“That’s where you get your dark good looks from,” Rosie smiled at her.
Rosie was looking ten years younger than her fifty-two years. She couldn’t believe she was having such a good time. She knew Jack was looking down at her, happy to see her enjoying herself.
Pete was sitting between Niamh and Amber and he enjoyed himself flirting with each of them in turn. Amber was really taken with him. He didn’t arouse the scary feelings inside her that Carlo did. He was much safer so she flirted right back. He whispered in her ear and asked if she would meet him for a drink some night. She agreed. He was a little sweetheart.
Unknown to her, he was also getting very audacious with Niamh on his other side. In the beginning she laughed and flirted – just a little – with him, but as he got into sexual territory she pulled back and when he asked her out she told him she couldn’t possibly meet him. She was a married woman!
Tessa caught his eye once or twice and he winked at her. She laughed back at him. He was truly outrageous! She was having a wonderful time. Carlo was the most interesting man she’d ever met. He’d travelled extensively and had so many interests that she could have spoken to him for hours. She saw how Lesley and Val were doing their best to attract him, getting ever more blatant with each glass of wine. He very adroitly evaded their advances and Tessa felt sorry for him as he tried to be polite, in the face of their increasing vulgarity. He was a true gentleman and she thought Amber was crazy not to be receptive to him. Tessa fancied him more than ever.
“Are you flying back to Rome on the midday flight tomorrow?” Amber asked Grace, as they finished the delicious desserts.
“Actually, no. Massimo came over on the family jet, so we’re going back on that in the morning.”
Family jet! My God, that was something else. All the girls were very impressed with this piece of information. After the meal was finished, Grace said a few words.
“I’d like to thank you all for your hard work this week. I know there was a lot to take in but you’re now very well equipped to go out and build a successful business. Carlo will be running the Irish operation for us,” she said, smiling and gesturing to him. “He’ll be coming over to Ireland every second week, initially, to meet up with you individually and give you any support you might need. We’ll have a general meeting together every six weeks or so. Of course, Carlo is always available, by phone or e-mail, should you need him, as are Pete and I. I do hope you’ll all succeed and that we’ll be welcoming you all to Rome, in six months, for a further training session.” She smiled, looking around the table at them all. “And Carlo has a little surprise for you.” She held her hand out to him, asking him to take the floor.
Carlo stood up, smiling broadly around the table as they all went silent.
“To help motivate you, we have a further exciting incentive for you.” He paused, enjoying the eager looks on their faces. “The girl with the highest sales, in the first six months, will have the use of a car for a year, which will be presented to her when she returns from Rome.”
Some of the girls gasped and then they all clapped and smiled at him.
“Grazie, Signore e Signorine,” he said, sitting down.
Niamh had never been so excited. A car of her own! It was too good to be true. She was determined to be the one to win it.
“I can’t wait to get home to tell Gavin about this,” she beamed around the table. Her friends smiled at her excitement.
Amber noticed the disdainful look Lesley gave Niamh. She obviously had no intention of letting Niamh win it. She noticed that Lesley was more than a little drunk and was flirting with all the men, even Grace’s husband.
As they said their goodbyes and prepared to leave, Amber heard Val and Lesley trying to persuade Carlo to go on to a nightclub with them.
“No way! Do I look like a nightclub person?” he asked, throwing back his head and laughing.
“You certainly do,” Lesley purred, stroking his arm.
He turned to Tessa and asked, “Are you and Amber going?”
Before Tessa had a chance to reply, Amber answered for her.
“No, we’re not,” she said sharply.
He shrugged and bowing, said, “Buona sera, signorine.” Then he turned on his heel and left.
“You’re crazy,” Tessa said, frustrated with Amber’s attitude towards Carlo. She would love to have gone to a nightclub with him.
“He’s not my type,” Amber answered.
Tessa didn’t believe her.
As they were waiting for their taxi, Pete pressed a note in to Tessa’s hand.
