Extra Time (70 page)

She tossed her ponytail back over her shoulder. ‘I’m
not
bitter,’ she sniffed.

Ryan raised an eyebrow. ‘Really?’

‘Really. Why would I be? Brandon Palmer is ten times the man you’ll ever be, Ryan. So you’ve probably done me a favour.’

Ryan laughed, he couldn’t help it. Today was throwing up one surreal conversation after another. ‘Glad I’ve been able to help you in some small way, Ellen. You have a nice day now.’

She watched him walk over to his car, silently berating herself for letting her true feelings show more than she’d intended them to. He didn’t seem to be in the least bit bothered that she was now with another man, and someone younger, just as handsome, and just as talented as he was. He should be seeing Brandon Palmer as a threat, not as someone who’d taken her off his hands.

Still, she shouldn’t be expecting the earth just yet. He was bound to be a bit distant right now, with everything that was going on. But Ryan Fisher wasn’t cut out to be a dad. He wasn’t the type. He wasn’t ready to be tied down or trapped by a life of domesticity. Ellen knew exactly what he wanted, and what he didn’t want. She just had to sit and wait it out until the time was right. Until she could make him see just what it was he needed. But, until then, she had Brandon. And who said waiting around had to be boring?

Ryan closed the car door and leaned forward, resting his forehead on the steering wheel, breathing in deep.

Amber was free. And even though he knew she wouldn’t exactly be celebrating the news, he couldn’t help that feeling of hope from swelling up inside him. There was nothing holding her back now – oh, who was
he
trying to kid? She was never going to forget Jim Allen, and how could she? When he was still a big part of both their lives. If he wanted to turn this around; if he wanted to chase that future he’d thrown away before and now had a second chance to grasp with both hands, he had a tough job ahead of him. He wasn’t naive enough to think otherwise. But they had a special bond now, him and Amber. They had something no one could take from them – they had their baby. And that had to mean something.

He sat back, opening his eyes, breathing out slowly. He could do this. He could make her love him again, he knew he could. Hadn’t he already shown her how much he’d changed? So he could do this.

He wanted Amber Sullivan. And he knew Amber Sullivan wanted him. He just had to make her see that. And tonight, he would.

Chapter Thirty-Six

‘It’s crap, isn’t it?’ Debbie said, straightening the top of her bright white tube dress. Now she was getting her figure back she wanted to flaunt it.

‘What is?’ Amber asked, leaning back against the bar in one of Tynebridge’s bigger function suites, which was host to the evening’s charity dinner in aid of a local hospital.

‘Not being able to drink champagne.’

Amber grinned. ‘Because you knock it back like water, huh?’

Debbie smiled. ‘How many happy pills have
you
taken tonight? For a woman who’s just been told her divorce is final, you seem overly cheerful.’

‘I’m sick of being miserable, Debbie. I seem to have spent most of the past few months being bloody miserable and I haven’t got the energy to waste any more time on that emotion. It’s exhausting!’

‘So, you’re over him, then? Jim, I mean.’

‘I’ll never be over him, Debbie. I’d be stupid to think that could happen. But, I’m learning to deal with the fact that we just can’t be together. It doesn’t work, does it? As much as I want it to… We tried, and it failed. It’s time to move on.’

Debbie looked at her out the corner of her eye. ‘You sure you’re okay? You’re not just putting on some kind of brave face because you think that’s what we all want to see?’

‘I’m fine. Really.’ She smiled, taking a sip of her non-alcoholic wine. ‘I guess seeing Jim today, it knocked me into a reality I’ve as yet been unwilling to face.’

‘So, what does that mean for you and Ryan?’

‘It doesn’t mean anything. As far as me and Ryan are concerned, things are exactly the same as they were before – he’s the father of this baby, and that’s the only connection we have.’

Debbie looked over towards the door as it opened, heralding a fresh intake of guests. ‘Speak of the devil…’

Amber followed Debbie’s gaze, her heart skipping those proverbial beats as she saw him walk into the room. Dressed in dark trousers, a beige shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbow, his dark hair all mussed up and sexy, he was quite obviously, without a shadow of a doubt, the most beautiful man in the entire room. Heads turned the second he walked in, and she was sure she could hear audible gasps from a group of women standing behind her.

‘So, you don’t care one iota that the father of your baby looks
hot
tonight?’ Debbie asked, smirking slightly.

