Eli's eyes widened as she spoke and Grace grinned at him. "What?" He looked more than a little surprised, and she had to admit that she liked that. And then, he gave an answer to her which sent her into a whole new level of liking him. "You used to race?" She sounded - because she was - awestruck. "That is so cool," she said and then she felt a blush tinge her cheeks. "And I'm a grown-up, really." Her self-depreciating humour took them into a less awkward place, she hoped. He sipped his coffee and then he spoke and he suggested that she, and Toby, should go with him to the track. Gwen smiled at him, shaking her head as he corrected himself. She wasn't concerned about a gentle curse-word, not in the slightest. In fact, she was about to use one herself.<br/><br/>"Do you think that perhaps it would be Miss Sinclair who would go ape-shit?" Gwen asked him softly, looking at him with a level expression. Her green eyes were mostly amused; Eli was a sweet man and she loved that he wanted her to share their passion. Placing her hand on his arm, Gwen smiled at him. "It's kind of you, and I can't tell you just how much I want to say yes. But what I'm going to say is this. How about I take Rosalie on a girls' day out? You take Toby with you?" She looked at him and her expression shifted from amused to serious, even sad. "I'm your babysitter, your business partner, your friend. But I can't be your date." And that was how it would seem. "So, you and Miss Sinclair go on a date - not that it'll be much of one with Toby there, and I'm asking<b> you</b>to look after him, not her." That was important to Gwen. She trusted Elijah with her son. He was the only one.<br/><br/>But, that was what it was and the pair of them had time now to really work their way through the numbers. Gwen lowered her head to the paperwork, as did Eli and- unknown to the pair of them - they made an attractive and mutually attentive couple. It looked like they were close - it would be easy to misinterpret. Yet, they were both always entirely respectful of their boundaries. Gwen looked up at him, turning her green eyes to his as he said that there was no need for her to feel awkward. She stopped, for a moment, and then she spoke softly. "It feels to me, Eli, that I've embarrassed myself in front of you time and again. From the time I landed on my butt in the playground, to you seeing me in work - and with Miss Sinclair, of all people - to my crying on your shoulder." She smiled, but her expression was serious.<br/><br/>"I don't think I can clearly express to you, just how much I don't let people near me, Eli. Paul, Toby's father, he...  I'm trusting you with my kid. I would explain to you what that means, but you're a single parent too. You get it." He did, she knew.  It didn't change that Gwen had allowed Eli to get closer to her than anyone had been since Paul. And, of course, he'd chosen Mary-Beth Sinclair, but that was fine. It was<i> fine</i>. She could say it without sounding like she was lying.<br/><br/>Which she was, of course.<br/><br/>Looking up, Gwen's eyes fell on the table where Martin was seated and she met his gaze with a sinking feeling. He looked at her<i>, glared</i>at her and Gwen stared back at him. He dropped his gaze first and frankly, Gwen would have been there next Thursday not moving and not lowering her eyes before she let that dirtball win or beat her. So, Martin turned his eyes away and Eli saw the small muscle in Gwen's cheek jumping as she clenched her jaw in anger. "Sorry," she said, turning back to the paperwork. Motioning over to where he sat, Gwen nodded slightly. "I had to stare down an asshat, is I believe the expression." Gwen's face suddenly lit into a genuine, beaming smile. "So, we're going full-on, then? We're getting ourselves genuinely embroiled in this and doing it full on?"<br/><br/>She had to admit - that was rather how she liked it. "Alright, Eli. Take my son to the track, and know that I will always,<b> always</b>, be grateful to you for what you're doing here." She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. Of course, that was just what the camera ordered, but Gwen had no idea. Honestly, if she did, she wouldn't change her actions. "I'm going to make this great for us. I am. Ok. So, shall we make this weekly meetings here, and I'll get going on all of the organisation stuff? If I can email you, back and forth, that would help. How much will the finance department help us? We need to work out advertising and roles. I'll speak to my lecturer." She grinned. "I'm doing a degree in Media and Advertising. So, I'll see if there might be some talented students who want to gain some experience?"<br/><br/>Gwen put down her coffee, the same one that she'd had for over an hour. "Is once a week enough? And when are Rosalie and I having a pamper party?" Her grin was sassy, it must be said. "I don't suppose you've got a spare helmet? I'd love a spin?"