Behind Every Cloud (43 page)

“
They
’
re very comfortable really,
”
she explained, stopping and lifting up one foot to show him.

“
Dear Lord, those heels must be at least five inches high,
”
he exclaimed, bending down for a better look.

Ellie giggled at his expression.
“
Six actually. But they
’
re very clever. See this platform here?
”
She pointed to the sole of the shoe.
“
Well, that
’
s two inches high so the heels are actually only four inches high.
”

He roared with laughter. The logic of women! He
’
d never understand it. They had an answer for everything! As they continued walking he was surprised to see that she was actually walking along quite briskly in them. Being on stilts didn
’
t seem to impede her progress at all.

“
Well, how are the wedding plans coming along?
”
he asked.

Ellie launched into the whole story of Saturday and the now
-
extended guest list. Ronan smiled at her enthusiasm. Ah, the innocence of youth, believing in a golden future with all their dreams fulfilled. Life wasn
’
t like that, as he
’
d discovered. It was full of disappointment and heartache
–
but no doubt that was something Ellie would find out in due course. He certainly didn
’
t think much of her fiancé David and had disliked the way he
’
d treated her the night of Rachel
’
s party.

“
I hope all your dreams come true and that you have a wonderful wedding,
”
he wished her as they arrived at The Yacht.

To his surprise she reached up and kissed him on the cheek.

“
Thank you, Ronan,
”
she smiled, her dimples making her look about fourteen years old, not a woman on the cusp of marriage. He patted her arm as they
entered and took their seats.

Zita and Rachel had walked down together
,
discussing what would happen at the shoot the following Thursday week. It was all so exciting, Rachel thought
,
and she
’
d arranged a very full day to show people exactly what a politician
’
s wife had to go through. They needed to know it wasn
’
t all cocktails and lunches! She
’
d also had a brilliant idea for the evening. She waited until Sam arrived – he
’
d had to stay back to make some calls – to make her announcement.

“
Listen
,
everybody,
”
she said.
“
I
’
m doing a film shoot with Zita on Thursday week and she thought it would be nice if I were to host a dinner party that night for some friends and
,
I thought
,
what better people to have there than my wine group
?
Will you all come? Just yourselves, no spouses this time.
”

Ronan was relieved to hear that.
“
I
’
d love to, but I work Thursdays, unless I could get Dermot to change nights with me.
”
He looked at Sam expectantly.

“
That shouldn
’
t be a problem. You can ask him tomorrow,
”
Sam replied.
“
Count me in too, Rachel,
”
he added.

“
Great! And you
,
Ellie?
”
Rachel turned to her.

“
Well, I work late every second Thursday but I
’
m sure I can get someone to change with me too.
”

“
That
’
s settled then. Thursday week, seven thirty
.
And
I
’
m sure the TV station will arrange for taxis, won
’
t they, Zita?
”

Zita grinned.
“
If it means you
’
ll all get drunk and make for entertaining television then I
’
m sure it could be arranged.
”

“
A bit like Come Dine With Me
,”
Ellie giggled.

“
Oh Lord, I certainly hope not.
”
Rachel put her hands to her face, horrified at the thought.

They all erupted with laughter.

42

Zita was in a tizzy waiting for Carl to arrive on Tuesday evening. She
’
d prepared an osso bucco earlier and it was now cooking away gently in the oven. She
’
d found a recipe on Yahoo which used lamb shank instead of veal and could be cooked in the oven, which meant she could entertain her lover and not have to stand over the cooker all night. She
’
d cooked this before for Marcus and it had been a great success
.
She hoped Carl would be impressed. She
’
d also called into Susan Hunter and bought some sexy lingerie which was something she
’
d never done before in her life. She didn
’
t dare tell Marcus or he
’
d never let up on her. As it was he was teasing her unmercifully about becoming a boring housewife. To be honest, she was annoyed with herself. This was so out of character for her
,
yet she had this need to please Carl like a silly teenager in love.

He arrived as before
,
brandishing champagne and wine
,
but this time they had barely time to put the champagne in the ice-bucket before they were heading for the bedroom
,
unable to wait a moment longer.