On it he had written his private mobile number and a simple message: “Call me.” She looked at him and laughed. Was he for real? Did he intend to bed each one of them? She wouldn’t have been surprised to discover this was his goal. Well, he can count this girl out, she thought, still laughing at his audacity.
“I’ve a feeling that Val will be playing gooseberry for the night,” Tessa said, as Val and Lesley headed off with Pete. “Lesley appears to be in a distinctly amorous mood and Pete seems more than happy to accommodate her.”
Amber was shocked. “Oh, I don’t think so,” she replied. “Lesley is married.”
“I don’t think that will worry either of them too much,” Tessa said, cynically.
Amber looked at her in disbelief.
She’s such an innocent, Tessa thought, as they climbed into their taxi.
On the way home, Tessa tried to talk to her. “Carlo’s really sweet, you know, not at all like you think, or like Pete,” she said gently. “You should give him a chance. I think he’s simply divine.”
“I’m not interested in him,” Amber insisted, looking out the taxi window, winding a curl round and round her finger.
“Well, I think you’re crazy. I think he’s really genuine and he’s verrry sexy. How can you resist that Latin charm?” She couldn’t figure Amber out. “I’m telling you, if it wasn’t for George, I’d go after him myself,” she sighed.
Niamh was exhilarated as she travelled home in the taxi.
The taxi driver caught her mood. “You look like you enjoyed yourself tonight.”
“Oh, I did. But it’s not just tonight. Everything is just going great at the moment.” She smiled at him.
“Well, I hope the guy you’re going home to appreciates you.”
“Oh, he does,” she replied, nodding her head.
“Some guys have all the luck!” He grinned back at her.
She laughed.
Coming quietly into the cottage, she took off her shoes and tiptoed up the stairs. She looked in on the children, covering them up as she kissed each of them softly. The last thing she wanted to do was wake Bridget. She’d never hear the end of it, if that happened. She crept into her own bedroom where Gavin was still awake, waiting for her.
“Come here, sexy babe.”
“Oh, Gav, I have some news to tell you . . .”
“Sshh,” he said, pulling her down on the bed and kissing her hungrily. He started to undress her slowly while nuzzling and kissing her face and neck. It felt wonderful and she forgot all the news she had for him as she gave herself up to the delicious sensations that were flooding her body. He’d always been a superb lover and took a long time to pleasure her before he sought his own. As he made his way down her body she felt the longing and desire consume her. She lost count of the orgasms she experienced before they finally collapsed, exhausted, wrapped around each other.
Chapter 15
The following morning, Niamh woke to feel Gavin caressing her again and within seconds she was climbing on top of him. It was as if the years had melted away and they were young lovers again. She thought she’d die with happiness. The kids came in shortly afterwards, surprised to see Daddy awake and smiling and Mammy cuddled in his arms. They jumped on the bed and squealed with delight as Gavin tickled them all, in turn.
Bang! Bang! Bang! There was a loud knocking on the wall.
“Oh, God, your mother!” Niamh
cried, realising she’d forgotten all about Bridget in the room next door. Jumping out of bed, she got the kids up and dressed and was in the kitchen, giving them breakfast when Bridget came in, scowling like a banshee.
“What hour of the night did you come in at, Miss?” she demanded. “This is not proper behaviour for a wife and mother!”
Niamh, realising that she’d probably heard them making love, blushed to the roots of her hair.
“Oh, Ma, get a life,” Gavin said, coming into the kitchen in his boxers, his hair all tousled, his feet bare. “Niamh hardly ever goes out and anyway it wasn’t that late. I was awake.”
He looked so sexy! She couldn’t believe it. Gavin had never, ever, sided with her against his mother. This was a first. Niamh wanted to throw her arms around him and hug him.
“I’m well aware that you were awake,” Bridget snorted. “You kept me awake half the night with your shenanigans.”
With a shock Niamh realised that her mother-in-law was jealous. Living here is the cause of most of our problems, she thought. I’ve got to make a success of this business and get us out of here.
