City Lives (30 page)

‘
You
needed time to cool down.
I
was fit to burst,’ Devlin snorted.

‘I know . . . that’s why I got out while the going was good,’ Luke teased.

‘Listen, buster. You had me up to ninety.’

‘Ah, you should have gone up to a hundred while you were at it,’ Luke retorted good-humouredly.

She burst out laughing. You couldn’t win with Luke.

‘Did your lunch and interview go well? What did they ask you?’

He was always so interested in what was going on in her life, even after all the years they’d been together. She told him all that had happened the previous day. ‘And I’m
taking today off,’ she added. ‘I’m just going to laze at home all day.’

‘You’re having me on.’ She could hear the disbelief in Luke’s voice.

‘I’m not. It’s a horrible day. It’s raining and blowing a gale and there’s thunder in the hills and I just decided to step off the treadmill for once and take it
easy.’

‘You’re dead right, Devlin. I never thought I’d see the day. My little workaholic is getting sense at last. That’s great news. You have a lovely long lazy day and think
of me over here working my fingers to the bone, with my nose to the grindstone and my shoulder to the wheel.’

‘Yes, dear,’ Devlin said smugly.

When she eventually hung up, she was beaming. She hated rowing with Luke. It always threw her off kilter. It wasn’t that they didn’t argue. They had mighty arguments on a variety of
topics, but that was fun and she loved pitting her wits against him, especially when he conceded the point. But a row was a different kettle of fish. It wasn’t in her nature to fight.
She’d seen too many rows when she was a child, when her mother was drunk and out of control. Rows brought up old buried fears. They made her feel insecure. Even with Luke. And that was crazy
because she felt safer with Luke than she did with any other human being. Luke gave her the freedom to be totally herself. That was the greatest gift of all.

She spent a thoroughly relaxing day, reading and dozing as her body caught up on some much needed rest. It was nice to be alone for a while. It was such a contrast to the buzz and bustle of the
office.

Later in the afternoon, she slipped into a track suit and lit the fire and lay on the sofa, looking out through the big floor-to-ceiling French windows at the white-capped waves that frothed and
bubbled along the deserted shore. She was glad the weather was so bad. It made her day off all the more enjoyable.

The following day when she went into work she felt the better for her little break. She was going to take the odd day off here and there for the next few months, she decided, as she ran up the
stairs to Caroline’s office.

‘Ciara’s just been on the phone,’ Caroline said dryly.

‘What does she want?’

‘Just checking that I had got the copy of the report she had written about our new staffing requirements.’ Caroline waved the neatly typed and bound report at Devlin.

‘Pity she won’t see it all come to fruition,’ Devlin said coldly. ‘I don’t know how I’m going to be able to be nice to her. I wish she was gone.’

‘Look, why don’t I take her off your hands tomorrow for as much time as I can. We can spend a couple of hours discussing staff requirements. You talk to the builders and the
suppliers. We’re stuck for time anyway, so it suits our purposes to hold separate meetings.’

‘I don’t want you to be stuck with Ciara. I’d like you to see what’s going on.’ Devlin frowned.

‘This report is very thorough, I’ll give Ciara that. It will be very helpful to us. We might as well make the most of it. So this time wearing my “personnel coordinator”
hat I’ll get the staff side sorted, leaving you free to concentrate on everything else.’ She grinned. ‘So I’ll be ahead of myself, so to speak. And when I go down the next
time, because my job will be done I’ll be free to sit in on your meetings. OK?’

‘Have I any choice in the matter?’ Devlin retorted.

‘Not really, no,’ Caroline said firmly.

‘You’re very bossy.’

‘Comes with the job.’

‘OK, Caroline. As long as you don’t mind,’ Devlin agreed.

‘As I say, Dev, it suits our purposes to have it this way. I’ll tell you though,’ she said, changing the subject, ‘I think it’s a great idea to go to Powerscourt
Springs. It will be very interesting to see residential in action.’

‘Yeah, and I’m really looking forward to flopping. It’s going to be so nice for the three of us to be on our own for a while. It’s ages since we’ve spent time
together. It’s just what we need.’ Devlin took Ciara’s report from Caroline and longed to throw it in the bin. Nevertheless, Caroline was right. Ciara was good at her job and if
her points were pertinent it would be foolish to ignore them.

