Why did that make her feel so sad? Maybe because she’d already had a best friend and she was currently flying thousands of miles away from her. Alex would do the same, sooner or later.
‘The lock on the gate is a bit dodgy.’ She walked out into the yard, her ridiculous slippers slapping against the flagstones as she moved.
As usual, the latch stuck and the rusty bolt refused to budge. She wiggled it from side to side and then pulled at the same time as she threw the bolt. ‘There,’ she said triumphantly, throwing open the gate.
A flashing light and a shouted, ‘Alex!’ blinded her as she froze in mortification, like an actual rabbit caught in the headlights. A horde of photographers stood in front of her, and with a leap forward they all shoved their cameras in her face.
Chapter Five
Alex slammed the gate shut with one hand and grabbed Ellie’s elbow with the other. ‘Back inside! How did they know I was here?’
Did they follow me last night?But there’d been no sign of them when he’d checked the window first thing this morning.
Brown eyes shining with tears and horror stared back at him. ‘Honestly, I have no idea!’
He squeezed her arm gently. ‘I know.’
‘Alex? Who is she? Are you over Savannah?’ shouted a voice from above. The cockroaches had scaled the wall and were leaning over it precariously, trying to take more photos.
‘This isprivateproperty!’ Ellie shouted back, the shock obviously giving way to anger as she began to rattle the gate, causing the paparazzi to wobble. ‘I’ll call the police! Get off my bloody wall!’ Her eyes were spitting deadly fire and he wouldn’t have been surprised if she’d thrown her slippers at them.
He tugged her away and she stumbled after him, the soft fluffiness of her dressing gown brushing against his arms and chest. His lips twitched with amusement as he bundled her back inside. Her outrage on his behalf was kind of flattering.
With a bang, he shut the door, relieved that there was only one tiny window in the dim corridor and that the glass was warped to provide privacy. A firm barrier between them and the outside world. The Victorian brick smothered the shouts of the paparazzi, until he could almost believe they were alone.
Their breathing was heavy from the run and the panic. Ellie clutched the collar of her fluffy dressing gown closed, her face flushed and her hair tumbling around her in messy waves, a few pink petals still tangled in her hair from last night. Thesweet, heady scent of Ellie andprecociousblossom clung to her skin. He wanted to wrap his arms around her, reassure her that everything would be all right, but he knew that would be a lie.
Once the media had a story they were like a dog with a bone. He needed to speak with Richie – he’d know how to handle it. ‘It’s best not to engage, that’s what they want,’ he said.
Dismay filled her eyes, and she glanced fearfully at the window. ‘Is this what it’s like? People chasing you, shouting personal questions at you?’
‘Sometimes.’
Her expression softened with sympathy. ‘It must be horrible. Almost makes me glad I’m a boring old nurse.’
‘It’s not always like this. Most of the time I’m not even recognised. It’s because of Liam and Savannah. They’re the big stars, and I’m just the villain. I guess the love triangle makes for a juicy story, and they’re trying to get a rise out of me, that’s all. They’ll get bored eventually.’
‘That’s awful.’
He sighed, because it was awful – and he’d dragged Ellie into his mess. Being with her had almost made him forget the bitter truth: that he didn’t belong anywhere, not even with his own family. For years he’d been playing a part, and now that everything had gone to shit he wasn’t sure who he was any more.
‘What’s going on?’ called Ellie’s mother as she and her nanna came hurrying down the stairs. Mark opened the door beside them. It looked as if he hadn’t opened the shop yet – which was a good thing, as Alex was sure the photographers would try the front next. He couldn’t hide inside for ever – they had a business to run.
Guilt gnawed at his insides. None of them deserved any of this. He should have left as soon as he’d woken up, but he’d wanted to see Ellie. Hadn’t wanted their time together to cometo an end. Now, his selfishness was costing a whole family their privacy.
‘There are photographers outside the front too,’ said Mark, giving a fearful glance at the half-raised metal shutters and the moving shadows beyond.
Ellie’s brow furrowed. ‘I don’t understand how they knew you were here. Unless they followed us? But there wasn’t anyone around when we got home last night… Was there?’ He shook his head and her frown deepened in thought. ‘Unless someone tipped them off?’
‘Don’t look at me!’ cried Mark.
Everyone looked at him.
Alex took pity on Mark and retrieved his phone from his pocket. ‘I’ll call my agent. He can get a car out to me in no time. What’s your address?’
‘Why don’t we call Martin instead?’ asked Ellie’s nanna. ‘I’m sure he could help us out. He could even help create a diversion.’
Ellie nodded enthusiastically. ‘Yes! He only lives around the corner and he drives a black cab. I’m sure he could get a friend of his to help as well. If we have one cab pull up out the front first, that’ll distract them while you get into another out the back. Maybe Mark could go out with a hoodie and sunglasses on – he’s almost the same height as you.’
