Page 63 of Brighter Together

There’s no hesitation.

I hold her gaze for another second.

“Then I think we’ll manage.”

A slow smile spreads across her face.

“That was annoyingly sexy.”

“Good,” I chuckle.

“Still a little cocky,” she laughs.

“I can live with that.”

I start the engine before our research programme moves into territory that will get us arrested.

Ella settles back into her seat and retrieves her coffee.

I pull out onto the road.

The silence that follows is comfortable this time.

Her hand rests on the centre console between us.

I place mine over it.

She turns her palm up and threads our fingers together.

Manchester is no longer something I’m dreading.

We have work to do.

Then, apparently, research.

I glance at Ella.

She’s smiling out of the window, her thumb brushing absently against mine.

This could be a very interesting two days.

Chapter 7

Ella

It’s five o’clock by the time we finally finish the first few meetings and head to the hotel for the night.

“Mr Atkinson, welcome back to the Whitworth Townhouse Hotel.”

The concierge smiles as Tommy and I step into the lobby.

Townhouse is doing a lot of work in that name.

The hotel stretches across several adjoining Georgian buildings in the centre of Manchester and somehow manages to feel grand without being stuffy. Marble floors, enormous flower arrangements, brass everywhere and the sort of reception desk that probably costs more than my flat.

And an actual concierge.

I thought they only still existed in films and hotels where a glass of water costs twelve pounds.