“Very mature,” Dixie said. “I only say it for your own good, you know that.”

“I do.”

“And speak of the devil…”

“Room for one more?” said a soft voice from behind Henry. He turned to see Elle, a beaming smile etched across her face, as she lowered herself into the seat next to him. She wore a tight green top that clung eagerly to her skinny frame, not that Henry looked at her figure. Well, not often. As she brushed a lock of auburn hair off her face, Elle met Henry's eye and he saw the glimmer of something unsaid in her expression, a look Henry had never been able to decipher. A split-second passed before Henry averted his gaze towards his plate, it was a much safer place to look.

“What you guys talking about?” Elle said.

“I was trying to get old Mr Excitement here to live a little,” Dixie said.

“Really, how?” 

He paused for a second, his face betraying a sly grin as he turned to Henry, “What about the charity run? You up for that?”

“You should so do it,” Elle said enthusiastically. “I am and I'm hopeless at running.”

They should make it a rule that Dixie couldn't use Elle against him, especially not to prove a point.

“Come on Henry,” Dixie said.

“Please, say you'll do it Henry. For me?” Elle said. A playful tilt of her head and he was putty in her hands.

“Sure,” Henry said. He hated himself sometimes.

“That's my man,” Dixie said, ruffling Henry's hair.

“So, how are you?” Henry asked Elle, trying to forget about how weak-willed he was.

“I'm fine thanks. Tom and I are going up to Scotland for the weekend, it's gonna be fantastic.”

“Wonderful,” was all Henry could manage to say. He struggled with conversation at the best of times, but feigning delight at her romantic weekend away required far too much energy.

“Tom is up there now on business, he works way too hard. It's going to be fantastic, just the two of us.”

Dixie let out a little laugh, followed by a broad, smug smile. Elle stared at him with a puzzled expression, pushing for an explanation she would regret seeking.

“So, what is this I hear about you not leaving the Bio-Tech dinner alone last night?” Dixie said.

“I'm not sure I follow,” she said, stumbling over her words. The reddening of Elle's cheeks confirmed the rumours.

Dixie's smile widened, “Someone saw you and Matt leave together last night. And I saw you arriving in his car this afternoon. Now you don't need to be Miss Marple to-”

“Nothing happened.”

“Sure, you just went for a real long drive together. Enjoy yourself?”

“Oh shut the hell up,” she snapped.