‘A little nervous. I’ll be glad when the presentation is over and we can just enjoy our food.’
‘What do you think of this?’ Jenny asked, holding a dress against her body. ‘I don’t want to be overdressed or underdressed.’
‘Mmm, I’m not sure about that one. I don’t mean to offend.’
‘What about this one?’ Jenny held up a pair of black trousers with a spotted bow-tie blouse.
‘Hmmm.’ Elle hesitated. ‘Maybe. I’m not sure though – it kind of looks like something you’d wear to an interview.’
‘Yes, that’s exactly what George said!’
They both laughed.
‘This one?’
‘That’s the one,’ Elle agreed, smiling. ‘That looks lovely and the colour suits you.’
Jenny was holding up a navy chiffon dress that gathered softly around the neckline and fell to just below her knees.
‘Perfect,’ she’d said. ‘I have a red cardigan that I can dress it up with and a matching handbag.’
‘All sorted.’
‘What are you wearing, Elle?’ she’d asked then.
‘I’ve borrowed a little black dress off Pippa. Honestly, she could open her own boutique with the amount of stuff she hoards.’
Jenny had laughed. ‘I’m a bit like that with shoes,’ she’d said. ‘You can never have too many shoes.’
The rest of the evening had gone swimmingly and they’d arranged to meet outside the venue on Saturday night before they went in to the presentation.
‘Here we are.’ Elle bounded up the steps and unlocked the front door. Noah followed her into the hallway and tossed his holdall on the floor before giving her a sheepish look.
‘I’d probably better hang up my shirt and trousers for tomorrow night. Otherwise, I’ll end up having to iron them again.’
‘There’ll be a few spare coat hangers in my wardrobe – go up and help yourself.’
Noah kissed her on the cheek before disappearing up the stairs.
Pippa had left Elle a note on the table to say she’d gone round to Aiden’s for tea and to meet his dad, but she invited them both to join them in the pub afterwards if they fancied it.
‘What do you want to do?’ Elle asked Noah, handing the note to him, when he came back downstairs.
‘I’d rather curl up with you on the settee and maybe get a takeaway? Come here.’
He pulled her towards him and lowered his lips to hers. The kiss instantly sent her heart fluttering.
‘How do you do that to me?’ she murmured. ‘You make me go weak at the knees.’
‘Good,’ he replied, his eyes locking playfully with hers. ‘You have exactly the same effect on me.’ He pretended his legs had given way and pulled Elle down on the settee next to him. With his strong arms wrapped around her he began nuzzling her neck.
‘Let’s order our food first, then you can take full advantage of me afterwards.’
‘Spoilsport, but I am hungry,’ he replied, sitting up. He spotted the signed Sam Stone novel on the table.
‘Tell me the story behind this again,’ he urged, opening the book.
‘It was my birthday and it just appeared out of nowhere on the desk at work. It was bizarre! There was no one around and Pippa and Aiden hadn’t seen anyone loitering.’