‘Hot as hell,’ Amber groaned, unable to stop herself from blushing. Where the hell had
that
come from? What was she – fifteen?

‘Ha! So you
do
care, then?’

‘Just because I agreed that he looks hot tonight doesn’t mean to say I’ve suddenly decided to pack my bags and move in with him. And even if that
was
the case, which it isn’t, I’m talking purely hypothetically here, that apartment of his is totally unsuitable for a baby.’

‘Tell him to move in with you.’

‘Do you really think he’d move into my house? It isn’t really private enough, is it? And, to be honest, I’d rather we found somewhere…’ She suddenly stopped talking, noticing Debbie’s grin growing wider. ‘No. No, you aren’t going to make me do this, Debbie. Not tonight. It’s way too soon. I just got carried away, that’s all. No. I’ve got my own little house and that’ll do me and my son just fine.’

‘That baby’s due in less than twenty weeks, Amber. Do you really want to be house-hunting with a new born? Wouldn’t you rather you found somewhere
before
he arrives?’ Debbie turned to face Amber, suddenly warming to this subject of Amber moving. ‘Listen, there’s a fabulous house for sale right beside mine and Gary’s – the one with the triple garage, that amazing indoor pool, and the cinema in the basement, do you remember? I was telling you about it the night of Gary’s party, about how it belonged to a Wearside Spartans player who’s moved over to Spain to play in Madrid? The sale’s in the hands of his solicitor now, and I know for a fact they’re taking stupid offers on it because they really need to sell. You could snap it up for a bargain. And don’t you think it’s fate? That I told you about that house the night you and Ryan… the night baby Fisher was conceived?’

Amber frowned before giving Debbie a small, sideways smile. ‘How did this suddenly become about me moving? I’ve got no intention of moving anywhere, but I love the way your mind works, Debbie. Anyway, even if I
was
thinking about moving, which I’m not, there’s no way I could afford that house. I suspect even the stupid offers are way above my price range. I know I’m earning more than I used to, but…’

‘Ryan can afford it.’

Amber looked at Debbie again. ‘Okay. Let’s stop this conversation now. I’m staying where I am. Ryan can do what he wants.’

‘Amber!’ Debbie moaned, stamping her foot like a petulant child. ‘It would be so much fun if we were neighbours. Our nannies could take the babies out on play dates while we go to the spa, it would be perfect!’

‘This is getting ridiculous now… Debbie, I won’t have time to go to the bloody spa, I have a job.’

‘You’ll get maternity leave.’

‘If I want it.’

‘You
are
kidding, aren’t you?’

‘I don’t know, do I? I don’t know how the hell I’m going to feel until it all starts happening. And who mentioned nannies?’

‘Come on, Amber. Be realistic. You are going to need a nanny, believe me.’

‘I’ve got a bloody headache now.’

‘Just come and take a look around the house. Please. I
really
think you’ll like it.’

Amber eyed Debbie suspiciously. ‘How do
you
know? Have you been inside?’

‘Just once or twice.’

‘You’re incorrigible, Mrs. Blandford,’ Amber laughed. ‘And, for the last time, I’m not buying any house. I don’t need to move, and I don’t remember saying anything about me and Ryan living together. We aren’t even a couple.’

‘I didn’t say
buy
the house, Amber. I said come and have a look
around
it, that’s all.’

‘It would appear there’s no such thing as
“that’s all”
with you, Debbie.’

‘That’s why you love me, chick.’ Debbie winked, and Amber laughed again.

‘What are you two conspiring to get up to?’ Gary asked, wandering over to them.

‘Nothing for you to worry your handsome head about, babe.’ Debbie smiled, kissing him quickly. ‘Where’s Ryan disappeared to?’

‘How should
I
know? I’m not his frigging bodyguard. You rang your mam yet? To see if Jodi’s okay?’

‘Aaah, he is
so
sweet!’ Debbie grinned, pinching Gary’s cheek. ‘He’s worried about our gorgeous little girl, who is absolutely fine, by the way. I rang mum just a few minutes ago and Jodi’s been fed, had cuddles, and is now fast asleep. So chill out and enjoy yourself.’

‘Get off, woman,’ Gary said, playfully pushing Debbie away. ‘I can’t help it if I’m concerned, can I? It’s the first time we’ve left her for a night out.’

