Two For Joy (32 page)

‘Somehow I don't see you as the cleaning-up type,' Neil retorted.

She smiled at him. ‘Ten out of ten for spot-on observation. I'm more the drinking champagne type as you've probably guessed, and if Heather is incapacitated and you've got no one to celebrate with, I'll allow you to buy me a glass of champagne, or two as the case may be.'

Neil stared at her. She was so sure of herself. She really thought she was it. But it wasn't every day a stunning looking woman with a gorgeous figure asked him out for a drink, even if she was a snob of the highest order. Heather might not be too happy if she knew he was off sculling champers with her cousin, but she'd let him down badly and she could go take a running jump.

‘Let's go order the Dom P.' He flashed a smile at her, switching off the lights and locking the doors behind him. He'd organize a clean-up of the place tomorrow. Tonight was for celebrating the start of the Brennan Motors chain of garages. Tonight was the start of it. Champagne it had to be. At least Lorna Morgan realized it was a night for celebration, seeing as Heather certainly didn't. He held open the door of the BMW for Lorna and saw her sit elegantly in the soft leather seat.

‘Nice set of wheels,' she approved, flicking back her blonde bob.

Neil closed the door on her. She looked far better in the front seat than Heather did, he thought guiltily as he drove on to Kilronan's main street.

26

‘Do you think Heather will mind?' Lorna murmured as they drove into the car park of the Lake View Hotel.

‘Why should she? What is there to mind?' Neil looked at her in surprise.

‘Not a thing,' Lorna said nonchalantly, wondering privately what kind of an idiot he was. Any woman would mind her boyfriend quaffing champagne with another woman. Heather was so smug, going on about being in a ‘relationship'. Two and a bit months wasn't that long, but the way Heather was going on you'd think they were practically married.

Mind, she had felt a few darts of envy when she'd seen Neil's dressing-gown beside Heather's on the back of her bedroom door. It looked so intimate and companionable. She'd never been in a relationship long enough to have her toothbrush in the bathroom, let alone her dressing-gown hanging up.

She had to admit she'd been impressed when she'd seen her cousin's flat. It smelt new and fresh and clean and it was so bright and airy. Heather had really landed on her feet without making the slightest bit of effort and she didn't mind rubbing Lorna's nose in it.
‘When you're in a relationship you do things for each other.'
Who did she think she was talking to? She watched Neil up at the bar ordering the champagne. His suit was expensive. He looked the part of the young, successful man about town. He'd definitely smartened himself up a lot. He'd told her on the car journey to the hotel that he was considering buying a garage in Navan in the next few years but that his dream was to own a big showroom in Dublin. At least he had a bit of get up and go in him, he wasn't going to stagnate in Kilronan. He wasn't bad-looking in a rough sort of way, she thought grudgingly. His black hair, cropped tight, was much more attractive than the wild mop of longish hair he used to have. He had nice brown eyes too. She could possibly fancy him if she let herself, she decided. And she knew she could have him too, if she wanted. She'd seen the way he'd looked at her in the swimming-pool and gym. That might wipe the smug smirk off Heather's face. If she couldn't keep her boyfriend, that was her problem. It might shut her up boasting about being in a ‘relationship'.

‘Would you like to have dinner? I'm hungry,' Neil declared out of the blue as he came and sat in the chair opposite her.

‘Why not?' Lorna agreed. It was better than sitting at home twiddling her thumbs. She was all packed and ready to go, her parents were out at a golf dinner, she was at a loose end.

‘We didn't book, that's the only thing,' Neil remarked.

‘I'll have a word with the maître d'. I know him,' Lorna offered.

‘Friends in high places,' Neil teased and she laughed. Half an hour later they were sitting at a candlelit table and Lorna was quite giddy. She'd drunk three glasses of champagne on an empty stomach, and she'd even begun to feel that Neil was an interesting bloke. He was ambitious. Just like her. He didn't want to stay in Kilronan and vegetate.

‘You should come and visit me in New York. I'd say you'd love it there,' she invited blithely.

‘I suppose we could come out for a long weekend or something.' Neil topped up her glass.

‘Oh, I forgot about Heather,' Lorna said wickedly. ‘I meant
you!
'

‘Don't think I'd manage to get away for a long weekend by myself, Lorna. Heather might object.'

