He was about to argue but couldn’t find the words.
“A book about the history of bread? Sounds tantalizing,” Terri drawled in amusement. “Anyway, I know all this because I got Gary drunk last night, and as they say in the movies, he sang like a canary.”
Ethan’s head shot up. “He admitted to stealing the ring?”
“Not exactly. Take it from me, Gary isn’t the sharpest tool in the box. In fact, he’s so stupid that the thought the ring might have been someone else’s never even crossed his mind.”
He looked at Terri. “Where on earth did he think it came from?”
She rolled her eyes. “From the great ring fairy in the sky? Who knows?” Then Terri looked at him closely. “I’m also guessing that you haven’t said anything to Rachel for another, slightly more personal reason?” she suggested gently, and his cheeks flared pink.
He lowered his gaze “I have no idea what you—”
“Don’t be embarrassed. I think it’s wonderful that you two got on so well.”
He cleared his throat. “Look, the only reason I came here was to get back what’s rightfully mine but…”
“But you’ve gotten a little more than you expected?”
Ethan paused, unsure what to say. “Not that it’s any of my concern, but I still can’t believe she would agree to marry this guy,” he muttered.
“You and me both. I was never Gary’s number one fan, and I must admit the engagement threw me a little, but not for long.” She shook her head. “Like you, I just don’t know how to break it to Rachel without hurting her. Anyway,” Terri continued, taking a white cardboard box from beneath the counter. “She asked me to give you these. Cookies for your daughter, she said?”
“Thanks.” Ethan absently tucked them under his arm.
“And this is for you,” she added, handing him a parcel with Gillini’s logo emblazoned upon it. “Some more of that bread you liked so much at lunch yesterday.”
“Thanks, but that really won’t be necessary.” In truth, Ethan didn’t want anything to remind him of this godforsaken place.
“I suspect Rachel would really like you to have it, considering your research and all,” Terri insisted, pressing it into his hands.
There was something in her voice that caused him to look at her more closely, but then he wondered if he might be imagining it. God knows his head was all over the place this weekend.
Her green eyes bored into his. “Please, I insist. It won’t stay fresh for long. Maybe have some on the flight back even?”
“Thanks.” He took the parcel, out of politeness and so that he could get out of this blasted place and back to London. First thing tomorrow, he would talk to the credit card company and indeed his lawyers to see what other options he could explore.
Terri smiled and patted his hand. “Try not to worry, okay? Things have a way of working themselves out in the end.”
Chapter 41
“Welcome back!” Later that evening, Vanessa hugged him warmly upon his return. Ethan was so exhausted by the weekend’s events that he felt almost relieved to be back despite not achieving what he’d set out to do.
Daisy stood in the background, obviously waiting for a moment alone to find out how everything had gone.
He lifted her into his arms and hugged her tightly until she squealed. “I missed you, buttercup,” he said before whispering into her ear that he’d tell all later. “And you too, darling,” he said, kissing Vanessa briefly.
“I wasn’t sure whether you’d eaten on the plane, so I made a light supper,” she said.
Actually he was starving. He didn’t fancy any of the options they had on the flight service and had (stupidly in retrospect) packed the food in his checked luggage.
Then remembering the cookies were for Daisy, he opened his case and withdrew the box.
“Especially for you,” he said, winking at her. Then remembering he couldn’t make mention of Rachel, he mumbled something about picking them up at the airport.
“Yay, thanks, Dad.”
But immediately realizing that now it looked like he hadn’t sought out a similar treat for Vanessa, he meekly picked up the bread. “And this is for you. Well, for us really. There was a lovely bistro with an in-house artisan bakery near the hotel, and I thought you might like it.”