“
Mmmm . . . very nice,
”
Carl murmured huskily
,
excited by the sexy lingerie.
“
Come here
,
you sexy vixen
!”
He pulled her to him and slowly opened the laces of the basque she was wearing while kissing her neck and the top of her breasts as he did so. She longed for him to take her nipples in his mouth but he was teasing her, kissing and caressing her breasts but avoiding the most sensitive area of all. She was crazy with desire by the time he slipped the basque from her shoulders and laid her on the bed. Finally he gave her what she wanted and she moaned with pleasure as his lips closed
around one nipple and his fingers caressed the other.

Their lovemaking was even better than before and she marvelled at his stamina. She couldn
’
t get enough of him and yet he was able to pleasure her again and again. Finally, exhausted and satiated
,
she lay back on the pillows, smiling lazily at him.

“
You are one hell of a sexy woman,
”
he said, tracing her lips with his finger.

All she could do was sigh with pleasure. Now she knew why people made such a
fuss about sex.
She
’
d never understood it before and had ridiculed those who did. She stretched
,
thinking of what she
’
d been missing for all those years.

“
Now, I thought you were going to feed me, woman,
”
Carl said, smacking her bare bottom as she got up out of the bed.

She put on a robe and went into the kitchen where she put the dauphinoise potatoes she
’
d left ready into the top oven
.
Then she ran a bath and brought the champagne into the bathroom.

After a lovely bubble bath together
,
where they sipped the glorious fizz and laughed and joked like an old married couple, they got dressed again and she checked on the lamb and potatoes. They were both perfect and shortly afterwards they sat down to the delicious meal.

“
Mmmm . . . I could get very fond of being here with you,
”
Carl said
,
stroking her hand.
“
You make me feel so relaxed. You
’
re a very special woman.
”

She looked into his eyes and saw that he meant what he was saying. There was something vulnerable about him that was extremely attractive.

“
Can I see you Friday night and this
time I
’
d like to
take you out to dinner?
”
he asked.
“
I guess I owe you one by now.
”

“
You don
’
t owe me anything but
,
yes, I
’
d love that
.”
Her heart soared at the fact that he wanted to see her again in
three days.

“
I wish I could stay the night with you,
”
he admitted as he kissed her goodnight, holding her head in his hands.
“
Maybe I could stay on Friday night?
”

“
Oh, yes,
”
she whispered, kissing him back.
“
I
’
d like that more than anything. But how would you manage it
?”

“
Leave that to me. I
’
ll think of something.
”

After he
’
d gone, she lay in bed hugging the pillow that held the scent of him still. She was acting crazy, she knew, but she didn
’
t care. She
’
d never felt so whole and complete as she did with this man. Could this be love? The very thought scared her but she realised that
,
if it was, she was powerless to do anything about it.

43

On Thursday night Ronan was just coming back from his tea break when Louise
’
s friend, Melissa, came into the shop.

“
Can I have a word, Ronan?
”
she asked.

His heart sank. He
’
d pretty much put Louise out of his mind but he had a feeling that she was about to barge in again.

“
Of course.
”
He turned to Dermot who had been standing in for him.
“
Could you hold the fort for a few minute
s longer, Dermot?
”

“
No problem.
”

Ronan showed Melissa into the small staff-room behind the counter and pulled up a chair for her.
“
Tea? Coffee?
”

“
No
,
thanks. I just heard that you were working here. I
’
m so sorry
,
Ronan – about Louise and everything.
”
She was obviously feeling very uncomfortable.

“
Have you come with a message from her?
”
His heart plummeted at the thought.

“
No, no. I just wanted to see you and say how sorry I am.
”

“
Oh!
”
Ronan was at a loss for words
.

“
How are you doing?
”
she asked
,
her voice full of concern and sympathy.

“
I
’
m fine, really I
’
m fine
.
Getting by, day by day.
”

“
I was sorry to hear you lost
your job too. What an awful time it
’
s been for you
!”

He was touched by her concern.
“
That
’
s life. No one s
aid it would be easy.
”
He grimaced.
“
What about Louise
? How is she doing? I haven
’
t heard from her since she left.
”