Unfaithful (The Complete Trilogy)

by Clancy, Joanne

  “Our new photographer starts today, doesn't he?” Penelope asked innocently as they walked to the office.

  “Does he?” Shona shrugged nonchalantly.

  “You look beautiful,” Penelope pulled her ponytail.

  Shona grinned as she unlocked the office door. “Am I really that obvious?”

  “Only to me.”

  Shona glanced at her watch. It was twenty to nine. It wouldn't be long until Adrian arrived. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of seeing him again. Of course he'd gotten the job. Rebecca and Penelope hadn't taken much persuading, especially after the way she'd gushed about him.

  “Speak of the devil,” Penelope smiled as Adrian walked through the front door. “We were just talking about you.”

  “All good I hope,” he winked cheekily at her.

  “Of course.”

  “Good morning, Adrian,” Shona interrupted. She didn't want Penelope getting her claws into him. Penelope seemed to have all the luck with men. Maybe it was her “love 'em and leave 'em” attitude that got their attention. She'd turned into quite a man-eater since Mark, determined not to give her heart away again. They'd had many chats about relationships and Penelope's approach was to think and act like men. “Use and abuse” was her mantra. Shona had tried to convince her on numerous occasions that not all men were like that and that she'd never find true love with her cynical attitude.

  Penelope just laughed at her, saying that she didn't have much to show for her positivity. “Where's your positive mental attitude gotten you, Shona?” she’d sneered. “Dumped; again. Why don't you face facts? There's no such thing as happily ever after.”

  Shona didn't care what her friend said. She knew her future husband was out there somewhere and one day they'd find each other and live happily ever after. All she'd ever wanted was to get married, live in the countryside in a little house with a big garden and have two children; a boy and a girl, ideally. She'd already chosen their names; Annabelle and Shane. One day she'd find him, all she had to do was keep the faith.

  Shona hated to admit it, but Penelope was right about one thing; she hadn't had much luck with men. She'd had a few casual relationships but nothing serious until she'd met Mark McNamara. He'd been her first and only serious relationship; serious for her anyway. She'd resisted his advances for months but he'd insisted that his marriage was over and they were only staying together until his son, Christopher, finished his final exams before university. Eventually, she'd given in, truly believing that he’d leave his wife for her. He'd made her feel that he adored her, but she’d learned the hard way that their relationship had been a lie. He'd broken her heart but not her hope.

  When she'd finally begun to get over Mark she'd thrown herself into the dating scene with a vengeance. Her biological clock was ticking and like her mother said she wasn't getting any younger. She'd signed up to online dating, introduction agencies and nearly every blind date event in Dublin! If anyone suggested setting her up on a blind date with one of her friends she immediately agreed, but despite her mammoth efforts, she'd never met anyone who gave her butterflies like Mark. “The butterfly” test was her way of knowing if she’d met someone special. She wanted to meet a man who set her heart racing, someone to share her life. She was lonely being single. It was enjoyable for a while, but she'd had enough. There was only so much dating and disappointment one woman could take. She was exhausted from constantly hoping and praying, only to be crushed time after time.

  Her sister, Jackie, recommended that she stop her mad man-hunt for a while because that's exactly when the love of her life would show up. So for once she'd taken her sister's advice, even if she was a smug married, and she'd shut down her online dating account and stopped “proactively” dating. It seemed Jackie had been right, because less than two weeks later, Adrian had walked into her life and he'd given her butterflies from the first moment she'd set eyes on him.

  She hadn't told anyone how she felt about him yet even though they'd probably guessed, especially after the way she'd gushed about his interview. Penelope had already started teasing her about him.

  “Good morning Shona. It's nice to see you again,” Adrian smiled politely at her.

  “This is my colleague, Penelope Garrett, she handles our models' portfolios and photograph proofing. Rebecca will be along shortly, she's probably stuck in traffic after the school run. She deals with new business. You’ve already met me, I'm the office manager.” She laughed nervously at her own joke.

  “But we all get stuck in whenever we're needed,” Penelope interjected. “Our roles aren't set in stone. We'll probably be working quite closely together from time to time.”

  Shona could feel her blood beginning to boil at Penelope's blatant flirting. “You can shadow me today, Adrian, so that you get a general overview of how everything works around here.”

  “That sounds good to me. Have I got any assignments yet?”

  Shona scanned her diary quickly. “Everything is pretty much up to date. We've been outsourcing our work to freelance photographers until we found someone more permanent. There's a twenty-first birthday party scheduled for the end of the month, but that's fairly standard.”

  “That shouldn't be a problem for you, Adrian. I'm sure you're used to handling lots of young, pretty women,” Penelope piped up. Adrian grinned.

  It was all Shona could do not to scream at her to shut up! “Have you ever photographed a twenty-first before?”

  “No. I've done weddings, christenings, sixtieth birthday parties and lots of commercial work, but never specifically a twenty-first birthday party. I'm sure I'll be fine. I'll try to blend in and stay in the background, taking some unexpected shots. I love those photos when nobody is formally posing. They really capture the moment.”

