Something from Tiffany’s Read online

  He stood up and offered his hand. ‘It’s so nice to see you again.’

  Rachel smiled easily and took the seat opposite. ‘Oh please, sit down and finish your meal. So how have you been? Happy new year, by the way.’

  ‘Same to you. Is Gary here?’

  She blushed furiously. ‘I’m afraid not. He needed to do something important this afternoon, and of course we weren’t entirely sure when or even if you’d be visiting . . .’

  Ethan felt deflated. Hell! On second thoughts, perhaps he should have been more specific instead of trying to catch them out. ‘Of course, I understand.’

  ‘He’ll be kicking himself now, as I know he really wanted to see you, and thank you.’

  ‘Oh well, not to worry.’ Forget Gary; Ethan had hoped to keep Rachel out of this, but now it seemed he’d just have to get her involved, regardless. He took a deep breath. ‘I was wondering –’ he glanced around the bistro, which had become a lot quieter since his arrival ‘– I know you’re working now, but would you have time for a quick coffee, perhaps? There’s something I wanted to talk to you about.’

  Rachel looked so apologetic, he felt like a heel. ‘Oh I’d love to, Ethan, but I need to cover Terri’s break now, and then we’ve got to prep for the evening sitting . . .’

  Right at that moment, as if on cue, the aforementioned Terri appeared at the table.

  ‘Was the food OK?’ she asked him. ‘Can I get you a coffee or some dessert, perhaps?’

  ‘It was delicious. I really couldn’t eat any more,’ he joked, handing Terri a plate that couldn’t be any cleaner if he’d licked it. And Ethan had almost been tempted to.

  She laughed. ‘Yes, I can see that.’

  ‘But a coffee would be lovely, thank you.’ He hoped that, given the circumstances, perhaps Terri might urge Rachel into joining him.

  ‘Such a pity Gary isn’t around, isn’t it, Rachel?’ Terri said. ‘Oh, and have you told Mr Greene about your engagement?’ she added, indicating her friend’s left hand. She smiled at Ethan. ‘After all, you played such a large part in the whole thing, rescuing Gary like that. If you hadn’t come along when you did, who knows what might have happened?’

  But Ethan barely heard her. Instead, he just stared at Rachel’s hand.

  There it was. His ring, exquisite and sparkling just as he remembered it, but on another woman’s finger. Immediately he was reminded of what Daisy had said earlier, and saw that it did indeed fit Rachel to perfection.

  Then he quickly shook himself out of his stupor, realising that Terri had unknowingly given him the perfect opportunity to raise the subject. All he needed to do was explain the situation, and he could be on his way.

  But for some reason, mostly down to Rachel’s beaming, radiant expression, he just couldn’t get the words out. ‘It’s beautiful. Congratulations,’ he mumbled.

  Noticing Terri giving him a speculative look, he squirmed uncomfortably, worried that he might be betraying himself.

  ‘Thank you. We’re so thrilled.’ Rachel looked at Terri and stood up. ‘OK, OK, I’m coming now,’ she said, laughing. ‘Ethan, again I’m so sorry. I really wish we had more time to chat but . . .’ Then she stopped short, looking thoughtful. ‘Actually, what are you doing this evening? I’ll be finished here by seven, and Gary should be back by then, so if you’re free it might be nice for the three of us to meet up for dinner somewhere, that’s if you’re not rushing back to London later?’

  Ethan’s heart lifted. Bingo. ‘No, I’m not flying out until tomorrow afternoon, and I don’t have any plans for tonight, as it happens.’

  ‘Fantastic! Where are you staying? I’ll give Gary a call and arrange to book somewhere nice close by. That way the two of you can have a good chat, and he’ll finally get the chance to thank you properly. Does that sound OK?’

  ‘Sounds wonderful.’ Having quickly filled her in on where he was staying, and told her what kind of cuisine he might like to try, Ethan sat back and relaxed a little.

  He felt a whole lot calmer now that he knew he’d be seeing Gary, and definitely much better about not having to unburden himself to Rachel.

  Because tonight, when the truth about the mix-up was finally revealed, wasn’t it only right that Gary Knowles – and not he – should be the one worrying about the fall-out?

