The Way to a Woman's Heart Read Online Free PDF Page B

him.’
    ‘Not the mysterious Roy?’
    Poll shook her head. ‘No, not yet. Roy’s been staying somewhere else and will be along later. I said we’d give Ash and Joe a few minutes to get the stuff upstairs and then I’ll introduce you.’
    Ella nodded. ‘Fine – but I still wonder why isn’t Roy here helping with the move.’
    ‘I’ve no idea. Maybe you’d like to ask?’
    ‘And maybe I’ll just do that,’ Ella laughed. ‘Are you suggesting that I’m nosey?’
    ‘As I don’t know you well enough yet, I wouldn’t dream of it.’
    Ella chuckled. ‘I’ll save you the bother, then. I am. Very.’
    ‘Me too.’
    They smiled at one another.
    Grabbing his favourite lorry, George suddenly clambered from the dirt pit and scampered happily towards the kitchen door.
    ‘I think he wants to go and see what’s happening and do the introductions now, too.’ Ella grinned. ‘So clearly we’re not the only nosey ones.’
    Poll stood up. ‘Come on then, I expect they’re still unpacking, but I promise you, you will adore Ash.’
    As they reached the front door, there was no sign of Joe outside, but Ash was dragging a final heap of bags from theestate car and George and the dogs rushed to issue their customary greetings.
    Ash, as Ella had done, was reacting very nicely to the onslaught, Poll noticed with pleasure. He certainly was very charming.
    Ash paused in the introductions and patting and stroking and smiled again. He really did have the most devastating smile. ‘I’m almost done here. We’ve got most of the stuff in. It’s a fabulous room – absolutely perfect. Thanks so much.’
    ‘You’re very welcome.’ Poll winced slightly at the warmth of the reception George and the dogs were giving Ash. ‘I hope you’ll both be very happy here and –’
    ‘Oooh.’ Ella’s eyes widened as Ash strolled past Poll. ‘Wow. He’s really fit – and absolutely gorgeous.’
    ‘Mmm,’ Poll chuckled. ‘And maybe I’ve got this wrong, but didn’t you say in your letters that you’d got a boyfriend in London?’
    ‘Yes, well, yes, but it’s a long story.’
    Poll raised her eyebrows. ‘Which, as I’m incurably nosey, you’ll tell me all about sometime soon?’
    Ella laughed. ‘Maybe I will, and maybe I won’t.’
    ‘Of course you will.’ Poll smiled. ‘I’m a good listener. It goes with the nosiness. Anyway, even if you didn’t have a boyfriend at home,
he
is definitely not your type.’
    ‘Actually, he is,’ Ella said happily. ‘In a totally hypothetical way, of course, given that I’m no longer young, free and single. But he’s drop dead gorgeous. I love dark hair and blue eyes, and look at those cheekbones and the length of those eyelashes…’
    ‘Yes, gorgeous he may be, but he’s definitely not your type.’
    ‘Oh, believe me he is – a girl can look and appreciate these things, can’t she? What did you say his name was again? Joe?’
    ‘No… No, Ella, listen. He’s
not
Joe. Joe’s the friend who’s sorting stuff out upstairs.
He’s
Ash. Ash Lawrence.’ Poll stretched her eyes and lips in exaggerated agitation. ‘
Ash Lawrence
… Get it? Gay chef, boyfriend called Roy…’
    ‘Ah – damn.’ Ella nodded slowly. ‘That’s Ash Lawrence, is it? Now I see why he’s very not my type. What a shame, because he’s too stunning for words. Blimey then, I wonder what Roy’s like?’
    ‘Beautiful,’ Ash Lawrence said smoothly, appearing between them and hauling various bags and suitcases up the steps, ‘and the love of my life.’
    Poll was amused to notice that Ella was blushing. ‘Ash, this is Ella. She’s just arrived too and –’
    ‘Another waif and stray?’ Ash beamed at Ella. ‘I can see I’m in good company. Ash Lawrence.’
    ‘Ella Maloney. Great to meet you. And not a waif and stray, a mother’s help and a willing convert to the rural life.’
    Once George had insisted on shaking hands solemnly again, and Ash had been introduced to the dogs, the cats and three