Guess Who I Pulled Last Night? (32 page)

As she watched, Charlotte recognised the same glint in
Margaret’s eyes that had been in Gwen’s whenever she was in Niall’s
company.  He definitely had a way with the older lady.  She grinned,
as a slight blush appeared on Margaret’s cheeks.

“Ooh what a lovely accent you have Mr Devine, there’s
something about the Irish.” Margaret giggled.

“Stop flirting with the man,” cried Frank, with good
humour.  “Let him get himself some breakfast.”

Charlotte nodded.  “Yes, I’m sure that if you ask
they’d make you something.”  She suddenly felt uneasy, being in such close
proximity to him; and not being able to touch.

“No, I’ll not bother them now.”  Niall looked around at
the busy waiters whom were clearing up the breakfast debris.  “I can last
until lunch, I won’t starve.”

Charlotte started to make her escape, and moved a few steps
from the group.  “Well, I’ll be off then. I’ve lots of sightseeing to do
and so little time to do it in.”  Charlotte’s voice quivered, as Niall
looked at her intently while she spoke.

“What about you Mr Devine, what are you doing today?”
Margaret asked, flashing a radiant smile.

Charlotte opened her mouth like a fish, wanting to protest,
but Margaret was already arranging their day for them.

“Perhaps you could do some sightseeing with Charlotte, spend
the day together.  After all, you do know each other; there’s no need to
spend the day alone.”

"Oh I’m sure that Charlotte has her own plans, don’t
you?”  Niall pleaded.

Charlotte nodded, and moved even further away.  “Yes,
yes I have.  And I’d better get going.”

“Nonsense,” Margaret almost bellowed.  “Go with Mr
Devine and enjoy yourself.  Don’t you think that it would be a good idea
Francis?”  She turned towards Frank, who showed his agreement.

“Absolutely.” He nodded.

Niall allowed a small smile to escape.  “Okay,” he
sighed in submission.  “As long as Charlotte doesn’t mind.”

Charlotte didn’t really mind. It would be wonderful spending
a day with Niall, but she wasn’t sure that her heart could take it; already
worrying that it was going to jump out of her mouth, at any moment.

She slowly shook her head. “No, I don’t mind,” she
whispered, her face matching the same red as her jumper.

“Good, that’s settled then.  I tell you what, why don’t
we all meet up for dinner this evening, and you can tell us what sort of a day
that you’ve had?"  Margaret looked very pleased with herself.

“Oh I don’t know…” Charlotte started to remonstrate.

Niall realising that they were not going to win placed a
hand on Margaret’s arm. “That would be lovely, is eight o’clock okay?”  He
quickly winked at Charlotte.

“Lovely,” answered Frank.  “We will see you both
then.  Come on Margaret let’s be off.”  Frank held Margaret’s arm as
they glided out of the dining room, leaving a bewildered Charlotte staring
after them.

“You don’t have to spend the day with me.”  Niall broke
the silence, as he moved next to her.

“Sorry, no, no, it’s fine,” she stammered.  “I just
didn’t want you to feel pressured into it.”  Charlotte looked away
quickly, trying to stem the rush of adrenaline that flooded her body when she
looked at him.

“Well, she’s an old lady who seems to think of herself as
some sort of matchmaker; so how can we disappoint her?”   Niall
smiled widely, putting Charlotte at ease.

The adrenaline was still flowing, but her heartbeat had
slowed down.  Spending the day with each other could be okay; at least,
they could get back on speaking terms.  Charlotte was just surprised that
Niall would want to spend the day with her; merely days ago he seemed to hate
her.

“Well, we should get going, I suppose,” said Charlotte,
smiling shyly.  “I hope that she’s not going to be too sad, that her
matchmaking doesn’t work.” 

She didn’t know why she had said that, but Charlotte winced
as she saw the frown that suddenly became etched on Niall’s brow.  She
knew that the comment had made her sound bitter, and that was the last thing
she wanted if they were to spend the day together.

“I mean, she obviously doesn’t know that we are just
friends.”  She glanced at Niall, hoping that she’d rescued the situation.