Gavin was thrilled to hear that, if it went well, she had a chance of a company car in six months. He wanted a car, more than anything, even more than he wanted a house.
“Oh, that’d be fantastic, babe! You need to work really hard, to make sure you win it.” His eyes were alight at the idea of their own car. He’s just a kid at heart, she thought, ruffling his hair. She reckoned she’d have his support now.
To her surprise he offered to take the kids to the park so that she could go and have a chat with her mother. Gosh, what had come over him? It was years since he’d done anything like this. Things were really on the up! She went to call on her mother.
Eileen was heartened to see the happiness in Niamh’s eyes. “I’m dying to know how last night went,” she said, hugging her daughter.
“Has Val not been in touch to tell you?”
“I don’t want to hear from her. I told her so,” Eileen replied stiffly.
“Ah, Mam, that’s silly,” Niamh said as she put the kettle on. “You’ll have to talk to her sooner or later. I’ve forgotten about it, so you should too. Life is too short to let something like that fester.”
“I suppose. Well, you look happy,” she said, bending to take an apple tart out of the oven. “I take it you had a great time?”
“It was brilliant. The girls are so nice and great fun. It was a very posh place and the food was out of this world.” Niamh’s eyes were aglitter as she continued, “And now for the best thing of all – the person with the best sales in the first six months will win a car, for a year. Can you believe it? I know I can be the one.”
Eileen clapped her hands. “Oh, love, that would be fantastic! Just think where we’d be able to go: shopping to Liffey Valley and Blanchardstown and we could take the kids to the beach in summer! We could even go to visit all your cousins in Athlone and Birr.”
Niamh grinned as her mother made plans for them all. “I have to win it first,” she laughed as she set out the tea things, “but I know if I work like mad, I could. Thank God Dad taught me to drive.”
“How I wish he was here to see this!” Eileen said. She took a bowl of whipped cream from the fridge then paused as a thought struck her. “What about Val? She can’t drive.”
Niamh was too charitable to say that she really didn’t think Val had a hope in hell of winning the car.
“I suppose if she won, she’d have to learn,” she replied, making the tea. “I’m really happy because Gavin is thrilled about the possibility of us getting a car. That means he’ll help me and won’t be against me doing this job.” She looked at her mother hopefully.
I bet he won’t, not if he has a chance of having a car to swan around in, Eileen couldn’t help thinking as she handed Niamh a slice of hot apple tart and cream.
Niamh dug into the tart immediately. “Mmmmm, Mam, you’re the best cook in the world!” she said, her mouth full.
Meanwhile, Tessa and Amber were feeling the worse for wear. After numerous cups of coffee, Amber suggested that they go for a walk in Portmarnock. It was a cold but sunny morning, so they wrapped up well and set out.
As they walked briskly along, Tessa took the bull by the horns. “Okay, are you going to tell me why you’re so antagonistic towards Carlo?”
“First, he’s a man – and second, he’s an Italian man. Need I say more?”
Tessa could hear the bitterness in her voice. “God, Amber, you can’t tar all men with the same brush. I know your husband hurt you badly. Do you want to tell me about it?”
They walked briskly, linking arms, and Amber told her the story of her marriage and divorce, leaving nothing out. She also told her about her previous disastrous relationship and she even told her about the drinking and the feeling of self-worthlessness she’d felt.
“So, now you see why this job has saved my life and why I’m so wary of men. I’ll never trust a man again,” she said, her voice full of pain.
Tessa had tears in her eyes as she heard the hurt in Amber’s voice and realised how she’d almost hit rock-bottom.
“I see where you’re coming from but, you know, not all men are bastards like Dermot. I had a similar experience with Isaac, except that he was a dreadful womaniser – a serial shagger, I prefer to call him. I discovered after I left him that he’d been screwing everything in a skirt, all through our marriage. I was desperately hurt and embarrassed but I haven’t let that stop me looking for love again.”
“You’re braver than I am, then,” Amber replied. “I’ll never let a man hurt me like that again. It almost destroyed me.”
