She's Having the Boss's Baby - By Kate Carlisle Page 0,43
Ellie to Blake.
“Maybe just a glass of water,” Ellie said gratefully. “Thanks, Dee.”
Blake ordered a beer and Dee was back in less than two minutes with their orders. “Let me know if you need anything else,” she said pointedly.
“I will,” Ellie said, smiling up at her friend.
As soon as Dee was out of hearing distance, Blake spoke. “You’re looking good, Ellie.”
“Thank you. I feel good.”
“I wasn’t sure if I’d run into you here tonight, but I’m glad I did. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. About us. I know I hurt you when I broke up with you, but I was… I don’t know, confused, I guess. You shocked me.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.” She smiled ruefully. “It wasn’t fair of me to spring my life story on you.”
“I guess I asked for it,” he said with a sheepish grin.
She chuckled lightly. “Yes, you did.”
He relaxed back in his chair and sipped his beer. “So I hear you’re seeing one of the Sutherland brothers. Is it serious?”
Her eyes narrowed. Was that why Blake was here? Was she suddenly more appealing to him now that she was involved with Aidan? And how had he found out about her relationship with Aidan? The island was like a small town, but they had been very discreet, she thought. “We’re good friends, that’s all.”
He surprised her by leaning forward and taking hold of her hand. “If that’s true, then I’d like you to consider giving me another chance. I thought we had a good thing going until you laid that bombshell on me.”
“Until I told you I wanted to have a child.”
“Yeah.” He shrugged. “But, hey, if that’s what you want, I’m willing to help you out there.”
Not if he were the last man on earth, she thought as she pulled her hand away. “That’s very kind of you to offer, but I think I’ll pass.”
“So you are sleeping with Sutherland.”
She smiled tightly. “I didn’t say that.”
He chuckled. “You didn’t have to. If you’re not interested in getting back with me, then I have to assume you’re doing the horizontal bop with him.”
The horizontal bop? Was this guy in high school or something? Aidan had been so right about Blake. He was kind of a jerk. She was lucky she’d never had to see this side of him.
Ellie pushed her chair out and stood looking down at him. “Your assumption is wrong, Blake. My refusal to get back together with you has nothing to do with anything but the fact that I’m just not interested. See you around.”
*
Aidan couldn’t believe it. He’d seen Ellie leading Blake out to this deserted area of the terrace, so he followed them, remaining back behind a thick, vine-strewn column in order to watch them. It was too bad he couldn’t get close enough to hear their conversation.
He refused to question why he even cared except to say that he was worried about Ellie. So that’s why he was loitering in the area. Okay, maybe skulking would be a more accurate description, but why quibble? He’d never liked Blake for so many reasons and here was another one. The guy was holding Ellie’s hand. What the hell? There was no way Ellie could be fooled by his good looks. The guy was a creep.
Maybe she agreed because at that moment, she slipped her hand away from his, then stood and walked away.
But why was she smiling? She shouldn’t be smiling after talking to Blake.
Aidan rounded the column and stepped out just as she was about to walk past him. “Hello, there.”
She stopped abruptly. “What’re you doing out here?”
“Just checking the foliage,” he said, brushing his hand along the flowering vine. He nodded toward Blake, who had taken off in the opposite direction. “What did he want?”
Ellie planted both hands on her hips. “Were you spying on me?”
“Maybe. I warned you what he was like. He’s a jerk. He’s not good enough for you.”
“I never said he was.”
“You were holding hands with him.”
“He grabbed my hand and I pulled it back.”
“Not right away.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. She moved closer, touched his chest and smiled up at him so sweetly that his jaw muscles began to loosen up. “Did you come out here to protect me?”
“I told you he was a jerk,” he grumbled. “I came out here to make sure he didn’t pull a number on you.”
“That was very nice of you, Aidan,” she said. “But you and I aren’t really a couple, remember? I have to take