Two For Joy (53 page)

She'd have been waiting a long time before he took her to New York, she thought bitterly. Lorna no doubt had clicked her fingers and he'd gone running. He was probably spending a fortune on her. Lorna would wheedle money out of Scrooge. Her cousin was such a manipulating little cow. It had taken her years to see it, despite Ruth's constant nagging about it. Neil, the fool, probably couldn't see beyond his dick. Well, one day he'd know the truth, and that day couldn't come soon enough for Heather.

It was all right for Oliver Flynn to tell her not to waste her time being bitter. She had invested a lot of time and effort into Neil Brennan and it hurt desperately having it all thrown back in her face. Heather lay tormenting herself, knowing she'd have to get up for work in a few hours' time. She'd hardly slept a wink all night and she was bog-eyed.

If only she could get them out of her head. Where was this man on the periphery of her life? Was it Ray? She liked her new boss very much. He was a couple of years older than her and he was hugely interested in his work, but she wasn't sure if she fancied him. And so far he had made no move to let her know if he fancied her. Her grandmother always said the only way to get over one man was to find another. Heather's mystery man couldn't make an appearance in her life quick enough as far as she was concerned, she thought tiredly, yawning so hard her jaw ached as the birds outside her window twittered and chirruped exuberantly as the sun rose high in the sky.

*   *   *

The shrill ring of the phone startled Oliver. It was only ten to eight, who on earth would be ringing him this early? Maybe there was something wrong with Cora.

‘Hello?' he said anxiously.

‘Oliver, hi, it's me.' He heard Noreen's voice down the line.

‘Is anything wrong?' he demanded.

‘No, no, not at all. I just wanted to catch you before you went to work. You know the way your mobile can be out of range sometimes?' Noreen said hastily.

‘How are you?' he asked, surprised to hear his wife's voice at this hour of the morning.

‘I'm fine, Oliver, feeling much better actually.'

‘That's good,' he said briskly.

‘I had my scan, Oliver. You'll never guess. I'm going to have twins!'

‘Twins!' exclaimed Oliver. ‘How do you feel about that?'

‘Oh, Oliver. How do you think after what I've told you? I'm chuffed! Two little babies. I really do feel forgiven,' she bubbled.

‘Noreen, you weren't ever being punished. You were the one that was punishing yourself.'

‘And you,' Noreen said quietly.

‘Forget it. I'm delighted for you. Is everything OK with the bloke? Have you told him?'

‘Yes, Rajiv's fine about it. He was with me for the scan.'

‘Good,' Oliver said succinctly. ‘It's running late, Noreen. I'd better head off.'

‘Keep in touch, won't you,' Noreen urged.

‘Yes, I will. There's been plenty of people looking at the house. There's a few more coming over the weekend. Heather Williams is looking after things, she's working for Carleton's now.'

‘She's nice,' Noreen remarked. ‘Make sure to wash the dishcloths so they don't get smelly and—'

‘Everything's taken care of in that department,' Oliver said curtly, annoyed at her remark.

‘I know, it's just little things like that can tend to get overlooked,' Noreen explained.

Well, if you were here where you should be, I wouldn't have any of these problems,
Oliver thought angrily. ‘Yeah, well, don't worry about it. Just make sure to do what the doctors tell you. And I'm glad about your good news. I'll talk to you again.'

‘OK, Oliver, take care,' Noreen said, and hung up.

Oliver scowled. He was glad for Noreen that she was having twins, but he almost felt as if his nose was being well and truly rubbed in it. He couldn't even father one child and mister super-duper in London could give her two. And she had the nerve to tell him to wash the dishcloths, he thought irritably as he sniffed the one he'd been using. It probably could do with a wash, he sighed, and shoved it into the washing machine. He threw in a few tea towels and a hand towel and set the controls, before adding the powder. He was well capable of looking after himself without a woman interfering, no matter what Noreen might think. Oliver headed off to work feeling extremely hard done by.

43

‘I can't believe the weekend's gone so quickly. I had a great time.' Neil leaned over and kissed Lorna.

‘Good,' she purred, sliding her hand down between his legs.

‘Lorna, Lorna,' he whispered huskily as he became instantly hard.

