Read Online To the Moon and Back by Jill Mansell - Free Book Online Page A

knuckles being stroked! ‘We deserve to be happy, don’t we? So how about being happy together? I’d never hurt you, I promise.’ He was hyperventilating and edging closer now. Stunned, Ellie realized his mouth was puckering up, homing in on hers like a heat-seeking missile while his other hand reached out to clasp her by the waist and—
    Click.
    Phew, saved by the seat belt. Lamentably out of practice when it came to making romantic advances, Michael had forgotten to take his off.
    â€˜Michael, no. Stop it.’ His face fell as she gently pushed him away. ‘I can’t do that.’
    â€˜No?’ Ellie saw him mentally adding this fresh rejection to all the others he’d suffered in his life.
    â€˜Sorry. It’s not what I want. But it’s kind of you to… offer.’ Oh God, his chin was starting to wobble, please don’t say he was going to cry.
    â€˜Fine, I know, I get the message.’ Michael sat back, his eyes swimming with tears. ‘Loud and clear. I’m not your type.’ He wiped his hand across his face and heaved a sigh. ‘I’m thirty-five years old and nobody’s ever fancied me. I don’t appear to be anyone’s type.’
    You could feel sorry for someone, but not sorry enough to personally prove them wrong. Ellie said, ‘Oh, Michael, that’s not true. Your wife must have fancied you.’
    He shook his head mournfully. ‘She said she only married me because I had a three-bedroomed house.’
    ***
    â€˜Ugh, that’s so gross.’ Roo was paying a flying visit on her way out to a comedy night at O’Reilly’s bar in Camden. She shuddered dramatically. ‘What a creep.’
    â€˜He’s not a creep, that’s the thing. He’s just sad and lonely.’ Ellie paused. ‘It was slightly gross.’
    â€˜You turned him down. And he’s your boss. That’s going to make things awkward at work.’
    She had a point. Fending off a clumsy, slobbery advance, then having to comfort your manager when he broke down and sobbed on your shoulder wasn’t ideal. It hadn’t upset her because she hadn’t been scared. But Michael was going to be mortified.
    â€˜Maybe it’s time to start looking for something else.’ Ellie had been vaguely considering this for the last fortnight. She had worked at the business center for six years now. Since moving to North London, getting to and from Brace House had become more complicated. Anyway, there was no hurry. She’d see how things went. It might be nice to work for someone who wasn’t always resting their hand on your shoulder and giving it a comforting squeeeeeeeeze.
    â€˜I have to go.’ Roo jumped up at the sound of an idling diesel engine outside. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to come along?’
    â€˜No thanks. Have you seen the rain out there?’
    â€˜Which is why I prebooked a minicab. Come on, give it a try. It’ll be great!’
    Ellie shook her head. ‘I’m shattered. Being propositioned takes it out of you. I’m having a bath and an early night. But thanks anyway.’
    â€˜I hate leaving you on your own.’
    Like a decrepit old spinster.
    â€˜And I hate you telling me that you hate leaving me on my own. I’m not completely useless.’
    â€˜I didn’t mean it like that. But will you be OK?’
    â€˜Now you’re sounding like Paula. I’m fine, I promise.’ As soon as Roo was out of here, she was going to have a lovely, long chat with Jamie. That wasn’t too weird, was it?
    â€˜Yes, but—’
    â€˜Go!’
    Except Jamie wasn’t playing ball tonight. For whatever reason, Ellie discovered she couldn’t conjure him up. Probably because she was too tired. It was hard work doing it properly. She took a bath and tried again afterwards, but the concentration just wasn’t there.
    Then as if to prove her wrong, he turned up