Do You Want to Know a Secret? (42 page)

No, amid a lot of dense competition for the title, the single most romantic gesture of the year happened just after Daniel and I got back, arm-in-arm and still all dewy-eyed, from our Paris first-date trip. It was lunchtime when we got home and, ever the gentleman, he dropped me back to my house and helped me carry luggage inside. (I’ve never been much of a one for travelling light.) Useless Builder was there, lunch roll in hand, feet up, reading the
Daily Star
. Well, I only wished I’d had a camcorder to record it: Daniel lit into him, demanding to know exactly what had been done since I’d been away, what was left to do, and an exact, wait for it, breakdown of what was left to do, including an estimated finish date? And this was the alpha male side of Daniel in action, not the messer side of him I know so well. Well, Useless Builder’s jaw actually dropped, as I have to say, did mine. The upshot was that, one heated exchange/blazing row later, Daniel fired him, and organized the builders Best’s use to finish the gig. Which they did, within about eight weeks and with minimum fuss.

Some mornings when I wake up in my picture-pretty little doll’s house, and pad across my carpeted bedroom to my stunning, under-floor heated state-of-the-art bathroom, I often think back to that happy day.

It wasn’t the roses, the champagne, the trips, the full-on romance that sealed the deal for me and Daniel.

It was the day he kicked Useless Builder’s arse for me.

Because that’s when I knew. Just
knew
.

THE END

Acknowledgements

Huge thanks to the divine Francesca Liversidge; believe me, I know how lucky I am to have such an amazing editor. Thanks also to everyone else at Transworld, especially Larry Finlay, Madeline Toy, Joanne Williamson, Lucie Jordan, Gary Harley, Martin Higgins, Rebecca Jones and Vivien Garrett, for all their tireless hard work. I’m so grateful to you all.

Transworld Ireland is now officially launched, so a big hi to Eoin McHugh and Lauren Hadden; I’m really looking forward to working with you.

Huge thanks, as always, to the wonderful team at Gill Hess: Gill (the man himself), Simon, Declan Heeney and Helen Gleed O’Connor. You make life so easy for all of your authors!

Special thanks to Pat Lynch for everything and for being one of those people that you just don’t know what you’d do without. And of course to the beyond-fabulous Vicki Satlow . . . please come to Ireland for a longer visit next time!

Thanks to Karen Glass in New York for all her wonderful vision. I’m so excited about
Remind Me Again Why I Need a Man
coming to the small screen and it’s all down to you, Karen! While writing this book, my miracle-worker agent rang with the fabulous news that the movie rights to
I Never Fancied Him Anyway
have been bought in the US. So a huge hi to Wendy Finerman and Liza Zupan . . . this really is dream come true stuff!

Thanks so much also to all at HarperCollins in NYC, especially Carrie Ferron, Claire Wachtel, Julia Novitch and Tessa Woodward. See you all very soon, I hope.

On a personal note, thanks, as always, to Mum and Dad, Karen Nolan, Larry Finnegan, Susan McHugh, Sean Murphy, Clelia Murphy (and madam Clara!), Pat Kinevane, Marian O’Dwyer, Frank Mackey, Fiona Lalor, Alison McKenna, Sharon Hogan, Karen Hastings, Kevin Reynolds, Derick Mulvey and all the Gunn family. Old friends are the best!

Writing is a lonely, isolated gig, so I’m doubly grateful to have friends like Anita Notaro, Patricia Scanlan
and
Morag Prunty who’ve all been there before and know what it’s like.

And just in case you think I’ve forgotten someone, this book is dedicated to Marianne Gunn O’Connor, who has become such a good friend . . . and who really can work miracles.

About the Author

Claudia Carroll was born in Dublin, where she still lives and now works as a full-time writer. Two of her previous books,
Remind Me Again Why I Need A Man
and
I Never Fancied Him Anyway
, have been purchased for a TV Series (Fox Television) and a film, respectively. Claudia isn’t married and both titles come from phrases she finds herself using with alarming regularity, particularly after rubbish dates.

She is currently hassling producers for a walk-on part in the movie and isn’t a bit fussy about what she plays, as long as they let her keep the clothes.

Also by Claudia Carroll

HE LOVES ME NOT . . . HE LOVES ME

THE LAST OF THE GREAT ROMANTICS

REMIND ME AGAIN WHY I NEED A MAN

I NEVER FANCIED HIM ANYWAY

TRANSWORLD IRELAND
An imprint of The Random House Group Limited
20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 2SA
www.transworldbooks.co.uk

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET?
A TRANSWORLD IRELAND BOOK: 9781848270244
Version 1.0 Epub ISBN 9781407040462

First published in Great Britain
in 2008 by Transworld Ireland
Transworld Ireland paperback edition published 2009

Copyright © Claudia Carroll 2008

Claudia Carroll has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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