Barry watched his wife dumping her case on the trolley and sighed. Back to normal, he thought gloomily. The holiday had been a truce of sorts, but the battle of real life had just re-engaged, and it was disheartening. The south of France had been a pleasure. They had lazed around the hotel and pool, gone to Nice and Monte Carlo, read and swam and totally relaxed after the exhaustion of Disneyworld and shopping in Paris on hot August days.
Aimee hadn’t been as relaxed for months. They’d even had some decent sex, which was totally unexpected. It was as though by unspoken consent they’d left their problems at home and cocooned themselves in their Riviera bubble. But the minute they’d touched down in Dublin, the BlackBerry was out and she was all business again.
He glanced at his watch and yawned. Gone eleven thirty. Another three-quarters of an hour to get home. An air-traffic controllers’ strike had delayed them a couple of hours. Flying was a nightmare these days. It would be nice to sleep in his own bed, and at least he didn’t have to get up for work the next day. Coming home on a Friday was a good idea always.
He thought of Connie and wondered how she was and what she was doing. No doubt she was on a date with that man. Don’t think about it, he told himself as Aimee pointed out Melissa’s case and he grabbed it. Maybe he’d send her a text to say they were home, he mused as he waited for his own case to come around. A text couldn’t harm anyone, and he wanted Connie to know that he was thinking of her. She’d appreciate it, he assured himself as he took out his phone.
‘Are you sure this is what you want?’
‘Couldn’t think of anything else I’d like better,’ Connie said as she led Drew up the stairs. They’d gone out for a meal in a local restaurant and she’d invited him back for a drink. She thought she heard her mobile phone beep, but she didn’t care. It was probably one of those messages to tell her her inbox was full. She was always forgetting to delete her messages. Debbie and Bryan were painting their bedroom; her daughter would hardly be ringing her at this hour of the night.
Hand in hand, she and Drew walked into her bedroom. She was longing for him to make love to her. Now, finally, her life could be all about her and this wonderful new man who’d arrived into it like a precious gift from the universe. The rain was lashing down on to the Velux window, adding to the cosy feel of the darkened room, and they turned to each other eager for what was to come.
They were hungry for each other, their hands fumbling at buttons and zips before, freed from the encumbrances of clothes, they pressed against each other, hands sliding, caressing over bare skin. How lovely it was to have a man’s arms around her again. Connie sighed with pleasure as she kissed Drew’s neck and throat before finding his mouth again. The first time was fast, frenzied, and both cried out when release came, burying their faces into each other’s necks and gasping for breath.
‘I love a horny man,’ Connie smiled in the dark, tracing her fingers down the long length of his spine.
‘And I love a horny woman,’ Drew laughed, leaning up on his elbow to look down at her. ‘Sorry about the rush. It’s been a while.’
‘Don’t be. It was deeply, deeply satisfying,’ she purred. ‘I couldn’t have waited myself, it’s been a while for me too.’ She smiled, staring into his eyes. ‘I have to tell you something, though,’ she confessed. ‘Barry and I did it once before Debbie’s wedding. It was a one-off. You know the way things happen . . .’ She trailed off. ‘Do you mind?’
‘Why should I, Connie? Of course I don’t, as long as you won’t be doing it again,’ he teased. ‘Then I might have to go and shag Marianna.’ She laughed against his shoulder.
He bent his head and kissed her tenderly. ‘This time we’ll do it slow,’ he promised, sliding his hand along the curve of her waist to cup her breast.
‘Whatever you say,’ Connie murmured as the delicious quivers began again, and kissed him back with enthusiasm.
Later, entwined in each other’s arms, drifting off to sleep, Drew said drowsily, ‘I’m falling for you, you know that, don’t you?’
‘Right back at ya,’ Connie said sleepily, kissing his cheek as his arms tightened around her before she fell fast asleep, snuggled in against him.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead.
1 Peter 1:6
For all the wonderful joys and gifts I’ve been given in my life, I give thanks. And for the gift of this book as always, I thank Jesus, Our Lady, Mother Meera, St Joseph, St Michael, St Anthony, the Holy Spirit, White Eagle, all my Angels and Saints and Guides, and my Beloved Mother, who is now with them.