‘Just so you won't forget me,' she murmured into his ear as he rolled on to her.

‘As if I would,' Neil groaned, wanting to make the most of this last lovemaking session with Lorna but wanting to explode into her at the same time.

Lorna wriggled beneath him and then wrapped her long legs around him, holding him tight. Those legs so taut and toned and silky to touch. It had never been like this with Heather, and never would have been, he thought fleetingly as he enjoyed every second of this last lusty joining.

‘You'll just have to come over again soon,' Lorna murmured when they were finished.

‘It'll be a while, my accountant will probably cut up my credit card when I get home,' Neil confessed. He'd spent a small fortune this weekend so far, and he still had to settle his hotel bill.

‘Tsk! Don't think about it.' She looked annoyed. ‘Come on, let's go up to the pool and have a swim, take a quick walk in Central Park and then we'll have brunch in Norma's downstairs. It's one of
the
places to have brunch in New York and I'm dying to try it out.'

‘Well, if you're dying to try it out, try it out we will,' Neil said gallantly. He wouldn't mind a strong cup of coffee to wake him up. It had been the early hours when they'd got to bed. Lorna had walked the legs off him the previous day and then she'd taken him to a very loud, crowded, hip club that had cost $100 each to get in, not to mention the rip-off prices they'd charged for drinks. Lorna had told him it used to be one of Madonna's favourite haunts. Madonna might have the money to spend in such a place, he hadn't, but he couldn't let on to Lorna that it was way out of his range. She was obviously used to socializing in these sort of places.

The swim woke him up, and he enjoyed his laps underneath the glass roof that allowed a hot, bright sun to shine through. Hard to believe that this time tomorrow he'd be back home in Ireland. He'd work his butt off to try to get another trip before the end of the year. Not only was he hooked on Lorna, he was well and truly hooked on New York.

By the time the waiter put a big juicy doorstep of a steak in front of him some hours later, he was ravenous. He'd enjoyed his walk in Central Park among all the NYC residents out strolling, cycling and rollerblading with panache, with Lorna pointing out areas of interest as knowledgeably as if she were a native, he thought admiringly. She'd really settled in here, practically a native New Yorker.

It had been a rush to get packed and checked out and he'd paid his hotel bill without flinching. It wasn't bad value considering all the luxurious extras and its prime site. Even though the prices in Norma's reflected its status as
the
place to have brunch, it was his last meal in the city, he might as well enjoy it.

Lorna was having a popover chicken and vegetable pie, pushing it around her plate, toying with it. He noticed that whenever she ate, she left at least half of her meal on her plate. Obviously she was watching her fantastic figure, but it grieved him that the food that had cost him half a day's pay was being wasted. She should order child's portions and be done with it. At least Heather ate what was in front of her.

Stop that!!!
he ordered himself, silently. There was no comparison between Lorna and Heather. Lorna was a sophisticated woman of the world, Heather a nice but parochial homebody. He knew who he wanted to be with, whether she picked at her food or not.

‘Isn't it a fabulous place? The buzz is terrific. Oh Neil, I wish I could do brunch here every Sunday,' Lorna said wistfully, gazing around at the smart, crowded, airy restaurant.

‘Why don't you?' he asked, puzzled.

‘Er … there's so many places to try out, Neil, you can't keep going to the same place,' Lorna drawled. ‘I should have brought you to the Carnegie Deli as well. It's famous and it's only a few blocks away, they have queues out the door.'

‘When I come back, next time.' Neil smiled as the waiters arrived to top up their coffee and juice.

‘When do you think you'll come back?' Lorna slid a tiny sliver of chicken into her mouth.

‘As soon as I can! Maybe I could stay in your place next time. It wouldn't be so expensive either. If I'm going to keep coming over it makes sense to stay with you,' he suggested. ‘Is it big? I'd love to have seen it.'

‘Just your average brownstone apartment in Chelsea near the piers,' she said airily. ‘Le Parker Meridian is much more romantic,
much
more us.'

‘And OK if you're loaded,' he retorted. Lorna frowned and he quickly changed the subject. She was touchy about money. ‘Are you sure you won't come to the airport? The concierge told me I shouldn't leave it too late.'