“Well, I felt a bit like that after Isaac but then, after my heart attack, I learnt to grab each day and live it fully. Life is so unpredictable and love can be the most wonderful thing. Mind you, I think I’ve made a huge mistake with George, but that’s another story.”
Amber looked at her sharply. “Why do you say that?”
“It might sound strange but I feel I’m not me when I’m with him.” She hesitated, looking at Amber. “I feel like I’m trying to be what he wants me to be, all the time. Do you understand? This job is pretty much a life-saver for me too. I rather hoped that it might repair my relationship with George. Now, I’m not even sure I want it to. Life is too short to settle for second best.”
“I envy you your optimism and willingness to try again,” Amber said sadly. “I wish I could but I’m just not brave enough, I’m afraid.”
Tessa wished she could do something to help her new friend.
Rosie spent €40 speaking to her son, David, in Australia, regaling him with all the changes in her life during the past two weeks. He was delighted to hear his mother back to her old self. He’d been extremely worried about her in the aftermath of his dad’s death. He had actually considered leaving Melbourne and going back to Ireland to live, thinking his mother needed him. He and his wife and two boys were very happy and had settled well in Australia, but as he said to Gail in one of their numerous emails, family is family, and if his mum needed him, he’d come home. Thank God he’d listened to Gail and stayed put, as it looked as if his mother had come through it okay. He was relieved and genuinely happy for Rosie.
She was like a new woman and couldn’t wait to get started selling the beautiful If the Shoes Fit shoes.
Tessa hated leaving Amber and heading back to Ballyfern, but she couldn’t put it off any longer. She was pleased to see that George was out when she arrived home. He’d left her a note to say he was playing golf and would be home around six.
She was relieved and went up to have a nice long, relaxing bath. She was finished by four and decided to take Napoleon over to Kate’s for a walk.
Kate was delighted to hear all the news of the course and pleased that Tessa had enjoyed the week so much and had made some new friends.
“Amber sounds lovely. I’ll have to meet her. And Carlo sounds divine. If I wasn’t so happily m
arried, I’d ask for an introduction! I insist on being the first one to hold a party for you. I have some friends who are crazy about shoes – although I don’t think any of them have a shoe-room like your friend Amber.” She checked her diary. “How does next Friday suit? I’ll get all the girls at the golf club to come and I’ll ring my friend in Dublin and invite her down.”
Tessa was delighted. “Way to go!” she said, giving Kate a high-five.
George was home when she got back.
“Where have you been?” he asked, his voice surly.
“I decided to take Napoleon out for a walk, so we went over to Kate’s.”
“Huh,” he replied, burying his head in his newspaper.
He didn’t ask her how the dinner had gone the night before and she didn’t volunteer any information. George wasn’t big on female bonding. He couldn’t understand how women could reveal their innermost feelings and thoughts to each other. He’d have had a fit if he knew that Tessa had discussed their relationship with both Kate and Amber. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him, she thought – not for the first time.
Later he spotted the six pairs of shoes in the den.
“What’s this?” he asked, frowning.
“These are the shoes I’ll be selling. Aren’t they beautiful?” She opened the boxes to show him.
“You’re not serious! They’re much too trendy, very inappropriate.” He looked appalled. “I do hope you’re not thinking of wearing them?”
She bit her lip and said nothing.
“If you must indulge yourself with this little job, at least do it with taste,” he said disdainfully.
That’s what this business was to him – her indulgence. Well, she’d bloody well show him. She vowed she’d make him eat his words.
Chapter 16
On Monday morning all the paperwork was delivered to the women. Niamh opened the boxes with excitement. There were the brochures that she would give out to her reps, featuring the six pairs of shoes, photographed in glorious colour from every angle. She had to admit that they looked very seductive and hoped that any woman looking at them would feel she just had to have them, whatever the cost. There were also posters, equally seductive, which she would hang up in shops and anywhere else she could, to attract representatives. And lastly, leaflets to drop into individual homes.
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