‘So is it serious with you two?' Lorna sat back in her chair and eyed him curiously.

Neil shrugged. ‘Bit soon to say, I suppose.'

Interesting,
thought Lorna.
He's not swearing undying love.
The arrival of the main course interrupted conversation momentarily. The monkfish and wild mushrooms smelt absolutely divine and it was melt-in-the-mouth when she tasted it.

‘Food is good here,' Neil said as he forked a sliver of sole into his mouth. She'd half expected him to order steak and chips, but he'd surprised her with his selection of lemon sole and he seemed
au fait
with the wine list, she noted, as he ordered the wine confidently. Not such a country bumpkin after all. She felt a little
frisson
of admiration for him. When she'd first known him he'd been unsophisticated and extremely ordinary. But he was making something of himself, learning to pass himself off in society, just like she was. Acquiring a polish that was far from what he was reared to. She didn't doubt that he'd have his garage and showroom in Dublin. He was hungry just like she was. They were quite alike, she thought with a little shock.

Her mobile phone rang and swiftly, discreetly she located it and answered the call. It was Carina confirming that they would meet at nine thirty in the airport.

‘Are you excited?' Neil inquired as she turned off her phone and put it back in her bag.

‘I can't wait. I'm going to explore Manhattan from top to toe.'

‘We'd better get another bottle of champagne to toast you,' Neil said expansively, raising a discreet finger to the wine waiter.

Three hours later they were giggling and laughing as if they were the best of friends. Lorna was quite pissed. ‘I've had a terrific night,' Neil exclaimed after he'd paid the substantial bill, his eyes bright with drink and admiration.

‘Me too,' Lorna assured him earnestly.

‘Do you think they'd let us use the residents' lounge? We could have another drink?' he asked.

Lorna patted his arm drunkenly. ‘I've a better idea, leave it to me.'

Ten minutes later they were in one of the unoccupied mini suites with another bottle of champagne on ice.

‘My treat.' Lorna giggled.

‘What a woman!' Neil declared. ‘You're way too much woman for the likes of Kilronan. You go pop your cork in New York.'

‘Do you mean that?' Lorna murmured seductively.

‘Of course I do. Take New York by the scruff of the neck and shake it.' Neil held up his glass in a toast.

‘No, do you mean the bit about being way too much woman?'

‘Are you crazy? I think you're magnificent! I didn't like you when I first knew you, I thought you were a stuck-up cow,' he admitted, his tongue loosened by all he'd had to drink. ‘But after tonight, talking to you over dinner, and getting to know you, I think you're something else,' he said warmly, his eyes glittering with admiration as he gazed at her.

‘I didn't like you either. I thought you were a country bumpkin.' She giggled again.

‘I know you did. You were a snooty, superior wagon. And now?' he grinned wolfishly.

‘I guess I made a mistake,' she murmured, swaying into his arms. They kissed passionately, lustfully.

‘We shouldn't do this,' Neil muttered when he came up for air.

‘I know,' Lorna agreed and kissed him again, tugging at his shirt buttons.

‘Oh, Lorna,' he groaned. ‘You're dead sexy. I want you.'

‘I want you too.' Lorna could feel the desire curling inside her and an immensely satisfying feeling of triumph that she had conquered him. They undressed each other frantically and he lifted her up and carried her to the bed. ‘Come on,' she moaned. ‘Come on, do it to me.' He needed no second invitation. She wasn't sure if she came or not, she was so smashed, but she had a vague feeling that the quivers lasted the whole time, not dying away as they usually did, and she would have liked him to do it to her again but he'd fallen asleep very quickly afterwards.

Lorna lay beside him, her head swimming. It had been better than anything she'd had with a man before, she thought woozily. What an irony. A man she had most despised was the one who had given her most pleasure sexually. She knew if she pushed hard he'd leave Heather for her at the drop of a hat. That thought too gave her immense satisfaction. But she'd hold him in reserve. New York and its millionaires were waiting for her.

The phone woke her out of a deep, dreamless sleep. It was the night porter. ‘Aren't you going to New York today?' he asked. ‘You'd want to get moving.'

‘Oh shit! What time is it?' She leapt up and ran her fingers through her hair. Beside her, Neil snored contentedly.