  Chapter 21

  Back in the kitchen, while Rachel was making dinner arrangements with Ethan, Terri nudged Justin hard on the shoulder. ‘Did you see that?’

  He drew back. ‘Hey, stop the abuse; you know I bruise easily.’

  She put her hands on the counter and started drumming incessantly. ‘Well, did you?’

  ‘I sure did. He’s cute, isn’t he?’

  ‘That’s not what I’m talking about,’ she replied, exasperated, although yes, there was no doubt that Ethan Greene was extremely cute, in that open, earnest sort of way. With his soft blue eyes and sculpted masculine jawline, he certainly looked like no professor Terri had ever encountered. ‘I knew it,’ she said.

  ‘They say you always know when you’ve found the One,’ Justin teased in a sing-song voice.

  Terri chuckled. ‘Could you be serious for just one second? Forget what he looks like, you and I both know that there’s something out of kilter about this guy’s visit. Any fool can tell that he isn’t here just to enquire after Gary’s health. Hell, he’d hardly sat down at the table before he started asking about him.’

  It was also pretty obvious from Greene’s jumpiness when he asked about Gary that there was something else at play here. The problem was that Terri couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Yet.

  Justin considered her statement. ‘OK. Well, yes, I agree with you that there’s certainly something fishy about the way he’s just turned up out of the blue.’

  ‘And you should have seen how Gary reacted the other day when I told him that his “rescuer” had phoned here looking for him. He didn’t look at all happy about it, even though the same guy is supposed to have done him such a favour.’

  ‘So what do you think, Sherlock? Is it that there’s more to this accident story than we’ve been told?’ the chef wondered.

  ‘Or Rachel’s been told . . .’

  Justin narrowed his eyes. ‘Well, that wouldn’t surprise me in the least, knowing our Gary’s ability to . . . ah, make friends and influence people,’ he muttered sarcastically. ‘But what could have happened? Does this Greene guy have some kind of bone to pick with Gary, do we think?’

  Terri shrugged. ‘It wouldn’t be the first time, would it?’ Goodness knows, Gary had a habit of rubbing people up the wrong way.

  ‘But didn’t he say that he’d never actually met Gary?’

  ‘You’re right.’ She thought hard. ‘But something is going on nonetheless. Ethan Greene is here for some reason other than to enquire after Gary’s health. That much is obvious. We just need to try to figure out—’

  At that moment, Rachel rushed into the kitchen. ‘Terri, I’m so sorry,’ she began, flustered. ‘Go ahead and take your break; I’ll get cracking here.’ She grimaced apologetically. ‘I didn’t think he’d just arrive unannounced like that, and seeing as Gary isn’t around to deal with him . . .’

  ‘It’s not a problem,’ Terri assured her. She grinned. ‘Anyway, I wouldn’t blame you for wanting to chat longer; he’s gorgeous.’

  Rachel nodded. ‘Isn’t he? And such a lovely guy too. I’m so glad all three of us will get a chance to chat properly tonight, especially after what happened in New York.’ She looked at Justin. ‘Will I start on the pastry for the aubergine tarts?’

  ‘Good idea.’

  ‘What did happen?’ Terri asked, fishing. ‘I know you said Greene gave Gary first aid and all, but for someone who’s supposed to be a complete stranger, he seems very interested in Gary’s well-being, doesn’t he? I mean, to come all the way over here from London just to see him . . .’

  Rachel opened a fresh bag of flour. ‘Well, it wasn’t just to see Gary; he was going to be her
e anyway and . . . Oh hell!’ She grasped at the diamond on her finger. ‘I keep forgetting to take this off when I’m here.’

  ‘I know. Knuckledusters can be such a drag!’ Justin gasped dramatically and the others laughed.

  On her way out, Terri looked across to where Ethan Greene had been sitting, but his table was now vacant. Pity. She would have liked the opportunity to pick his brains a little further. This thing was intriguing her more and more, and she wasn’t going to rest until she got to the bottom of it.

  ‘So how is everything going?’ Vanessa asked when, later that evening, Ethan called to say hello from the comfort of his hotel room.

