
At the shake of heads, he looked sympathetic. ‘Shame. Do you need a lift home, Ellie? Now the match has finished?’
Cheeks flaming, Ellie glared at him. ‘Of course not!’ she snapped. ‘I can find my own way home.’
Watching the exchange, Logan put down his glass and stood up to face Carl. ‘You didn’t introduce us, Ellie,’ he said calmly. ‘Is this a friend of yours?’
‘This is Carl,’ she said reluctantly. ‘He’s….’
Carl interrupted, thrusting his hand out towards Logan to give him a friendly shake.
‘My name’s Carl,’ he said affably. ‘And I'm Ellie’s fiancé. Pleased to meet you all.’
Chapter 15
Ellie gasped, turning to face the shocked faces sitting at the table.
‘No, he isn't!’
‘Pre-wedding jitters,’ threw in Carl. ‘We’re having a break. You know what it’s like.’
None of them appeared to have the remotest idea what it was like although Harriet was watching the exchange with huge eyes, soaking in every word.
‘No!’ said Ellie crossly. ‘We are not having a break. We used to go out and now we don't. There’s nothing temporary about it.’
Carl didn't look at all upset. He just shrugged his shoulders and smiled. ‘Okay, Ellie. Whatever you want to call it. By the way, your mum said not to be too late back because she’s made chicken pie for tea,’ and with a smile that encompassed everyone, he strolled away, leaving Ellie floundering with her mouth opening and closing like a fish.
‘You have a fiancé?’ asked Harriet in amazement.
‘No, I don’t! We used to go out, that’s all.’
‘How long?’
‘What?’
‘How long for?’
Ellie didn't want to answer. She watched Carl put his empty glass on the bar and walk towards the door.
‘How long did you two go out?’ asked Harriet again.
‘Two years,’ muttered Ellie. ‘Well, nearly three I suppose.’
‘Three years! You went out with him for three years? And were you engaged?’
‘No! Not exactly.’
‘How exactly?’
It was a good question, decided Ellie. There had been no proposal, no bended