‘No, don't,' Lorna agreed. ‘Everyone will be coming back from Westchester and the Hamptons, traffic's always crap on Sunday afternoon and evening. I really don't want to spend hours in cabs each way.'

‘Oh, OK,' he sighed. ‘Just let me settle the bill.' He half hoped that she would offer to treat him. She hadn't put her hand in her purse since Thursday, but then it was obvious she was used to men wining, dining and looking after her. She expected the same from him. He supposed he'd got off lightly by not having to buy any jewellery at Tiffany's, although she'd dropped enough hints when she'd taken him in to ‘browse'. He didn't feel one bit guilty. He'd spent a king's ransom on clothes for her, time enough for the jewellery as they got to know each other better. He'd been stung before by girlfriends dumping him after he'd bought expensive jewellery for them. Sometimes, he couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he felt Lorna was toying with him. He'd noticed especially the night they were in the club that she kept looking around and over his shoulder, trying to make eye contact with other men. Not a very nice trait.

Stop! You're being paranoid,
he chastised himself, annoyed that his old lack of confidence should suddenly resurface.

‘I suppose I'd better go.' He made a face as he pocketed his credit card, having paid yet another small fortune for their meal.

‘I guess you'd better. The doorman will call you a cab. I might just stay and have another coffee. I don't really want to watch you leaving, Neil.' Her lower lip trembled.

‘Ah, Lorna!' He patted her hand awkwardly, touched at her emotion and disgusted with his earlier lack of charity. She did care about him, it was obvious. She seemed upset.

‘Just go, now,' she said forlornly. ‘I'll call you.'

‘OK.' He leaned across the table and kissed her gently. ‘I had a wonderful, wonderful time. Give me your number so I can keep in touch. Let's call each other a couple of times a week as well as emailing,' he suggested.

‘I'll email you my number. You'd really want to get a move on, Neil.'

Was it his imagination or was she a trifle testy? It was just that she was upset, he assured himself, looking at her downcast face. He shrugged into his new black leather jacket and walked down the steps of Norma's. When he looked back she was sitting with her face cupped in her hands, looking so sad he felt like running back and taking her in his arms. Taking a deep breath, Neil kept going and ten minutes later was sitting in the back of a yellow cab on his way to JFK, and a future reckoning with his accountant.

*   *   *

Lorna tried to keep the tears at bay. She couldn't believe that her weekend of pampering and luxury was over. If she didn't get a move on she was going to be late for her shift at Zack's. Not that she gave a damn. How could she go back to waitressing after spending a weekend eating in upmarket restaurants in the hottest spots in town? How could she slum it back in that tacky, noisy diner?

She'd thought Neil would never get a move on. Time was getting tight and she had to change her clothes, she certainly wasn't working for the next eight hours in her Nicole Farhi outfit. She finished her coffee and reluctantly left the restaurant, collected her weekend bag, and got a swipe card for the loo. Like Cinderella, after midnight, she divested herself of her finery and emerged into the foyer in her jeans and Gap T-shirt.

She was damned if she was taking public transport to Times Square, she decided, having spent the last four days being whisked around in taxis. The doorman smiled at her and whistled for a cab. Sick at heart, Lorna climbed in.

She wouldn't have a weekend like this again until her mother came. Neil was a dead loss.
Imagine
suggesting he stay at her place the next time. As if. He'd really blown it big-time. If that was his attitude, he could forget her, she decided. Neil was OK but definitely not what she required. He kept going on about his accountant. How cheap was that? Even this morning while they were having brunch she'd considered keeping him on a long leash, prepared to keep in touch until he came out again, but when he'd suggested doing it on the cheap and staying in her place, that had put the kibosh on that. He wasn't worth it.

She shouldn't have bothered flirting with him, just so she could knock the smug smile off Heather's face. Heather was such an idiot anyway, she thought crossly. Imagine falling head over heels in love with Neil. In spite of all his best efforts, he'd never be able to shake off his country-boy leanings. Looking for a cheap place to stay indeed. Lorna was raging with him for that. She felt really let down; even the fact that he was the only man who'd given her pleasure in bed wasn't enough. She'd invested a lot of time and effort in him and he'd proved to be a loser.