Niall smiled at her.  “I know what you meant,” he said,
the smile not reaching his eyes.  “I’ll meet you back in here in half an
hour then.”  He fiddled with his thumb ring, looking as uncomfortable as
Charlotte felt.

“Okay,” Charlotte nodded.  “See you then.”

As she went back to her room, leaving Niall to try to
scrounge some breakfast, Charlotte wondered what the day would bring, but more
to the point, how had she let herself get talked into it.  First Paul and
now Margaret, if she didn’t know better she would have thought that they were
in cahoots with each other.  What she did know was that they were
definitely in a league with the devil.

She also wondered about Niall’s attitude again. She hadn’t
imagine it; he had seemed to hate her a few days ago, and now he was positively
friendly.  Well, if he was willing to make an effort, then so would she;
she only hoped that she didn’t show her true feelings too much.

They drove for miles in companionable silence, both thankful
that there was no awkwardness between them, and Charlotte sneaking sideways
glances at Niall’s handsome profile.

She had wanted to tell Niall, once again, that she hadn’t
slept with Grant on that night, but somehow it didn’t seem appropriate; plus
things seemed to be going well, and she didn’t want to spoil the
atmosphere.  Charlotte realised that she had to move on, just as Niall was
doing.

Finally, they pulled up in a rather deserted seaside town,
no one around except an old man walking his dog along the sea wall that was
lined with little wooden bathing huts.  The obligatory fish and chip
wrappers flew around as the seagulls screamed overhead, but otherwise, there
was nothing and no one there.  Glancing at a greasy piece of paper
shuffling around his feet, Niall suggested that they went and get some fish and
chips for lunch, and perhaps eat them on the beach.  Charlotte hesitated
at first, paranoid about the thought of a huge seagull swooping down to pinch
her cod, but then agreed.  Niall thought she was barmy enough as it was,
and if she voiced such an illogical fear, he would surely suggest that they go
straight back to the hotel.  And so they trudged off towards the smell of
frying chips.

“What is it about fish and chips from the seaside?” 
Charlotte asked, as she screwed up, her now empty wrapper and threw it into the
bin next to her.  “They taste so much better.”

“Well if its good fish and chips that you want you should
try my local chipper at home in Ireland.”  Niall coughed, slightly
embarrassed, realising that it was highly unlikely that Charlotte would be
visiting his home town anytime soon.

Charlotte, feeling his discomfort, changed the
subject.  “So, what is this conference all about then?”

“Oh, it’s about some of the new company laws that are coming
out regarding diversity of, and prejudice in the workplace,  boring but
essential,” he explained, staring out to sea.  “Anyway,” he continued.
“What about you, what are you going to do with yourself while you are here?”

Charlotte shrugged and smiled broadly. “Shopping probably,
maybe a little more sightseeing, but I think I’m more in the mood for retail
therapy than anything else.”

Niall nodded as he pulled up the collar on his denim jacket
as the wind swirled around them with more gusto.  “I understand. I have
sisters and know how much shopping can help.”  He grinned, flashing his
beautiful teeth.  “So tell me, how are those friends of yours, have they
sorted out their differences?”

Charlotte was surprised that he had remembered, but because
he had the urge to kiss him increased.  “No, not really,” she
sighed.  “Kerry mistakenly thought that Kelvin was messing around with
another woman, and so she has gone away for a while.”  As soon as the
words “messing around” left her lips Charlotte wished they hadn’t.  She
noticed a shadow pass over Niall’s face.

“Has he?”  Niall asked, looking back out to the cold,
green sea once more.

“No, he wouldn’t, but unfortunately, he hasn’t had the
opportunity to give his side to the story.  He wouldn’t anyway; not ever.”
Charlotte emphasised, referring to Grant’s ridiculous barb that she had, in
fact, slept with her friend’s husband. “He’s spent nearly every day for the
past month looking for her. He's desperate without her.  The sad thing is
I had a letter from her, and she’s broken hearted about him too.”

Charlotte’s eyes filled with tears, she had been so wrapped
up in her own problems that she hadn’t given Kerry a thought for the last
couple of days.

“That’s deadly sad,” whispered Niall, noticing the unshed
tears.  “How can two people love each other, let circumstances separate
them like that?”

