The silence stretched. He knew Anna had to be terrified of the guy. He had to get her away from Harry and his contacts. He had to get her somewhere safe and then hope he could get back to his life, back to Daisy and, God willing, Leah.
He frowned. “Anna?”
“Yes.”
“You still want to get away from him?”
“I do.”
“You still want to see him locked up?”
“Definitely.”
“Right. I’m coming to Bristol.”
“No.” A tinkled laugh. “I don’t want you to do that.”
“Is he still in the room with you?”
“Yes.”
“Look, I want to see you face-to-face. I care what happens to you, Anna. You have to see reason. It’s the only way either of us will get our lives back. I’ll be in touch.”
He ended the call, his hands shaking. The sooner he made Anna understand she wasn’t out of options, that she could do the right thing, the better it would be for everyone. He glanced at his watch. He needed to pick up Daisy, but then what? There was no way he would take her to Bristol. He narrowed his eyes. He sometimes asked Marian to watch Daisy at the bakery, but that was only when he needed to run an errand or two. He’d never left Daisy with anyone overnight, except for his mother.
Damn it. He had to persuade Anna to see sense and do something toward sorting out this trouble once and for all. What that would be, he had no clue, but sitting here miles away from the linchpin was no longer an option.
He strode into the house and up the stairs to his study.
Work first, child-minding problems later.
In between, he’d ask Leah if she would like to join him and Daisy for a meal at the Oceanside. An evening at the Cove’s most idyllic and expensive restaurant would show them both just how much they meant to him; how much he wanted to fill Leah’s busy, generous life with a little luxury, too.
He dialed her number.
“Ethan? Hi.”
The surprise in her voice was laced with a smile and Ethan relaxed his shoulders. “Hi, yourself. How are you?”
“Good. How are you?”
“Good, but I could be better.”
“How so?”
“Would you like to come out with me and Daisy tonight? We could have a meal at the Oceanside. Daisy can’t get enough of the ‘restaurant on legs,’ as she calls it.”
She laughed lightly and then sighed. “I’m sorry, Ethan. I already have a date tonight.”
He stilled, her words stealing his breath.
She cleared her throat. “I thought we were over. I thought you didn’t want... I’m trying to move on, and when Charlie asked me out for the fourth time in as many days, I gave in. I’m sorry.”
“Who’s Charlie?”
“Just someone I met recently. Charlie Hickman. Maybe we could get together at the weekend?”
A horrible jealousy twisted in Ethan’s stomach and he inhaled a long, calming breath. “The weekend, sure. What about Saturday afternoon? We could take Daisy to the park. Grab some lunch somewhere.”
Silence.
He frowned. “Leah?”
“Do you know what? I will come out with you tonight. I’ll cancel with Charlie. It was probably a bad idea anyway.”
He frowned as the sudden softness of her voice raised his concern. “Why? What’s wrong with him?”
“What?”
“What’s wrong with him? You sounded kind of strange when you said a date with him was a bad idea.”
She laughed. “Did I? There’s nothing wrong with him. Honestly. I’d just rather see you and Daisy, that’s all.”
He was relieved, but there was still something not right in her tone. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. Shall I meet you at the restaurant?”
“I’ll pick you up. It’s nice being able to drive again.”
“Okay. What time?”
“I’ll book a table for seven.”
“Great. I’ll be ready.”
She hung up and Ethan ended the call, bumping the phone against his stupid head a few times. He could hardly blame any guy for swooping in on Leah.
Just how close he’d come to losing the chance of being with such an amazing woman rolled through Ethan in a sickening wave. He would do everything he could to ensure Daisy and Leah had a good time tonight, and that they understood how much he cared about them. After that, he’d figure out a way of making sure Daisy was looked after while he made a visit to Bristol.
* * *
LEAH COLORED HER lips with a final swipe of lipstick and stood back from her full-length bedroom mirror. Discarded clothes were strewn across her bed, shoes were scattered on her Oriental rug and costume jewelry littered her dressing table, but she was finally ready. She had neither the patience nor the nerves to change her mind again about what to wear.
The fact she was so edgy about seeing Ethan spoke volumes.
Agreeing to a date with Charlie Hickman had been a moment of madness, but the real motivation behind her accepting a date had yet to lessen. The man’s eagerness to go out with her and the way she’d caught him watching her at the bakery hadn’t seemed entirely genuine. He was just a little too keen, a little too nice.
Something about him continued to niggle at her, and she’d decided to go on a date with him in a bid to find out once and for all if Charlie had a hidden agenda. Maybe it was paranoia to think he might have anything to do with Harry Wyatt, but what harm could come from being with him in a public place?
She sighed and smoothed down her dress. Well, none of that mattered now, because for the moment, at least, she’d put Charlie off. Which was probably for the best.
Not that his attention would ever be powerful enough to obliterate Ethan from her heart. Which seemed to have somehow become completely his.
She picked up her purse and walked downstairs to wait for Ethan and Daisy to arrive. In the living room, she peered through the window. She was as excited to see Daisy again as she was to see Ethan. The two of them had so easily seeped into her heart and left her feeling as though they’d belonged there all along.
