She sighed, deciding to turn some of this sudden reflection back at herself. Maybe the problem wasn’t Gary at all. Was she really so shallow that the first time another man paid her some attention, she immediately began picking faults in her partner?
Anyway, and notwithstanding the fact that he was already attached, Ethan wasn’t even her type.
In fact, he went completely against the norm. She usually went for the brooding, macho, unpredictable kind, not the decent, uncomplicated type. Dreamy blue eyes notwithstanding.
At that moment, she heard movement and the jangling of keys from outside, signaling Terri’s arrival downstairs from her flat.
“Well, good morning,” Rachel greeted with a smile. “How areyoufeeling today?” Considering the state Gary had been in, she’d been expecting her friend to be just as hungover. However, she looked bright as a button.
Actually, Terri looked slightly…wired.
“Great, actually. Why do you ask?”
Rachel raised an eyebrow. “Well, considering you and my darling fiancé had a late night of it, I figured you’d be the worse for wear.”
“Nope, I know how to control myself. I take it his lordship was still here this morning when you arrived?”
She rolled her eyes. “AndItake it you were forced into a spot of babysitting last night. Sorry about that.”
“It’s not a problem. I didn’t stay on that late.” Terri took off her fleece and put on her chef’s whites. “How about you? Did you have a nice night?”
“Yes, it was great actually. Ethan is such a nice guy, and we had a lovely time.”
“I see.” Terri kept looking at her strangely, and Rachel blushed a little, worrying that her earlier thoughts were written all over her face.
“I mean, it was a shame that Gary couldn’t be there too but… What was he doing here anyway? I take it he managed to make his way back from Wicklow after all.”
“Yeah.”
“Again I get the impression he outstayed his welcome.”
Terri shrugged. “Well, he was kind of the worse for wear when he arrived, and then after a few more here, he fell asleep, so I couldn’t really move him.”
Once again, Rachel felt an odd surge of distaste at her fiancé’s boorish behavior. “I’m so sorry. I’m sure Gary rolling up at closing time was the last thing you needed.”
“It was fine. Actually, we had a chance to talk a little.”
“About what?” Gary and Terri rarely “talked.”
Again, some kind of look passed over her friend’s face, but Rachel wasn’t sure what to make of it.
“Nothing really, just this and that. But anyway, tell me more about your night. What did you and that handsome Englishman talk about?”
“He told me about this book he’s researching. It’s about bread. Can you believe it?” She smiled. “And all about Daisy, his daughter, and of course his fiancée.”
Terri stopped halfway to the fridge. “His fiancée. You mean he’s engaged too?”
“Not yet. He’s planning to propose soon, apparently. Seems you were right about him being attached.”
“Right. And was she with him in New York?”
“The girlfriend? I’m not sure. I think so. His daughter was anyway. Actually now that I think of it, remind me to hold back about a dozen cookies or so from today, will you? Preferably the chocolate chip ones. I promised Daisy I’d make her some to thank her for looking after Gary’s shopping bags, and Ethan’s popping in for them before he leaves.”
Terri stopped what she was doing. “The daughter had his bags?”
“That’s what he said. Anyway, look at the time. We’d better stop nattering and get cracking.”
“Yeah,” her friend agreed. “Thanks to that fiancé of yours, last night was a late one.”
