Leave it to Gary to talk about price, Terri thought, prickling at his bad taste, but at the same time, the figure he’d thrown out stopped her short.
A grand, my ass. Not for a diamond that size and certainly not from the likes of Tiffany’s?Now Terri knew for sure she was onto him.
Something was way off here.
“Right.” She stopped sweeping and leaned against the brush. “You know, I think I might join you. Fancy a shot of something stronger?”
Gary’s eyebrows shot up. “Of course.”
Putting the brush aside, she took a bottle of whiskey off the shelf and grabbed two shot glasses, pouring them each a generous measure. “Bottoms up.” She smiled, throwing it back while trying not to grimace. She hated whiskey, but there was a method to her madness.
Gary threw his back too, and immediately she poured another, noticing him stumble slightly against the bar.
“Sit down at a table and relax,” she fussed. “Unless you’re in a hurry or anything?”
“Course not.” Gary beamed. “Anyway, I wouldn’t dream of leaving a lady drinking all by herself on a Saturday night.”
Crikey, was he flirting with her now? Terri’s stomach churned, and this time, it wasn’t because of the whiskey.
“You know, I hadn’t really figured you as a one-woman man,” she cooed, deciding to play along. “You and Rachel are just so good together. I have to admit I’m a little jealous.”
He looked at her, trying unsuccessfully to focus on her face, and Terri tried her utmost to keep her smile steady and her distaste at bay. Now he thoughtshewas flirting with him. Stifling a guffaw, she poured him another shot.
“Nice one.” Gary now wore a satisfied expression, the combination of flattery and whiskey going straight to his head. He sat forward unsteadily. “You know, I like this side of you, Terri, I really do. You’re usually so…I don’t know, serious all the time.”
“I suppose every now and then, everyone needs to get a little crazy.”
He hiccupped, and his words slurred slightly. “Good woman.” She poured him another, and he looked at her speculatively, as if about to say something.
“What’s wrong?”
“I was wondering…” Gary drank down the whiskey but then seemed to lose his train of thought.
“Yes?”
“Ah, it’s nothing really.”
“No, go on. You can tell me,” she prompted.
“Well, it’s just this bloke, Greene, that keeps ringing her… He’s starting to annoy me.”
Terri paused. “Really? Why? Are you jealous or something?”
“Nah!” He cackled loudly. “Why would I be jealous? Rachel’s crazy about me.”
“Course she is. But actually, I was wondering about that too. Whydoeshe keep ringing her?”
“Dunno. I reckon he took a fancy to her at the hospital when I was out for the count.”
“I see.” Terri was disappointed. She was hoping for some grand revelation from Gary about Ethan Greene, some explanation as to why he was so adamant about keeping in touch.
Could it be that Ethan had a thing for Rachel that had somehow kicked off in New York? Thinking about it, he did seem quite jittery around her as well as being overly concerned about her fiancé’s whereabouts. Was this because he wanted to see Gary, or was he actually afraid of him?
Again, Terri decided to bide her time and wait until the moment was right to reveal to Gary that Rachel was at this very moment out having dinner with the guy.
“So you’re worried that Greene might steal Rachel away?”
Gary snorted. “You must be joking! Nah, I just don’t like the way he’s sniffing around her, that’s all.”