  If he was being honest, he had to admit that he was still somewhat rattled from seeing Rachel with his ring on her finger, and was hoping that a well-timed phone call home would ground him and bring him back to reality.

  He smiled into the phone, wanting to sound enthusiastic. He truly hoped that Vanessa wouldn’t detect the strain in his voice. ‘It’s going well. I’d forgotten how charming Dublin is, actually. We really should visit your parents more often.’

  ‘I’m sure we will,’ she said, sounding uncommonly enthusiastic, given that she was usually rather lukewarm about the idea. ‘So how’s the . . . er, research going? I know you’re not long on the ground, but has the Muse struck yet?’

  There was something about the way she said this that put Ethan on alert. The way she’d accented the word ‘research’, as if she knew that the so-called reason for this trip was all nonsense.

  Then Ethan realised he was probably just being paranoid; heaven knew it was the day for it. ‘Well, like you say, I’ve only just got here, but I’m getting lots of ideas, all the same,’ he muttered quickly. ‘How’s Daisy?’

  ‘She’s great. She’s reading in her room at the moment.’ She sighed. ‘Did her best to pretend earlier that she wasn’t worried about you flying, but I know she couldn’t really relax until you sent that text.’

  Ethan had suspected as much, which was why he’d sent them a text message as soon as the plane had landed, a reassuring text for his little worrywart daughter.

  ‘Like I said before, I’m not entirely sure you should entertain this type of behaviour from her,’ she continued, and Ethan knew that Vanessa felt that by trying to counter Daisy’s fears he might actually be validating them.

  The truth was that he didn’t know the best way to approach this kind of long-term neurosis, but how could he not do his best to set his daughter’s mind at ease?

  Nevertheless it was a relief to be able to discuss and make decisions about Daisy’s emotional well-being with someone else. As she grew older things would undoubtedly get trickier, and it could only be good for his daughter to have a strong female influence in her life. And Vanessa was certainly that. With her determined no-nonsense approach, and especially given her sharp rise in London publishing, she was a force to be reckoned with, and he’d seen glimpses of that same single-mindedness at various times in their relationship too.

  ‘I know, but I don’t like to have her worrying.’

  ‘No need to be concerned. She really was fine. This afternoon we had a good girly time watching movies and eating rubbish.’

  Ethan had to smile. Daisy – eating rubbish? ‘That’s great, Vanessa. Thanks again for staying with her. I really appreciate that.’

  ‘Don’t be silly; it’s a pleasure. You know I see her as practically my own daughter. She’s the closest thing I’ll get to it anyway!’ she joked, in a thinly veiled reference to her inability to have any children of her own. Once again Ethan had to admire the way she’d come to terms with this fact, when he knew it was such a difficult thing for many others to bear. Apparently it was down to some gynaecological problem she’d had in her teens, and it was strange, but this knowledge made him even more eager for her to be part of their family. Silly too, especially when Vanessa was so easy-going about it, but it felt to Ethan almost as if they could somehow complete each other’s missing parts.

  ‘Well, I’m glad you both had a nice day.’

  ‘So, speaking of the book,’ Vanessa said, returning to the subject, much to his discomfort. ‘Have you heard anything else from Rachel?’

  Ethan’s heart hammered. ‘Rachel . . . ?’

  ‘Yes, the agent you met with in New York. I figured she might have been the one who suggested the Irish angle? For the manuscript, I mean.’ While her tone sounded completely casual, Ethan could practically hear the italics. Were they actually still talking about a manuscript? Or was there some double meaning, a meaning of which they were both fully aware but neither could confess?

  Ethan bit his lip, not sure what to think now. Something had happened since they last talked, he was sure of it. Could Daisy have spilled the beans?

  No, he thought, shaking his head. She would never have revealed to Vanessa what was going on, not in a million years. Unless she happened to let something slip by accident . . .

  It was unlikely and chances were that Vanessa was only asking about the manuscript again because she was in the publishing business, not to mention genuinely supportive of his writing ambitions.

  ‘Not at all, but as I said I still have quite a bit of work to do to convince her. That’s what this weekend is all about really,’ he continued.

  ‘Great. Well, good luck with it all. I can’t wait to hear how it goes,’ Vanessa said breezily. ‘What are you up to tonight, then?’

