Irish Dreams Read Online Free PDF Page B

either.
    “That’s new.” He nodded at the waiter. “You heard the lady.”
    “Yes, sir,” the waiter said, and hurried away.
    “Since when do you like your steaks medium?” Rick asked.
    She’d always liked her steaks pinkish. She snatched a cloth napkin off her lap and placed it on the table. “Since forever. I can’t do this.”
    “Can’t do what?” Rick reached across the table and grabbed her arm. “Hey, where are you going?”
    Tugging her arm back, Maggie slipped her purse strap over her shoulder. “I never should have come here.”
    “It’s Ethan isn’t it? I saw how you looked at him. You’ve slept with him, haven’t you? To think you were busy chastising me about my supposed transgressions when you were out behaving like a slut.”
    “Supposed?” How could Rick embarrass her like this? She shook her head. She shouldn’t have expected anything different. “I caught you in bed together.” Maggie rose. Other patrons went quiet. “I’m sorry,” she said to no one in particular and pushed aside her chair.
    Ethan sat, hands resting flat on the table, his jaw tightened below a hardened gaze. If he thought poorly of her yesterday, tonight surely put a cherry on top. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered any more.
    “Excuse me,” she said. Her breath frozen in her throat, she pushed past tables of couples and families, leaving the restaurant’s warmth. Wetness streamed down her face and she ran into the street. How could she have been so stupid? Ducking into a narrow alcove, she let hiccups and sobs rack her body. She’d put up with him too long, something inexplicable. One hand on her hip, she leaned against a building wall and released shuddery breaths. A waste of time. As her breathing evened out, she wiped her eyes, gulped in cool night air. “No more.”
    * * * *
    “Maggie.” Chest constricting, Ethan stood.
    “Ethan, where are you going?” Kara asked.
    “I’m sorry.” He dug in his wallet then laid down several hundred-euro notes. “This should more than cover dinner. I must go. I’ll call you.”
    “Wait. What about later?”
    “I’m sorry, Kara. Thank you for everything.” He headed toward the entrance.
    “Yes, run along after her,” Rick said. Ethan paused as the other man downed a glass of wine and grinned. “Remember whatever you get now is sloppy seconds.”
    Heat seared through Ethan and he pulled his fist back before landing it squarely against Rick’s face. The crush of bone beneath knuckles gave him a moment’s satisfaction, even as a burn spread over the surface of his fist. Rick’s head whipped back, and he cupped the trickle of blood making its way over his upper lip.
    Shaking out his hand, Ethan backed away. “Come near Maggie again, I’ll kill you. Are we clear?”
    “Fuck. I think you broke my nose.”
    Without waiting for any further response, he left the restaurant. “Maggie,” he called. The streets appeared lifeless. He turned full circle, searching out some sign of her. In the dim light of a streetlamp, a few reddish ringlets peeked out beyond an edge of a building alcove.
    He approached slowly, wary of scaring her off. Beneath a brick and mortar arch, she leaned against a wall, supporting herself with both hands pressed behind her.
    “Please.” She kept her head bent, her gaze downward. “Go back to your wife. I need…you…please, leave me alone.”
    “I can’t.”
    “Why not? Didn’t you get enough of a show in there?”
    An ache spread within him at the pain evident in her voice. “Let me take you home. You’ll be waiting a lifetime, trying for a cab at this hour.”
    “All this wasted time.” She lifted her chin. Thick tears hung from her lashes, spilled onto her cheeks. “I was blind.”
    “Happens to us all.” At least she hadn’t made the mistake of marrying Rick. He tilted her chin up until her gaze met his. “You did the right thing by walking away from him.”
    She glanced away and laughed. “Took me long