‘It's ten to seven, do you want coffee or anything?'

‘Thanks, Dan, don't have time. I better get going, 'bye.' Her parents would be going berserk. They were driving her to the airport and they'd want to leave by eight. She picked up her mobile and rang home. Her father answered, sleepily, she noted with relief. ‘I'll be home in ten minutes. Get up, Dad,' she instructed.

‘Where are you?' her father asked groggily.

‘Heather's,' she fibbed. ‘See you soon, 'bye.' She raced into the shower and stood under the steaming jets feeling like hell on earth. She should never have drunk so much last night. She was her own worst enemy. Neil was still sleeping by the time she'd dried her hair and dressed. She gazed at him in irritation. ‘Big lazy lump,' she muttered crossly, not feeling quite as fond of him as she had the previous night.

‘Wake up, Neil.' She poked him roughly.

‘Wha … what's wrong, Heather?'

‘It's not Heather, it's me,' Lorna said coldly.

‘Oh crikey! Lorna. Sorry … sorry about that. I was half asleep,' he apologized profusely, rubbing his bloodshot eyes. ‘Oohh, I feel rough,' he groaned. ‘How much did we drink last night?'

‘It doesn't matter. I have to go. I'll be late getting to the airport. You better get going too, I gave Dan Leeland thirty smackers for this room, he'll have to have it made up before room service get here.'

‘Oh. Oh, right!' He looked at her admiringly. ‘I suppose we don't have time for a quickie?'

‘No we don't, Neil Brennan,' she snapped. ‘Look, I'm going. I'll see you when I see you.'

‘Hey, wait. Look, don't go like that. Here, take my card. Keep in touch with me on my mobile or email,' he said hastily.

‘Give it to me, quick.' She practically snatched the card from him and stuffed it in her bag.

‘I'd a great time last night, I'll never forget it,' Neil said quietly. Lorna looked at him, stubble-faced and tousled, and felt her heart soften.

‘I did too, Neil. It will be one of my better memories of Kilronan.' She smiled at him and leaned down and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. ‘Not a word to Heather.'

‘Definitely not,' he grinned and waved at her as she slipped out of the room.

She hurried to the lift, sizzling with impatience, two jack-hammers beating a tattoo inside her head. She felt queasy as it glided silently to the lamplit, empty foyer. ‘Dan, thanks a million for waking me, see you whenever.' She blew the night porter a kiss as she flew past reception, out into the dark, blustery morning. It was a nuisance having no car, and as usual her shoes weren't the best for walking. At least she didn't have too far to walk.

It was only half past seven by the time she got home and she congratulated herself on her speed. Adrenaline was flowing. She could go to sleep in the car, she promised herself as she let herself into the house. Her father was standing in the kitchen munching brown bread and marmalade.

‘There's coffee in the pot,' he pointed to the coffee percolator. ‘You could have let us know you were staying over at Heather's.'

‘It was a spur of the moment thing, and besides you were out yourself,' she retorted, pouring a cup of hot strong coffee for herself.

‘I'm glad you and Heather are friends again.' He patted her arm ‘Heather's always been a good friend to you.'

‘Yeah, Dad,' Lorna said uncomfortably. If he'd seen what she was up to last night he'd be totally horrified, and she would be off her pedestal so quick it didn't bear thinking about. ‘Look, I'm just going upstairs to change my clothes. Is Mum coming?'

Gerard nodded. ‘She's having her shower. She's really looking forward to visiting you. I haven't seen her in such good form for years.'

‘That's good, Dad.' Lorna planted a hasty kiss on his cheek and his eyes lit up with pleasure.

‘I'll miss you,' he said. ‘Even though we didn't see you that much when you were in Dublin, you were only an hour and a half's drive away, not a six-hour flight across the Atlantic.'

‘It's only for a while, Dad, not for ever. Now I'd better go get sorted.'

Thank God I packed last night, she thought gratefully as she surveyed the two large cases on her bedroom floor. One of them was practically empty but was being brought to accommodate her shopping for the return flight home. She eased her legs out of her leather trousers and pulled her black polo over her head. For the trip to New York she'd chosen a taupe trouser suit and a black T-shirt. She'd carry her snug pure wool coat on her arm, in case it was freezing cold in the Big Apple. After all, it was still only the beginning of February.