‘Anyhow, the point is, this is all down to Dave, he’s the money man.’
Wow, she thought, it must be strange for him, given that for the past twenty years that title had been his.
‘I’m so happy to see you doing your thing .?.?. I know it’s small scale compared to your normal but I feel like I’m finally getting to meet the other Pete.’
He shrugged diffidently but she could see that underneath he was glowing at the acknowledgement, as though he’d been starving for it.
‘If you saw me in full swing, you mightn’t say that.’
‘Why?’
‘Let’s say I can be tough when things need to get done. In fact, worse words have been used to describe me.’
‘Somebody has to be. You’re the boss, you can’t be everyone’s best friend. So, do you want the good news?’
He grinned. ‘Go on .?.?.’
‘I’ve got you a crew for tomorrow. A couple of strapping Galway lads .?.?. We’ll have to keep Patsy in his crate for safety and take turns in giving him a cuddle,’ she added.
A thought struck her. ‘Apart from that, Pete, where are you going to live? You can’t stay in that van, it’s getting colder every night.’
‘I’m going to get a tent, then I can move it between floors.’
‘You and Patsy, camping upstairs .?.?. in a building site?’
‘That’s the idea.’ Wow. It was clear that the prospect of rough living didn’t faze him. In short, Pete was a bona fide tough guy.
‘Amazing .?.?.’
But she couldn’t help comparing this to his utter bollocks of a business partner, who was living in the Mediterranean on a luxury ocean-going yacht bought using misappropriated money. Pete must have picked up on her thoughts.
‘I know what you’re thinking, Ally, but I can’t go there, or it’ll drive me crazy.’ Instinctively, she reached out and touched his calloused hand.
‘Nice nails,’ he remarked. ‘When’s the beauty pageant?’
Ally made a playful face at him.
‘I’m serious, you look great. Whose benefit is it for?’
‘Mine,’ she replied airily.
‘Good.’
Ally gave a mysterious smile, but her mind was a beehive of unspoken questions. Was he going back to Tanya? Was he going to stay with them for Christmas, when it’d be convenient for her to have him around? This job for Dave was probably only at mates’ rates and there’d be no profit in it for him to get back on his feet .?.?.Detach!she ordered herself – he’s an adult,back off!
She was conscious of him sitting slumped in the chair opposite – his broad shoulders, his hair spiky from plaster dust, five o’clock shadow darkening on his chin .?.?. He needed a haircut, but she wasn’t going to say a word.
‘I’d better head home, my fish will be missing me.’
‘Yeah, I’d better head on too .?.?.’
She desperately wanted to ask him what he was going to do for the evening, and for a moment even wondered if she should ask him back to her apartment, but something told her to hold off. Whatever was happening with Pete, he needed to handle it himself.
‘OK, well, see you first thing tomorrow,’ she said, making for the cloakroom. Just as she passed him, she felt her hand being gripped. They stood like that for a few moments before he released her hand and, without meeting his gaze, she walked out the door.
Chapter 21
By ten to eight the next morning, she was standing in The Owl’s Nest, drinking a mug of tea and waiting for the lads to arrive. There was no sign of Pete, but that was fine – it was still early. Just then there was a rap on the door. Phew, the lads were in good time. She turned round to open it, only to me met with .?.?. Oh God .?.?. William’s face beaming at her through the glass.