  “I couldn't agree with you more,” Shona smiled dreamily at him. It was wonderful to be working with someone who was clearly passionate about his work. “Anyway, moving on, today I'll show you what I do. I cover the general office administration; replying to clients' emails, pricing, setting up meetings and book-keeping. It's a mixed bag for me but I enjoy the variety.”

  “Maybe tomorrow you can shadow me for the day Adrian,” Penelope said suggestively, smiling flirtatiously at him.

  “I think Adrian is quite used to proofing photographs,” Shona replied disparagingly.

  “I'd be interested to know what everyone does,” he insisted.

  “Oh, okay, well maybe you could sit with me this morning and Penelope in the afternoon.” There was no way she wanted to leave him in her friend’s clutches for an entire day.

  “Sorry I'm late again girls, oh, and boy,” Rebecca arrived into the office. “Traffic was atrocious, as usual.”

  “No problem,” Shona and Penelope said in unison.

  “You must be our new photographer,” Rebecca held out her hand in greeting.

  “Yes, I’m Adrian Rowan. It’s nice to meet you, Ms. McNamara.”

  “Likewise, I'm sure. It will be such a relief to have a regular photographer we can depend on. The last few months have been very stressful with the amount of people we've had coming and going.”

  “I'm looking forward to starting and getting to know everyone.”

  Chapter 10

  “Calm down,” Penelope handed Shona a large glass of white wine. “You're behaving as if he were the last man on the planet. He's just an ordinary guy.”

  “Easier said than done,” Shona took a grateful sip of her wine. “Besides, he's not just an ordinary guy to me. I really like him. I know I'm being ridiculously nervous but I can’t help it.”

  “Picture him in his underwear,” Penelope winked mischievously.

  Shona almost choked on her drink. “That's the problem!”

  “I'm appalled,” Penelope teased. “He's not a piece of meat, you know. Are you after his body or his mind?”

  “A bit of both actually,” Shona grinned, beginning to relax. The wine was starting to have the desired effect. “Refill please.�
�

  “Absolutely not, you can have one drink to steady your nerves and that's it. You know you're tipsy after two glasses of wine, especially when you haven't eaten much. We don't want you dozing off on your first date now do we?”

  “I suppose not, that would be rather embarrassing.”

  “Where's he taking you?”

  “I don't know. He wouldn't say. He wants to surprise me.”

  “How are you going to know what to wear? Men, they have no clue.”

  “Exactly, no wonder I'm nervous. I don't have any idea what to wear. All he said was that he's taking me somewhere fancy.”

  “Ooh, sounds very mysterious and exciting. You can borrow my silver dress if you like.”

  “Don't you think that's a little over the top?”

  “If you want to make an impression you should wear the silver dress.”

  “I'll try it on and see how it looks.”

  Shona slipped the silver dress over her toned shoulders and turned to study her reflection in the mirror. The dress was sensational there was no doubt about it. It shimmered slightly in the light, emphasising her golden skin and blonde curls. Penelope was much taller than her so it would have skimmed her thighs but it was a perfect length for Shona, falling just above her knees.

  “Give us a twirl,” Penelope said, wandering into her bedroom.

  “What do you think?” Shona asked for her friend's expert opinion.

  “Sexy but sophisticated. I like it. It suits you.”

  “Thanks, Pen.”

  “Follow me,” Penelope ordered. “It's time for hair and makeup.”

  “But I've already done it.”

  “Trust me.”

  Penelope got to work on her friend. She sprayed a fine mist of some exotic-smelling concoction through her hair then set to work straightening her wild curls until her hair hung poker-straight around her shoulders.

  “I never wear my hair straight,” she tried to protest.

  “Time for a change,” Penelope retorted dismissively. She brushed some bronzing powder across her cheeks and a final spray of Coco Mademoiselle. “You’re finished!”

  Shona tentatively glanced in the mirror and was pleasantly surprised by the change in her appearance.

  “Straight hair looks good on you. We get to see your face and pretty eyes which are usually half-hidden by your crazy curls,” Penelope said approvingly.

  “Thanks Pen. I really appreciate it.”

  “My pleasure, any time.”

  “Oh, that must be Adrian,” Shona flew into the living room to answer her phone. “Hi, okay I'll be there in a minute.” She hung up the phone. “It's Adrian. He's outside in a taxi.” She grabbed her purse and jacket.

  “Have a wonderful evening,” Penelope waved her friend goodbye.

  “Don't wait up,” Shona grinned, closing the door behind her.

  “Wow! You look beautiful,” Adrian greeted her with a quick kiss on the cheek.

  “Thanks,” Shona replied shyly, blushing slightly. She was hopeless at accepting compliments. “You look very handsome yourself.”

  “I suppose I don't scrub up too badly,” he grinned, letting his gaze linger over her long blonde hair and toned body. He was amazed how different she seemed; lighter and less strait-laced.

  “Where to next?” the taxi driver asked gruffly, interrupting their pleasantries.

  “Shanahan's on the Green, please.”

  “Ooh, very posh,” Shona smiled. “They have the best steak in town.”

  “So I've been told.”