The manageress was all smiles when she greeted them in the foyer the following morning.

‘Devlin, Caroline, great to see you. Progress is excellent as you can hear.’ She made a face at the sound of drilling and banging that throbbed dully through the double-glazed doors.
‘We’re well on target.’

‘Morning, Ciara.’ Devlin had to struggle to keep her voice civil. Seeing Ciara in the flesh, knowing what she knew about her, was more difficult than she’d expected.

Why?
she wanted to ask.
I was good to you. I gave you an opportunity. Why are you ripping me off?

‘Ciara, we’re actually going to split up. You and I are going to discuss your report. Devlin can hold her meetings without us. We’ll get more done seeing as our time is
limited,’ Caroline interjected smoothly.

‘Oh!’ Ciara was taken aback. ‘I think I should be at Devlin’s meetings. I am the manageress and I need to keep abreast of things. The interior designer is coming today to
show samples of curtain and furnishing materials. He wants us to make our selection as soon as possible so that she can get the furniture organized and ordered. And then later I’ve made
arrangements for the three of us to have lunch in Kirwan’s Lane. I’ve booked a table.’

Devlin’s eyebrows rose. Lunch in Kirwan’s Lane would go on expenses, of course.

‘Ciara, we’re here to work, unfortunately. Caroline and I have a lot to get through today. I can deal with the interior designer. And I’m sure you can organize something tasty
from the kitchen,’ Devlin said coolly.

‘Of course. But I would like to be involved with the interior design and I thought it would be nice for the three of us to have a
working
lunch somewhere special. It’s one
of the in places in Galway. It’s good to be seen there. A lot of our clientele dine there,’ Ciara pointed out a tad sulkily.

‘Well, today time’s of the essence. Another time,’ Caroline said lightly. ‘And of course you’ll be involved with all aspects of the new development, that’s
why I want to spend time with you on the report. Now, I think we should give Devlin your office for her meetings and you and I can go over to that nice little corner and perhaps Mona would bring us
some coffee.’ Caroline smiled at the receptionist. ‘And tea for Devlin,’ she added blandly, remembering that Devlin had given up coffee for her pregnancy.

Ciara was furious at the way Caroline was taking over, Devlin could see it in her eyes.

‘Good thinking, Caroline,’ she approved briskly. ‘Presumably John Joe is on site?’ She turned to Ciara.

‘Yes, Devlin, he knows you’re coming. Will I bring you out?’ she said sweetly, eager to please.

‘Not at all, Ciara. I’ll find him. You go off and work on the report with Caroline. I’ll mosey around and see what’s going on.’ Devlin smiled brightly as if she
hadn’t a care in the world.

‘Oh!’ The younger woman was disappointed. Things weren’t going to plan at all.

‘See you later,’ Devlin said cheerfully as Caroline and Ciara moved over to one of the sofas in a corner of the foyer.

You better have good reason, Hanlon!
Devlin thought resentfully as she crossed the reception area. Ciara didn’t look like someone with the weight of the world on her shoulders or
some big burden that was causing her dishonesty. The sooner it was all out in the open, the better.

Devlin cheered up considerably as the builder led her around the site, explaining everything in his rich Connemara accent as he went along. Even though it was all scaffolding
and bricks and mortar at this stage she could visualize the finished product, and she knew without doubt that it was going to be a beautiful building.

The day flew. And it turned out much better than she’d expected. She hardly saw Ciara at all. The interior designer, a young Galway man named Finn Kennedy, was full of enthusiasm and
ideas. He and Devlin spent an immensely satisfying two hours discussing every aspect of the interior design of the new building. They eventually decided on a selection of fabrics that were suitable
for their requirements and within the budget allotted for furnishing.

Following her meeting with Finn she had a meeting with a tile supplier for the treatment rooms, then meetings with gym-equipment suppliers, sauna and Jacuzzi installers and kitchen-equipment
suppliers. The new wing was to house a state-of-the-art kitchen to service the residential dining-room plus the existing dining-room. In between she grabbed a quick meal of poached salmon served
with a mixed salad.

By the time the car came to collect them to bring them to the airport, Devlin was exhausted but exhilarated. Ciara hovered around, clearly annoyed at her exclusion from the key meetings.

‘We’ll talk soon, Ciara,’ Devlin said noncommitally to her discomfited manageress, knowing that the next time she spoke to her would be to terminate her employment.

