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hadn’t naturally gravitated toward each other
     in the group.
    He felt privileged that she’d chosen to talk to him about Paul though. He’d never
     taken much notice of him when they were together. He’d seemed like a good enough guy,
     but nothing special. Ellie obviously thought he was though if the break-up had affected
     her this badly.
    If she’d wanted to have kids with him.
    For some reason this thought irked him. It must be because he’d subconsciously adopted
     her as the kid sister he’d never had. He was feeling brotherly protection. That must
     be it.
    He’d never felt particularly passionate about any of the women he’d been involved
     with so he couldn’t really relate to her pain. Unless he thought about losing his
     parents, which he tried very hard not to do anymore.
    He sighed and rubbed a hand over his eyes before getting up and stacking the plates
     into the dishwasher. He felt jumpy now, which was a foreign sensation to him.
    Her anger at his reluctance to settle down had rattled him. Truthfully, he’d not given
     much thought recently to his future. He was having too much fun in the present. Kids
     and family life seemed like a lifetime away.

Chapter Three
    Bright sunshine poured in through the huge stained glass windows as Ellie struggled
     down the stairs the next morning.
    The light hurt her tired eyes. Despite being exhausted after dinner, she hadn’t slept
     for ages after crawling into bed.
    This was unusual for her. She’d been sleeping for at least ten hours a day since Paul
     had walked out and normally had no problem falling asleep as early as eight thirty
     in the evening. At one time, she would have been horrified by the mere suggestion
     of being in bed before midnight. Not anymore.
    It had been lovely and warm in her bedroom, so she’d left off her thick baggy sweater,
     but as she passed through the vast hallway she began to regret not putting it on.
     She felt exposed without its all-encompassing comfort.
    Gideon was already in the kitchen, sitting at the scrubbed pine table reading a book.
     An appetizing smell of coffee hung in the air. He looked up when she came in.
    “Bloody hell! There was a woman inside those baggy clothes after all. I was beginning
     to wonder.”
    “Very funny.” Wrapping her arms across her chest and dipping her head, she felt her
     body pull inwards.
    Glancing up, she caught him watching her, a wary expression in his eyes.
    “Are you sure you don’t mind me wearing this stuff? It must be weird seeing me in
     your sister’s clothes.”
    He seemed to shake himself out of a trance. “No, it’s fine. You should keep them,
     they suit you.”
    Ellie snorted. “You’re kind to be kind, but I don’t think so.”
    He shrugged. “Suit yourself.” His gaze dropped momentarily to her chest before sliding
     away. Ellie tightened her arms around her and nodded at the cup in his hand, her nerves
     jangling.
    “You made coffee.”
    “More in the pot.”
    “Thanks.”
    She went over and poured herself a cup. “God, my head hurts. I knew that wine was
     a mistake.”
    “You want to come out for a run? Get the blood flowing,” he suggested.
    She nearly laughed out loud. “Nah, can’t face it.” She’d never been running in her
     life. She’d be a sweaty, tragic mess before they got a hundred meters. More ridiculing
     fodder for him.
    “You sure?”
    “Yeah. I need to chill this morning.”
    “Okay.” He shrugged and got up, shoving his chair backwards with a shriek of wood
     against tile. “There’s toast or cereal for breakfast.”
    “Thanks.”
    He nodded curtly and strode past her to the back door, trailing his spicy scent behind
     him. Ellie breathed it in and held it in her lungs until he’d closed the door behind
     him with a bang.
    She let out her breath with a gasp and slumped onto one of the kitchen chairs. At
     least Penny will be here soon, she reminded herself. Then she could focus solely on
     saving her best friend from