It Had to Be You (42 page)
They sat together looking up at the stars. Lizzy couldn’t remember when she’d seen such a crystal-clear night.
‘By the way, I’ve got you a little something,’ Elliot told her. He pulled something out of his tuxedo pocket.
Lizzy stared at the small black box. Was that what she thought it was?
‘It’s not a ring,’ Elliot said hurriedly.
‘I didn’t think it was,’ she said equally quickly back.
‘What I mean is, not to say I wouldn’t give you a ring ever …’ He started speaking even faster. ‘I mean, what I’m saying is not right
now.
I’m not ruling out anything in the future … That’s if you wanted to … I mean, we don’t have to …’ He trailed off. ‘Oh God.’
Lizzy put a hand on his arm. ‘I think I know what you mean you don’t mean.’
Looking infinitely relieved, Elliot opened the box. Inside was the most exquisite dragonfly brooch lying on a piece of navy velvet. ‘It was my great-grandmother’s,’ he said, scooping the insect out with his finger as gently as if it was actually alive.
‘Are those diamonds real?’ Lizzy gasped.
‘Yep, so be careful.’ He fastened the brooch on her dress. ‘Do you like it?’ he asked nervously.
Lizzy brushed her fingers across the dragonfly’s bejeweled wings. ‘I think it’s the most beautiful thing that I’ve ever seen. I don’t know what to say.’
‘Don’t say anything. My mother wanted you to have it. Says there’s no point it being kept locked up in a drawer.’
Lizzy looked down at the brooch. ‘You do know this is technically animal print, don’t you?’
Elliot sighed loudly. ‘I think I’m fighting a losing battle with that one.’
Amber and Nic were deep in conversation as they rejoined the party. God knows what the two of them had to talk about, but she and Amber seemed to be getting on really well.
‘Where’s Poppet and Rob?’ Lizzy asked.
Amber and Nic exchanged a look. ‘Ah,’ Nic said. ‘I’m not sure how you’re going to feel about this.’
She pointed out of the window, to where Robbie and Poppet were snogging passionately under the pergola.
‘Poppet said as soon as she saw Robbie in his DJ she had
that
feeling. She’s always had a soft spot for him.’
Lizzy watched her brother tenderly cup his hands around Poppet’s face. ‘Oh God,’ she said. ‘This could change everything.’
It was like watching a film you know you shouldn’t be watching but can’t help yourself. After a moment Lizzy dragged her eyes away. ‘OK. I am officially weirded out right now.’
‘I think they make a good couple,’ Elliot told her.
‘I’m not saying they don’t. It’s just
weird
!’ Despite herself Lizzy started to laugh. ‘What if Poppet ends up being my sister-in-law? That could actually happen!’
‘As long as I get to be flower girl,’ Nic drawled.
A few minutes before midnight the DJ started to gather people in the garden. ‘All right people! Does everyone have their champagne?’
In the marquee the swing band were doing a warmup for ‘Auld Lang Syne’.
Lizzy and Elliot stood under a nearby apple tree with their arms around each other. ‘This is the first New Year’s Eve party where I’ve actually enjoyed myself,’ he told her, sounding astonished.
‘I love New Year’s Eve!’
‘Why doesn’t that surprise me?’
‘Oh, get over yourself, party pooper.’
He laughed and kissed her. Warm in his arms, Lizzy looked round the garden. Poppet was sitting on Robbie’s lap in the pergola, laughing at something he’d said. One of the flamingos had finally appeared and had hilariously made a beeline for Nic. Lizzy watched her friend nervously feed the giant bird another bit of canapé and pat it cautiously on its head.
At the front of the crowds Amber and Marcus were waiting for the DJ to start the countdown. Marcus was standing behind Amber with his hands protectively on Amber’s bump. He hadn’t left her side all night.
‘Marcus really does love her, doesn’t he?’ Lizzy said.
‘Yes,’ Elliot admitted. ‘I think he really does.’
‘OK, people. Ten, nine, eight …’
‘Seven, six!’ Everyone shouted.
‘Five, four, three, two, one … Happy New Year everybody!’
A cacophony of fireworks soared up into the sky. People starting cheering and kissing anyone they could get their hands on.
Elliot pulled Lizzy into a passionate embrace. ‘Happy New Year,’ he murmured, just as her knees were about to give way.
‘Happy New Year, Elliot.’
‘Here’s to the future.
Our
future.’
‘Our future,’ she said happily.
Elliot’s green eyes searched her own. ‘Are you sure you’ll be able to put up with working with me? You know what they say about mixing business with pleasure.’ He brushed Lizzy’s mouth with his fingers. ‘And you are always strictly pleasure.’
‘You might think twice about that when we’re stood across an office arguing with each other.’
‘Arguing is what we’re good at, isn’t it? There’s no one else I’d rather be doing it with.’ He smiled. ‘There’s no one else I’d rather be doing anything with, for that matter.’
A rocket went off, matching the
swoosh
inside Lizzy’s stomach.
‘You do know that, don’t you?’ This time Elliot planted the sweetest of kisses on her lips. ‘It was only ever you.’
Some very good people helped me with
It Had to Be You
. It has turned out to be a very different book to how I’d first imagined it, but if I haven’t used your wit and wisdom this time round, it is stored up for the future. A huge thank you to Bryan Barboni, Patrick Vickers, Ben Faulkner, Freddie Lait and Jo Healey. Also to Leila Ager, Abigail Segall, Kara Williams and Dan Tyte, as well as Rob McDonald and Mike Steen. Special thanks to my special readers Jacquie and Jordan Paramor, and also a big shout to the amazing Tom Woolrich. All mistakes are my own. To my brilliant and dedicated editor Katy Loftus for all her hard work, and to the lovely team at Transworld. Last but definitely not least, my wondrous agent Amanda Preston.
Ellie Adams
is happiest when surrounded by crisps, dips, wine and her friends. She is a journalist and dog lover who lives in London.
It Had to Be You
was inspired by a life-long love of redheaded men.
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IT HAD TO BE YOU
A CORGI BOOK: 9780552166850
Version 1.0 Epub ISBN: 9781448109630
First publication in Great Britain
Corgi edition published 2014
Copyright © Ellie Adams 2014
Ellie Adams has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
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