  ‘Nothing much. Just planning a little more location-scouting. There are some beautiful country estates in the vicinity and I thought I might hire a car and check those out.’

  This notion had come straight from a tourist brochure that was sitting in front of Ethan in the hotel room, but he thought he should try to at least make his research sound authentic.

  There was a tiny pause. ‘That sounds like a lovely idea. I went to one a couple of years back for a wedding, although this was more of a castle than a country estate. Perfect for weddings really, those places.’

  Now she sounded so much more like herself that Ethan felt stupid for thinking she’d suspected something before. Clearly she was all for this research idea.

  ‘Yes, I’m sure they are.’

  ‘So you’re thinking an old country estate might be a good setting for the story? I think you’re right; it would be absolutely stunning.’

  ‘Well, I have a few things in mind, but it’s certainly worth checking out in any case,’ Ethan said, not wanting to commit himself too much to this idea. Otherwise he really would have to visit some random Irish country estate, and bring back brochures and whatnot so as to prove to Vanessa that he really was doing research.

  He sighed heavily, realising that all this subterfuge was becoming too much for him. He couldn’t wait to get the plane back to London with the ring in his pocket. The ordeal had gone on long enough.

  ‘You sound tired, darling. Don’t do too much all at once, OK? As it is you really shouldn’t have taken all of this on yourself. You know I’d love to help, if you’d let me. That kind of thing would be right up my street.’

  ‘I’m sure. Well, anyway, I just wanted to call and see how you and Daisy were getting on. I’m heading out again soon but it might be a bit late when I get back so—’

  ‘No problem. I’m sure you have lots to do and plan. Ethan, I must admit I just can’t wait to read this book,’ she said happily. ‘I realise a lot of planning has to go into it beforehand but, believe me, when everything is done, I know you and I are going to have such a wonderful time . . . reading it together.’

  Ethan wrinkled his brow. This conversation was definitely borderline odd.

  ‘Well, it’s all a long way off yet, of course, and I don’t want to take anything for granted,’ he said, chuckling nervously. ‘This weekend is just to hammer out the idea, get the ball rolling and so on – you know how it is.’

  ‘Of course. But just keep in mind that I’ll be very happy with whatever ideas you come up with. Anyway, I’d better dash. It’ll be Dai
sy’s bedtime soon. Have a lovely time and see you tomorrow night.’

  ‘Give her a kiss goodnight from me, won’t you?’

  ‘Of course.’

  They said their goodbyes and Ethan hung up, thoroughly confused about the conversation they’d just had. Well, if nothing else, at least it had succeeded in putting tonight’s confrontation with Gary Knowles out of his head, albeit briefly.

  In truth, he was absolutely dreading going out to dinner with him and Rachel tonight. He despised conflict and there was no doubt that this conversation was going to be messy. He just hoped that the guy would be man enough to confess to the mix-up and reassure his fiancée that their engagement wasn’t just a spur of the moment affair. It certainly sounded like that to Ethan and, from what little he knew of Rachel, she didn’t deserve that. Hell, what woman did?

  Taking a shirt and a pair of chinos out of his bag and laying them on the bed, Ethan turned on the shower and commenced preparations for tonight’s battle.

  Chapter 22

  ‘Gary, no . . . I can’t believe you would do this to me.’

  Rachel wanted to scream. Having finally got Gary on his mobile (the reception could be dodgy in the Dublin mountains) to tell him about the dinner with Ethan, she’d discovered that he and Sean had spent much of the afternoon knocking back pints with some ‘old mate’ they’d met in the pub!

  ‘Sorry, babe, but there’s nothing I can do,’ he said contritely. ‘There’s no way I can take the bike back to Dublin tonight with more than one in me. It wouldn’t be responsible.’ Although she was annoyed, she had to admit he had a point. ‘So you mean to tell me that you and Sean are going to stay the night with this . . . mate of yours?’

  ‘Yeah. Liam says we can leave the bikes overnight in the car park here and get a cab back to his place later. Then he or the missus will drop us back to collect them in the morning.’

  ‘And where does this Liam live?’

  ‘Not far. It’s only a few miles from here, so it makes sense.’