  Shona glanced out the window as they drove the short distance to Stephen's Green where Shanahan's was located. She felt uncomfortable about making small talk with the taxi driver as an audience. It was a beautiful night and she sent up a silent prayer that it wouldn't rain. The last thing she needed was her fake tan streaking or her hair exploding. Penelope had worked miracles on her curls but she knew it wouldn't take much for them to return to their former wayward glory!

  “Full moon,” Adrian said, cutting across her thoughts.

  “Yes, the crazies should be out tonight.”

  “Really?” he glanced at her in amusement.

  “It’s a silly old saying. I love a full moon. It's romantic.” She cringed, instantly regretting her words. She didn't want him to know how much the date meant to her. Too much pressure would probably be a complete turn-off. She’d told herself over and over to be cool, calm and collected.

  “It is very romantic,” he agreed, taking her hand in his and squeezing gently. Tingles shot through her at his touch. He was very handsome. It was strange to see him wearing something other than suits. He wore a black leather jacket, dark tailored trousers and a crisp blue shirt. His blonde hair was expertly gelled and he smelled divine. He'd clearly made an effort to impress her.

  They'd been getting along very well at work, often grabbing lunch and coffee together, but nearly always with either Rebecca or Penelope in tow. Eventually, she'd had enough of waiting, patience wasn't exactly her strong point, and she’d decided to ask him out. After all, it was the twenty first century. He'd hesitated and she’d actually thought for a heart-stopping moment that he was going to say no but he'd agreed and had insisted on organising the date. It was good to finally have some time alone.

  The taxi pulled up outside the restaurant and Adrian jumped out. He rushed around to her side and opened the door for her. She was a little taken aback by the old school gesture, but nonetheless she was charmed. They walked arm in arm into the bright lights of Shanahan's on the Green which was buzzing with people. The restaurant was renowned for its atmosphere and mouth-watering food.

  “Why don't we start with an aperitif in The Oval Bar?” Adrian suggested.

  “Good idea,” Shona agreed promptly. “I can’t believe the amount of American and Irish memorabilia they have.” The bar tender regaled them with tales about the history of the place. They restaurant still had a chair where John F. Kennedy sat when he visited Ireland. He told them about the antics of the Notre Dame versus Navy football team when they played in Dublin. The game brought the whole city to a standstill.

  “Your table is ready, Mr. Rowan,” a waiter interrupted them.

  “Oh! We have a table by the window!” Shona exclaimed. “You must have pulled some strings to get that reservation! I've heard they're booked out weeks in advance.”

  “I have my ways,” he smiled mysteriously.

  “Would you like to see the wine list?” the waiter asked them as he handed them some menus.

  “Yes, please,” Shona said, a little too enthusiastically. She was still a bundle of nerves.

  “There's nothing like a glass of red wine with streak,” Adrian agreed. “We'll have a bottle of Chateau Neuf du Pape please, if that's okay with you, Shona?”

  “Good choice,” she smiled.

  The waiter quickly reappeared with a bottle of wine and poured some for Adrian to sample. He tasted it and savoured it slowly. She liked a man who knew his wine. “Perfect.” The waiter promptly filled their glasses and scurried away to organise their order.

  She sipped her wine, glad of the chatter of the other clients which broke the silence between them. Suddenly, she felt overwhelmed by shyness and couldn't think of anything to say. Adrian seemed perfectly at ease as he glanced around the room taking in his surroundings. “I've read some great reviews about this restaurant,” he said eventually. “The city has changed a lot since I last lived here.”

  “It's had quite the transformation from culinary backwater to gourmet metropolis,” Shona agreed.

  “It's a far cry from the days when the joke was that Irish food tasted great until it was cooked!”

  “That's terrible,” Shona laughed, beginning to unwind.

  They chatted amicably throughout their meal, savouring the delicious food and wine. Adrian made sure to keep her glass topped up and he could see the wine was having the desired effect. They shared a smoked salmon starter which was amazing, followed by mains of
fillet steak, and cookies and cream cheesecake for dessert.

  “I’ve had enough of the polite chit chat,” he said. “Tell me more about you.”

  “Well, what would you like to know?”

  “Tell me everything.”

  She laughed nervously. “No pressure then, whenever someone says that to me, my mind goes completely blank.”

  “Okay, tell me why an attractive woman like you is single? I would have thought you would have been snapped up years ago.”

  She winced imperceptibly. He immediately regretted his question. Clearly, he’d touched a nerve. He felt himself softening towards her despite his best intentions to keep their relationship strictly platonic, but he had a job to do and he needed some answers.

  “I suppose you could say I haven't exactly chosen the right men,” she shrugged, managing a weak smile. “I always seem to fall in love with the complicated type.”

  “Join the club. I've been out with some real characters in my life.” He figured the best way to get her to open up and start talking was to reveal a few details about his own life.

  “Really?” she was all ears, happy to have momentarily deflected attention away from herself. “Do tell.”

  “My last girlfriend was constantly trying to change me. Nothing I ever said or did was good enough. She seemed to expect more and more; a bigger apartment, a flashier car and more holidays. It was never-ending. Luckily, she didn't want to move to Ireland with me so it was a fairly amicable break-up.”