Chapter 54

"What do you think Irene?" Ella asked her.
"I like this one. It has three bedrooms, which I think will be good. And you are right it could do with a bit of work." Irene told them.
Roman nodded.
"I have to say I didn't like the apartment. It may suit a newly married couple but I can't see Geoff happy there."
Irene nodded assent.
"So we like this one?" he asked them.
Irene and Ella looked at each other and nodded.
Roman grinned.
"I better go see if I can make an offer then." He walked over and kissed Ella before heading outside to talk to the agent.
"Now Darl, do you need to sit down?" Irene asked.
Ella looked at her.
"No I can last a while longer." She told her grinning.
Irene nodded as though she believed her.
"What are they going to do about furniture?" Irene asked.
Ella shrugged.
"If he haggles really well and the Kitchen and the bathroom don't eat the rest of the budget then there might be some left over for a few pieces." Ella said softly. "Plus Nic can have whatever is in her bedroom."
Roman came back in.
"Ok, subject to getting a full survey we've made a provisional offer and he will take it back to the owners." He told them.
Ella nodded.
"Well I need to get back." Irene said quickly.
"Will they give us a chance to get someone out to look at the kitchen and bathroom to give us a quote?" Ella asked.
Roman nodded.
"I've already arranged it for tomorrow."
Ella smiled at him and held out her hand.
He went over to her and hugged her before leading her to the car. Irene following. They said goodbye to the agent and he stayed behind to lock up. Ella looked over the garden. She and Irene exchanged one of those looks that made Roman smile.
He dropped Irene off at the beach house and drove home after. Ella fell asleep on the way back and he carried her out of the car and up the stairs to bed. She sighed and snuggled down on the pillows. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and went over to see Miles, knowing that Ella would only have a go at him for hanging around with her.

"Hello Stranger." Miles called to him.
"Hey." Roman said back.
"So what did you get up to in the big bad city?" Miles asked.
Roman grinned and then blushed at Miles' chuckle.
"How's Ella?" he asked.
Roman shrugged.
"Can I confess I'm worried about her?" He asked his friend.
Miles nodded.
"I hear you. My wife lost a baby before we had Amber and it was a difficult time."
Roman nodded, as always he was touched that Miles could talk about his previous life to him, having lost his wife and child in the Boxing Day Tsunami. He could remember being there afterwards and seeing the devastation first hand.
"We were looking at properties today for Nic and Geoff's wedding present." Roman changed the subject.
Miles went into the kitchen and started making a coffee.
"Wow." Miles whistled. "The diner must be paying you too much money."
Roman laughed.
"I took out an insurance policy for Nic when I was, well anyway it's matured and we can just about afford this place. I'm trying really hard not to use Ella's money." Roman explained.
"Can I ask why?" Miles said placing a coffee in front of the other man.
"Well according to Ella it will be my stupid macho pride but she earned it so it's not fair that I live off it. If she wants to spend it on the house, ours not Nic's that is, then fine and the occasional treat." Roman grinned at the expression on Miles face. "Yes I know I'm an alpha male. The scary thing is that Mike has a trust fund that pays for his boarding school and pretty much can buy him anything he wants."
Miles grinned.
"He said something to Ollie about buying a new surfboard and if Ollie wanted his old one." Miles said. "I told Ollie no, but on second thoughts."
Roman grinned and took a drink of the coffee.
"Any purchase has to be cleared with Ella and at the moment I don't think that will go down well. He blew off another weekend and it upset her."
"And of course you are ticked off with him because it upset her."
Roman shrugged.
"I leave him to Ella. I know I should probably get more involved with him but he's pretty much been the only male presence in her life and I want him to get used to me first. I'm worried about how he's going to take news of the baby."
Miles looked at him.
"When did you become Mr Sensitive?" he asked.
Roman laughed.
"When she put a ring on my finger." He told his friend. "But don't worry it only lasts a short while and then I'm the same idiot as always."
He and Miles looked at each other before they both started laughing.