‘OK, Devlin. I’m sorry I didn’t get time to discuss matters. I hope you enjoyed the meeting with Finn,’ she said tartly.

‘I did. Immensely,’ Devlin retorted.

‘Thanks for all the hard work, Ciara. It was a very profitable meeting,’ Caroline said smoothly.

‘Not at all.’ Ciara was polite. ‘We must have covered everything,’ she added with a hint of sarcasm.

‘We certainly have.’ Caroline ignored her tone.

Devlin turned to Caroline. ‘We should go. Didn’t you want to stop at that little shop at the Spanish Arch to get a present for Shauna Cleary’s baby’s
christening?’

‘Yes I do. Thanks for reminding me.’

‘We’ll get the driver to stop. Have to go. Thanks for looking after us, girls. We’ll be in touch.’ Devlin included the reception staff in her goodbyes and hurried out to
the car, assailed by a myriad of emotions. It could have been the biggest success of her business career but Ciara’s behaviour had taken the gloss off it, and she was still at a loss to know
why.

Caroline asked the driver to stop at the curio shop and got into the car beside Devlin.

‘Are you OK?’ she asked as they pulled away from the complex.

‘I’m tired,’ Devlin admitted. ‘But my meetings went well. I’m happy with the work I got done. How did you get on?’

‘Fine.’ Caroline nodded imperceptibly in the driver’s direction. She didn’t want anything getting back to Ciara or any of the staff. It was better not to discuss the
situation in front of a third party.

Devlin copped on immediately.

‘Good. A satisfactory day then.’ Devlin leaned back in her seat and yawned. Tiredness seeped through her. She longed for her bed.

When the driver pulled up to let Caroline out Devlin decided to get out and breathe in some fresh sea air. It was a chilly evening and the breeze from the sea was stiff and invigorating. She was
leaning against the car, inhaling the salty seaweed-scented air, when a tall, loping figure caught her eye. Her eyes narrowed as she followed his progress towards her. He was walking a golden
retriever and as he came nearer to her she recognized Matthew Moran, the landscape gardener.

He walked like a panther, gracefully but full of restrained vigour, and again she was reminded of how attractive he was. Dead sexy actually, she thought to herself, wondering why she found him
so attractive. She’d never felt attracted to any other man since she’d been with Luke, but Matthew Moran certainly pressed a button somewhere. She knew nothing about him or his personal
life other than that he had come highly recommended and had a thriving practice.

‘How are you, Devlin?’ he said in his delicious West of Ireland accent.

‘Hello Matthew. How’s it going?’ Devlin smiled. He smiled back at her, his eyes crinkling in his tanned weather-beaten face. He had a lovely smile. Sort of shy, she decided.
She had to find out more about him. Her chance would come when he was working on the grounds. It gave her a secret little buzz to find another man attractive. Just because she was married
didn’t mean she couldn’t stand on the sidelines and look, she thought, as she met his gaze. He had such blue eyes. Very penetrating eyes. But there was a sort of a sadness about him
that was intriguing.

‘Have you been inspecting the new building?’ He nodded in the direction of City Girl.

‘I just came from there. It’s coming on great,’ Devlin said.

‘He’s doing a good job. At least with John Joe you know it will be well built,’ Matthew remarked.

‘What’s your dog’s name?’ Devlin asked.

‘This is Goldie,’ Matthew said, patting the dog’s head. Goldie turned and licked him affectionately.

‘She’s a lovely dog.’ Devlin patted the soft furry pelt.

‘She is that.’ Matthew smiled down at the dog and again Devlin was struck at how his smile changed his austere features.

Just then Caroline hurried down the steps of the shop and over to the car.

‘Sorry for keeping you, Devlin. Hello?’ She smiled at Matthew.

‘Caroline, this is Matthew Moran. He’s landscaping City Girl for us. Matthew, this is my friend and colleague, Caroline Yates.’

‘How do you do, Caroline?’ Matthew politely held out his hand and dwarfed Caroline’s in his.

‘Nice to meet you. I saw your plans for the garden. It’s going to be beautiful,’ Caroline said warmly.

‘Thank you. I hope so. Well, ladies, nice to see you. Safe journey.’ Matthew raised a hand in salute, obviously tired of small talk, and then he was gone, striding into the distance
with the dog trotting at his heels.