A Promise...to a Proposal?. Kate Hardy

were talking about your date.’

      ‘I guess it was a case of nice guy, wrong time,’ she said with a shrug.

      ‘Would he be the right guy at a different time?’ It was a bit like prodding a bruise, but Ellis wanted to know.

      ‘Probably not,’ she said. ‘There wasn’t that spark between us. Whereas the first time I saw Tom…’

      ‘Yeah. I know.’ He reached across and squeezed her hand briefly.

      Mistake. Because every nerve-end in his own hand tingled at the contact.

      He knew about sparks, all right. Ruby most definitely made him feel that spark. His feelings for anyone he’d dated before just paled by comparison—including his ex-wife. But Ruby was vulnerable, she was still missing Tom, and she was still probably not quite ready to move on. Adding his job to the mix…In his book, it all made her very firmly off limits.

      ‘Hey. If you’re not busy with a date at the weekend, maybe we could do something together,’ he said lightly. ‘There’s that new action film.’

      ‘You want me to go and see a guy-flick with you?’ She laughed. ‘Ellis, much as I love you…’

      As a friend, he reminded himself sharply.

      ‘….action flicks really aren’t my favourites.’

      ‘Hey, this one has a plot,’ he protested.

      ‘As if,’ she scoffed, still laughing. ‘All right, if you’re so desperate to see it, I’ll go with you. But it’s on the understanding that I want ice cream and popcorn.’

      ‘Deal,’ he said. It wasn’t a date date. But it would be enough. Because he didn’t have the right to ask for more.