‘It’s the first time
I’ve
left her, Gary. You’ve been out more than once since she arrived.’

‘Yeah, but she was with you, then, wasn’t she?’

‘And who’s my mum? Hannibal Lecter? Have a drink and stop worrying.’

Amber couldn’t help smiling as she watched Debbie and Gary, two people who really had changed over the past year. Which was why she was sure Ryan could do the same. It was the one thing that was still giving her some hope.

‘I’ll see you two in a bit,’ Amber said, putting her empty glass down on the bar.

‘Where you going?’ Debbie asked. ‘I haven’t finished with you yet.’

‘Yeah, you have,’ Amber laughed.

‘We’ll see about that, missy. I’ll catch up with you later.’

Amber began winding her way through the growing crowd of people gathering in the function suite, stopping to say a quick hello and exchange a few words with those she knew, and even those she didn’t. She may not be officially at work, but she was still an ambassador for Cloud Sports, who were covering the event for a slot on
Scoreline
the following week focusing on football clubs and their involvement in the local community.

‘Looking good!’

She swung round at the sound of that voice, her face breaking into a smile the second she saw him. ‘Looking good yourself, mister.’

Ryan grinned at her, that famous Fisher charm turned up full pelt as he stood there with his hands in his pockets, his feet slightly apart, a stance Amber found incredibly sexy, for some reason, and she shuddered inwardly as she looked right at him, her stomach fluttering about as though a million tiny butterflies had just been let loose in there. She’d put it down to the baby, but it was a touch too early for her to be feeling him move just yet.

‘That dress, it suits you. And our bump.’

When he said those words she felt her stomach flip over, which, along with those butterflies, was now making her feel slightly unsteady on her feet.

‘It’s new,’ she whispered, laying a hand gently over her tiny bump, which was just visible underneath the close-fitting dress.

‘It’s nice,’ Ryan said, his eyes not moving away from hers. ‘You look amazing.’

She couldn’t help smiling, a sudden and ridiculous shyness coming over her, causing her to look down at her black and silver heels.

‘Amber…’

She looked up at him, noticing his expression had suddenly got a touch more serious.

‘I… I heard about your divorce.’

‘Yeah. It seems the grapevine moves a hell of a lot faster round here these days.’

‘It’s all over, then.’ It wasn’t a question. And even though she’d all but accepted it, hearing the words still cut a little deeper than she wanted them to.

She nodded, looking down again, until he tilted her chin up, forcing her to look back into his eyes.

‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring it up, I shouldn’t have said anything.’

‘No. It’s okay. Really.’ She smiled, letting his hand slide into hers, their fingers entwining in an almost involuntary action.

‘It must’ve been a hard day,’ Ryan said quietly, his stare growing more intense as he looked deeper into her eyes.

‘In some ways,’ Amber replied. ‘But I’ve still got a lot to be grateful for. A lot to be happy about.’

It was his turn to smile. ‘I’ve got to go and circulate – on the orders of your ex-husband…’ Ryan threw his head back and sighed heavily. ‘Jesus, I’m sorry, Amber.’

‘You don’t have to walk on eggshells around me, Ryan.’ She let go of his hand. That last reference to Jim had broken the moment somewhat. ‘I think we’re past all that, don’t you?’

He ran a hand through his hair, pushing it back off his handsome face. ‘I’ll see you later, okay?’

‘Yeah.’ She smiled again, allowing her heart to skip another little beat. ‘You will.’ She watched him walk away, engaging in conversation with everyone who stopped him, bringing out the Ryan Fisher charm offensive with all guns blazing.

‘Everything all right?’

She turned around to see Ronnie standing there, himself handsome and smart, as always, in a dark suit and white shirt. ‘Everything’s fine.’

‘What did
he
want?’

‘Ryan? Nothing in particular. Just saying hello.’

Ronnie raised an eyebrow, falling into step beside Amber as they walked over to their table. ‘Just saying hello?’

Amber shrugged, slipping her arm through Ronnie’s as they walked. ‘You know Ryan.’

‘Yeah. I do.’

‘Out of everyone, Ronnie, I’m really counting on you to give him a chance. Please. For me. For this baby, who’s going to be your godson, remember?’

Ronnie stopped walking, turning to face her. ‘You’re serious, then? About taking him back?’