“I’ve got Dad and Biddy staying with me at the moment,” I say, a little regretfully, but his face lights up.
“Even better. Family reunion. You do realize I’m only after you for Biddy’s cooking?”
“Oh, I know.” I laugh. “I’m not stupid.”
“So, family supper, then back to mine and…see how it goes? Let’s go somewhere really special.” His eyes are sparking with enthusiasm; I can feel the happiness emanating from him.
“Somewhere really special?” I eye him carefully. “You mean that?”
“Absolutely.” He nods. “Somewhere really, truly, extraordinarily special. Is there anywhere you’d like to go?”
Is there anywhere I’d like to go?
“Hang on.” I scrabble in my bag. Right at the bottom is my ancient handwritten list of restaurants, the one I’ve been carrying around all this time.
“Any of those.” I point. “That. Or that. Or this one. Or that. Maybe there? Not there. And this one…hmm, not sure…”
Alex is staring at the list, a bit stunned, and I suddenly realize this is probably not how most girls react when they’re asked out to dinner.
“Or anywhere,” I amend hastily, crumpling the list. “I mean, really…you choose. I’m sure you’ve got loads of good ideas—”
“Bollocks I do.” He grins. “You’re the expert; you choose.”
“Oh,” I say, discomfited. “But don’t you want to—I mean, shouldn’t the man—”
“Own it, Katie.” He cuts me off. “Enjoy it. You’re choosing, OK? Over to you, my gorgeous Somerset girl.” He kisses my fingertips and pulls me close again, his voice soft in my ear. “You’re the boss.”