To my much-loved family, who are always there in good times and bad and whom I love dearly – I am truly Blessed.
To all my friends, who continually offer love and support, but especially to Aidan Storey, who has the biggest heart and who minds me so well and makes me laugh. To Alil O’Shaughnessy, who counsels, consoles, listens to moans, and edits superbly! To Tony Kavanagh, one of the funniest, and most talented men I’ve ever met. To Deirdre Purcell, for the truly relaxing holidays. To Pam and Si Young, for all the loving, inspiring emails that lift my heart. To Cathy Kelly, a most dear and cherished friend who, with kind and generous Fiona O’Brien, helped me in a most wondrous way at a lovely ‘elbows on the table’ lunch. To Ann Barry, Anita Notaro and Claudia Carroll, always on ‘candle lighting’ duty; and to Breda Purdue and Ciara Considine, who’ve seen me through many ups and downs, as has Geraldine Ring, even though she’s always giving out to me! To Marian Lawlor, a wonderful friend and neighbour. And to Sylvia and John in Mi Capricho, who are kindness itself.
To Dr Peter Boylan, who listened and made such a huge difference to my quality of life – a caring physician, as well as a great gynaecologist. Thanks so much, I’m in your debt. I was told you were the best, and you are. And to Averil Priestman, who was always so warm and kind when I went for my appointments. To all in Unit Four in Holles St Hospital who took such good care of me. Huge thanks.
To the doctors, nurses and staff of the Cremore Clinic, who look after my family and me with such diligence and kindness.
To Dr Joseph Duggan and Trish, who take such care of my dad.
To dearest Francesca Liversidge, great friend and great editor who is always looking out for me, and to Jo Williamson, who is always reassuring no matter what the problem. It would take another book to thank all the team, in Editorial, Sales & Marketing, the Art Department . . . The list is endless but I really appreciate all you do, so to everyone in Transworld, Transworld Ireland and to Simon, Helen, Dec, and all in Gill Hess and Co, for all the hard work and constant support, mega thanks.
To Sarah Lutyens, dear friend and agent, who is so calming when I’m in a tizzy, and to Felicity, Jane and Daisy also, for their commitment and hard work.
To Edwin Higel and all my colleagues in New Island for their on-going commitment to Open Door. Onwards and upwards.
And finally, a very special thanks to all my dear readers who have bought my books down through the years. It’s hard to believe City Girl came out nineteen years ago. Thank you all so much for the support and many kind letters you’ve sent me. I hope you enjoy this one, and may your lives be as greatly Blessed as mine has been.
Patricia Scanlan was born in Dublin, where she still lives. Her books have sold worldwide and have been translated into many languages. Patricia is the series editor and a contributing author to the Open Door series. She also teaches creative writing to second-level students and is involved in Adult Literacy.
Find out more by visiting Patricia Scanlan on Facebook.
www.transworldireland.ie
www.rbooks.co.uk
Also by Patricia Scanlan
Apartment 3B
Finishing Touches
Foreign Affairs
Promises, Promises
Mirror Mirror
Francesca’s Party
Two for Joy
Double Wedding
Divided Loyalties
Comin
g Home
Trilogies
City Girl
City Lives
City Woman
Forgive and Forget
Happy Ever After
Love and Marriage
With All My Love
A Time for Friends
First published in Ireland by Transworld Ireland, 2009
This paperback edition published by Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, 2016
A CBS COMPANY
Copyright © Patricia Scanlan 2009
This book is copyright under the Berne Convention.
No reproduction without permission.
® and © 1997 Simon & Schuster Inc. All rights reserved.
The right of Patricia Scanlan to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
Simon & Schuster UK Ltd
1st Floor
222 Gray’s Inn Road
London WC1X 8HB
www.simonandschuster.co.uk
Simon & Schuster Australia, Sydney
Simon & Schuster India, New Delhi
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
PB ISBN: 978-1-47114-127-0
EBOOK ISBN: 978-1-47114-128-7
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Printed and bound by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY
Simon & Schuster UK Ltd are committed to sourcing paper that is made from wood grown in sustainable forests and supports the Forest Stewardship Council, the leading international forest certification organisation. Our books displaying the FSC logo are printed on FSC certified paper.
Happy Ever After Page 38