Charlotte wanted to scream at him, making him realised that
was exactly what he was doing; lies and circumstances were keeping them
apart.  She didn’t though, because she knew that it was useless, and she
was tired of the whole thing anyway; it was much easier, and less tiring
talking about other people’s problems.

“How is your family?” she asked, trying to lighten the
mood.  “Has your mum been over recently?”

Niall shook his head. “No, although she’s coming for… she’s
coming over in March I think.”

Charlotte pretended not to notice the quick change of track. 
“That will be nice for you, and her.”

“Yes, I can’t wait to see her.  I just heard yesterday
that one of my little sisters, Helena, is getting engaged.  It worries me
a bit, sure they are only nineteen, and I don’t think that Declan has a steady
job, he works for one of those agencies.” A frown became etched on his brow,
merely adding to his sexiness.

Charlotte nodded and gently rubbed his arm, trying to ignore
the thrill that ran through her body at touching him. “I can understand your
worry, but you have to let her make her own mistakes in life; anyway, it may
not be a mistake, they could be exactly right for each other.  I wish my
little brother would settle down, well I say little he’s recently turned
twenty-six actually.”

“He’s still your little brother though, not your fiancé.”
Niall grinned at her.

Charlotte blushed remembering that Niall had already met
Tom. “Erm, yes and still a pain in the arse most of the time, but I still love
him and worry about him.  I also have a sister Amanda. She's older than
me. She's married with a little boy Archie. He's nearly six now and just
started school.  Actually, I think that they are trying for another one;
they won’t go out on certain nights during the month, but then you can never
get a reply on the telephone, and if you do whoever answers is always
breathless.”

Niall laughed loudly, and reached across to take Charlotte’s
hand, his touch sending shivers down her spine.

“Yer do make me laugh Charlotte.  Come on lets go for a
walk to get rid of some of those chips lying heavy in yer belly.”

Niall pulled her up from the deckchair and walked off along
the shingle beach. He kept hold of Charlotte’s hand for a few seconds and then
casually dropped it, putting his own hand deep inside his jean's pocket.

It was getting dark outside and growing much colder now, and
as Kerry closed the thin curtains on the gloominess, she looked forward to
being in the comfort of her own home very soon.  Tomorrow she would be
going home. It was the best decision she had made in months.  As well as
wanting to put things right with everyone her decision to go home had a lot to
do with Esme shouting “Daddy” at the radio as a male DJ had started to speak
when they were listening to it earlier in the week.  Kerry realised that she
wasn’t just punishing Kelvin by staying away, but also Esme; and if she was
truthful this time away hadn’t really been that helpful.  Yes, it had made
her realise that there was a lot going on in her head that she needed help
with, but as far as she and Kelvin were concerned, they were further apart than
ever.

Nervous, yet excited, Kerry took the case from Esme’s room
and started to pack.  At first, everything was folded carefully, but
within a few minutes, she was throwing things in haphazardly.  Finally, at
eight o’clock, with everything packed away, Kerry plonked herself down and
heaved a sigh of relief.

The caravan had been her home for the last month, her safe
haven, but now she didn’t need it, or want it anymore.  It was time for
her to go to bed ready for an early start. She would post the rent owing and
the caravan keys through the farmhouse letter box tomorrow, and then she would
be on her way home.  As Kerry turned out the lights, she heard a car
screaming to a halt in the yard, the door slammed followed by the house door
opening and banging shut.  Kerry froze on the spot, knowing instinctively
that Owen was back.   At first, she began to tremble, but she
remembered that tomorrow she would be gone and would never have to see him
again.  Taking a deep breath, Kerry picked up her magazine and went
through to her bedroom for her last night at the farm.

As the car pulled up the drive, Charlotte could see through
the window that everyone had already started dinner.  She watched
animated, as silent conversations were carried on while the waiters moved
around noiselessly, the candles flickering against the brightness of the wine
glasses.  She was so engrossed watching everyone she hadn’t noticed that
Niall had turned the engine off and was watching her.

“What are yer thinking about?” he asked, touching her arm
gently.

“Sorry, oh nothing really, just watching all of them go
through their business, without seeming to have a care in the world.  I
envy them.”

Niall looked at her quizzically.  “Why?”