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“Let’s get your luggage. We can talk in the limo.”
“Of course. It’s a blue rolling case, with a crescent moon appliqué.”
She wasn’t sure what reaction she’d expected from Dermot, but it wasn’t t
his cold aloofness. He’d gone to a considerable amount of trouble to get her here. And there’d been no disguising the pleasure on his face when he’d spotted her in the crowd.
As they followed the driver—judging from his size and attitude, Eileen suspected he was a bodyguard as well—through the crowd, she turned and asked softly, “Are you happy to see me again?”
“More than you know. Seeing you pass through that security gate was like seeing the sun after two weeks of rain.”
She felt her cheeks glowing, and glanced away, before her eyes could reveal all her hopes and longings.
“It’s a weakness I have for a finely tuned phrase,” she muttered.
Dermot chuckled. “I’ll have to remember that.”
They reached the designated luggage carousel and fell silent while they watched the various cases and bags circle past. She pointed out her suitcase to the driver. He grabbed it, then carried it to the waiting limo.
Eileen frowned slightly. A long black car, its sleek lines marred by the profusion of antennae sprouting from it, waited at the curb for the two of them. It contrasted sharply with the crowded mini-sedan that had carried her and five members of the Sullivan clan to the airport.
She’d appreciated the amenities of her first class seat on the long flight to America. Rather than being equally appreciative of the first class ground transportation, however, the luxurious automobile only served to underscore the differences between her and Dermot.
Once again, she wondered how he could possibly be interested in her. But she had resolved not to prejudge Dermot’s motives. She would wait to hear whatever he had to say.
She slid onto the gray leather seat, and stared at the consoles before her. The bench seat faced two televisions, connected to a DVD player and VCR, a computer hookup, a 12-CD stereo, and a fully stocked bar. A silvered window made it difficult to see out the front of the vehicle. No doubt the driver would be unable to see them at all.
Dermot slid onto the seat beside her. The driver closed his door, sealing them together in the back of the limousine. A moment later, the car rocked slightly as the driver stowed her suitcase in the trunk. Then he took his own seat, his image blurred and darkened through the privacy screen.
Dermot pressed a small button amid the cluster of controls on his door. “Midtown,” he ordered.
Another touch of a button, and soft music began playing, some classical piece that was all violins and woodwinds, drowning out the faint sounds of the people and traffic surrounding them. As the limo pulled away from the curb, Dermot turned to face her.
“Now, we can talk.”
“If talking was all you were wanting, you could have taken another trip to Ireland. You know where I live. Instead, you bought my publisher.”
Dermot shrugged. “I didn’t buy it. I invested in it. Pending their ability to implement improvements.”
A chill ghosted down her spine. Her appearances on talk shows. Was Dermot buying her after all?
“And if you don’t invest?”
“Your publisher won’t go bankrupt, if that’s what you’re concerned about. They were looking to expand. Without investment capital, they won’t be able to grow as fast as they would otherwise, but the underlying business is still sound.” He reached over and clasped her hands in his. “I offered to get you talk show bookings because I know it’s something our publicists could arrange, it would increase the value of Silver Moon’s assets, and you’d make more money. You’d be a natural in front of the camera. That’s true, even if you want nothing more to do with me.”
“But…?”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
His hands still held hers prisoner, and she was strangely reluctant to break free of his grasp. Instead, she turned her head and stared at the buildings and other cars moving past.
“Eileen, why didn’t you call me?” he asked again.
“What was there to say?” she countered. “We shared one night together, but how many more could we share before our differences drove us apart?”
“A relationship between us is doomed, so you don’t even want to try?”
She shrugged, still not meeting his gaze. “Belike.”
