Read Online A Change of Heart (The Heartfelt Series) by Adrienne Vaughan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Adrienne Vaughan
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Musing as he drove, Dermot was looking forward to this new assignment. One of the drug runners had cracked under interrogation, letting slip the next consignment was coming in via an island off the west coast, where a large construction project meant workers coming and going could disguise any extraneous activity. Dermot hit on Innishmahon. It had to be.
Tenacious as ever, Dermot discovered the island had been granted a lifeboat station, and a lifeboat station needed a coxswain, a captain to take the helm and run the show. As a fully qualified yacht master, first aider and serving officer of the Gardaí, Dermot was the perfect candidate.
In no time, Dermot was digging out his sea-boots, defrosting the fridge and kissing a handful of admirers goodbye. Innishmahon beckoned, a friendship needed rekindling, a lifeboat needed launching and a drugs ring needed busting. He switched off the radio and put his foot to the floor. He could almost see himself, scorching a trail across the map of Ireland Indiana Jones style.
Marianne drove Ryan to Knock Airport with the two youngsters in car seats behind them and Monty sitting happily on guard in-between. They giggled and gurgled for a while and then dropped off to sleep. Monty curling up into a ball as soon as he was satisfied his wards were slumbering. Marianne remembered Oonagh telling her a run in the car around the village was a sure way to get Bridget off when she was fractious. Marianne was impressed the ploy worked with Joey too.
She told Ryan he should take the trip to New York alone. It was business after all. But he was to be under no illusion, as soon as the agenda was settled, future trips would include all four of them, five if Monty could be accommodated, she wanted him clear about that. Initially he had been stubborn, refusing to even discuss going to New York, arguing with Larry that what was done, was done and let the lawyers to deal with the fallout. But when Marianne, fully appraised of the situation by Larry, backed up by a lengthy telephone call with Lena, told him he should go and get things straight with the studio, Ryan finally conceded and arranged to meet Franco Rossini in Central Park, two days later.
“They’re fast asleep,” Ryan said, watching her profile as she drove, turned-up nose, the sprinkle of summer freckles fading, her expression impertinent, even when she was concentrating.
“Good, I’m sure Kathleen wouldn’t have minded babysitting but when she told me she was having dinner with Larry, I didn’t want to impose,” she said.
“I know,” Ryan laughed. They were surprised when Larry said he was staying on for a while and would not be joining Ryan on the flight back to Shannon and on to JFK. “What’s that all about, surely not a romantic encounter? I mean I love Kathleen but she’s years older than Larry, I’d have thought...”
“About the same age difference as us. Are you suggesting he’s a toyboy? Why wouldn’t he be attracted to a charming, intelligent older woman? She’s quite a catch, with all those post office savings accounts at her fingertips.” Marianne alluded to the fact Larry was ‘careful’ with money, one of the reasons Ryan said he never married: too scared a wife would make inroads into his bank account.
“Well, if you put it like that,” Ryan smiled, “but has she no love interest of her own. I mean she’s still a sexy woman, and definitely sends out all the signals.”
Marianne slapped his thigh.
“Ryan, that’s my mother you’re talking about.”
“Well, only just your mother,” Ryan replied. He was still getting used to the idea. A strange story of coincidence alright, but one that explained why Marianne felt instantly at home on Innishmahon.
Ryan too, had always felt a strong connection to the island. Brought up by his maternal grandmother nearby, he spent holidays fishing with her brothers, until he won the scholarship to the School of Performing Arts and,
Musing as he drove, Dermot was looking forward to this new assignment. One of the drug runners had cracked under interrogation, letting slip the next consignment was coming in via an island off the west coast, where a large construction project meant workers coming and going could disguise any extraneous activity. Dermot hit on Innishmahon. It had to be.
Tenacious as ever, Dermot discovered the island had been granted a lifeboat station, and a lifeboat station needed a coxswain, a captain to take the helm and run the show. As a fully qualified yacht master, first aider and serving officer of the Gardaí, Dermot was the perfect candidate.
In no time, Dermot was digging out his sea-boots, defrosting the fridge and kissing a handful of admirers goodbye. Innishmahon beckoned, a friendship needed rekindling, a lifeboat needed launching and a drugs ring needed busting. He switched off the radio and put his foot to the floor. He could almost see himself, scorching a trail across the map of Ireland Indiana Jones style.
Marianne drove Ryan to Knock Airport with the two youngsters in car seats behind them and Monty sitting happily on guard in-between. They giggled and gurgled for a while and then dropped off to sleep. Monty curling up into a ball as soon as he was satisfied his wards were slumbering. Marianne remembered Oonagh telling her a run in the car around the village was a sure way to get Bridget off when she was fractious. Marianne was impressed the ploy worked with Joey too.
She told Ryan he should take the trip to New York alone. It was business after all. But he was to be under no illusion, as soon as the agenda was settled, future trips would include all four of them, five if Monty could be accommodated, she wanted him clear about that. Initially he had been stubborn, refusing to even discuss going to New York, arguing with Larry that what was done, was done and let the lawyers to deal with the fallout. But when Marianne, fully appraised of the situation by Larry, backed up by a lengthy telephone call with Lena, told him he should go and get things straight with the studio, Ryan finally conceded and arranged to meet Franco Rossini in Central Park, two days later.
“They’re fast asleep,” Ryan said, watching her profile as she drove, turned-up nose, the sprinkle of summer freckles fading, her expression impertinent, even when she was concentrating.
“Good, I’m sure Kathleen wouldn’t have minded babysitting but when she told me she was having dinner with Larry, I didn’t want to impose,” she said.
“I know,” Ryan laughed. They were surprised when Larry said he was staying on for a while and would not be joining Ryan on the flight back to Shannon and on to JFK. “What’s that all about, surely not a romantic encounter? I mean I love Kathleen but she’s years older than Larry, I’d have thought...”
“About the same age difference as us. Are you suggesting he’s a toyboy? Why wouldn’t he be attracted to a charming, intelligent older woman? She’s quite a catch, with all those post office savings accounts at her fingertips.” Marianne alluded to the fact Larry was ‘careful’ with money, one of the reasons Ryan said he never married: too scared a wife would make inroads into his bank account.
“Well, if you put it like that,” Ryan smiled, “but has she no love interest of her own. I mean she’s still a sexy woman, and definitely sends out all the signals.”
Marianne slapped his thigh.
“Ryan, that’s my mother you’re talking about.”
“Well, only just your mother,” Ryan replied. He was still getting used to the idea. A strange story of coincidence alright, but one that explained why Marianne felt instantly at home on Innishmahon.
Ryan too, had always felt a strong connection to the island. Brought up by his maternal grandmother nearby, he spent holidays fishing with her brothers, until he won the scholarship to the School of Performing Arts and,
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