Page 48 of Christmas off Script
Leo cleared his throat. ‘Yes, table for two under the name Foxbrooke?’
The man checked his tablet. ‘I have you here. Welcome to L’Art de Vivre. Please, follow me.’
Leo extended his arm again for Ellie to go ahead of him, shaking his head at himself. If these were his social skills, it was no wonder since Lila ended their on-off relationship, he hadn’t managed to hold a new one down for longer than a few weeks.
The restaurant manager took Ellie’s coat and pulled out her seat before Leo could do it. ‘Your server will be with you shortly. Have a fantastic evening with us and enjoy your meal.’
Ellie gave him a dazzling smile. ‘Thank you.’
Putting his coat over the back of his chair, Leo sat, trying to think of something,anythingto say. He thought he wanted a girlfriend, but getting one was such hard work and he never seemed to get it right. The women he met were always lovely, but there was no spark, no real connection.
‘So,’ he began. ‘What line of work are you in?’
Oh, way to go with the chat-up lines…
‘I’m a secondary school teacher.’
He brightened up. ‘Cool! My best friend’s a teacher.’
‘What subject?’
‘She teaches art.’
Ellie paused, her brow furrowing slightly. ‘Your best friend’s a woman?’
‘Yeah, we’ve been friends since we were in primary. She’s awesome.’ Leo smiled as he thought of Ella, feeling at ease for the first time since he’d left the manor. ‘And she’s always been an amazing artist. I’ve still got the very first drawing she ever gave me. It’s a picture of us as a prince and princess in front of a castle. She even drew arrows pointing at us with “Ella” and “Leo” written next to them. It’s super cute. I had the picture framed a few years ago, along with loads of other drawings she’s given me.’
‘Ella?’
‘Yeah. Ella Chamberlain. Do you know her?’
Ellie shook her head. ‘But she sounds like a really special person.’
Leo sighed happily. ‘The best. I love her as much as my own sisters.’ He frowned. ‘Actually, I probably love her more because she’s never once annoyed me.’ He grinned across the table and lowered his voice as if imparting a secret. ‘But don’t ever tell them that.’
Ellie was looking at him strangely. ‘And things have never been weird between you and her?’
‘Weird? In what way?’
‘You know. Like you fancied her or something.’
Leo waved his hand dismissively. ‘Not really. I had a massive crush on her once, but that was years ago. Things are never weird between us.’
But even as he said the words, his cheeks heated, remembering the shock earlier when he realised it wasn’t Willow seeing him half-naked, but Ella. That moment had beenextremelyweird, but he still couldn’t pinpoint exactly why.
Picking up her menu, Ellie ran her eyes over it. ‘You booked the table under Foxbrooke. Is that your surname?’
Leo tensed. ‘Uh-huh.’
‘Like the village near Bath?’
‘Yep. Have you seen the specials board? The coq au vin sounds excellent.’
Ellie had put her menu back down and was gazing at him quizzically. ‘You’re not related to the Duke of Somerset, are you?’
Leo stared intensely at the wine list. ‘Hmm?’
‘The crazy guy who runs orgies at his stately home and has about five wives.’