The subdued purr of an expensive engine cut through her thoughts and she blinked as Ethan’s sleek, silver-gray car, the likes of which Leah would never be able to afford, pulled up in front of her house. He got out and her heart stumbled. If she thought he looked handsome in his jeans and casual shirts, seeing him dressed in a dark gray suit with a crisp white shirt, unbuttoned at the throat, sent her desire into overdrive.
Stepping away from the window, she took a deep breath, her hands ever so slightly trembling.
Where had these infernal nerves come from? But she knew the answer. And it had a lot to do with the fear that he might soon walk away from her a second time. That something else out of their control would come between them and tear him out of her life once more. Or worse, her sudden need to have people close to her, to love, would be too much for him and send him hurtling away from her.
She closed her eyes. No, she couldn’t—wouldn’t—think like that. She’d just enjoy every moment they were together.
Plastering on a smile, she walked into the hallway and opened the front door.
Daisy immediately rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Leah’s waist, her cheek pressed to her torso. “I missed you.”
Fighting the sting in her eyes, Leah brushed her hand over the little girl’s curls and hugged her back. “And I’ve missed you. Did you have a nice time at your grandma’s?”
Daisy pulled back. “Yes, but I like seeing you and Daddy again, too.”
Leah raised her eyes to meet Ethan’s. He winked at her, his smile wide and his gaze happy. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you. You look kind of nice, too.”
>
Daisy slipped her hand into Leah’s. “Come and sit in Daddy’s car. We’re going to the restaurant with legs.”
Leah laughed. “I know, and I can’t wait.”
With Daisy practically dragging her toward the car, Leah barely managed to brush her lips across Ethan’s before being whipped along the driveway. She slid into the passenger seat, the butter-soft leather seat molding her behind as though she sat on cotton wool. She sighed. “This is quite a car.”
“It was a dream buy.” Ethan snapped Daisy into her car seat in the back. “I bought it the minute I could afford it.”
“It’s beautiful.”
With Daisy safely strapped in, he shut the back door and came around to the driver’s side, sliding into the seat. He kissed Leah’s cheek and smiled, before turning the ignition. “Who’s hungry?”
“Me!” Daisy yelled.
They all laughed and Ethan steered the car from Leah’s driveway onto the road.
Throughout the short journey to the Oceanside, Daisy kept up a steady stream of chatter. Leah could hardly get a word in edgeways, let alone say anything to Ethan. She started to relax as she enjoyed Daisy’s stories about her time at her grandmother’s. She thanked God Daisy hadn’t been exposed to anything that had been happening with her mother.
Ethan pulled the car to a stop in the restaurant’s parking lot and killed the engine. The Oceanside stood in all its expensive glory ahead of them. Built high above the sand, it featured huge windows giving diners amazing views across the ocean. Its wooden exterior and high, stilt-like pillars and staircase gave the impression the restaurant was made entirely of driftwood, and so it merged with the landscape rather than standing out.
Once they were out of the car, Daisy put one hand in Ethan’s and the other in Leah’s as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
Leah looked at Ethan and he smiled. “Let’s go. I’m starving.”
Feeling happier than she had since their separation, Leah took a satisfied breath as they ascended the steps into the restaurant. Tonight, the tables were covered with crisp white cloths with glittering gold napkins and candlesticks. The silver cutlery glinted and the wineglasses shone in the soft, flickering light.
The maître d’ led them to their table by the mammoth windows and Leah smiled as she sat. “I love it here.”
“It’s our favorite restaurant, too.” Ethan returned her smile. “Although Daisy is also quite partial to burger and fries from the hut on the beach.”
Leah laughed and opened her menu.
The meal passed far too quickly, and all too soon her heart was fit to bursting and her stomach full.
She sat back in her seat, having demolished a huge slice of strawberry cheesecake she had ordered at Ethan’s insistence. “Okay, I’m done. I couldn’t possibly eat another bite.”
Ethan lifted an eyebrow and nodded to her sparkling clean plate. “You did quite well...considering you didn’t want any cheesecake.”
She shot him a playful glare. “No one, not even a size-two model, could have resisted.”
“True.” He pushed his empty plate aside. “The banoffee pie was lethal, too.”
When Daisy climbed down from her seat and stood beside Leah, she pulled her into her lap. Humming to herself, Daisy played with the napkins and Leah raised her eyes to Ethan. “You seem a lot happier than the last time I saw you.”
“I am. Things have...” He glanced at Daisy. “...taken a turn for the better.”
Leah nodded. It seemed Ethan had not received any more notes or photographs, either. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“So now all I’ve got to worry about is finding the time to finish my work in progress.”
“Your book is due to your editor soon?”
“This week. It’s nearly done. Just a final read-through. I could do that easily if...” His cheeks reddened and he grimaced. “I’ve something to ask you, but there’s no pressure. You can say no and I won’t be offended.”
She frowned. “What is it?”
He looked at his daughter. “Daisy? Why don’t you go and see how many dolphins you can spot in the ocean?”
“There aren’t dolphins in our ocean, Daddy. They’re in America.”
“I bet there are some out there if you look really hard.”
Daisy slipped from Leah’s lap. “I’ll go look.”
Leah watched Daisy bound toward the window, other diners smiling as she passed them, her beautiful dark curls bouncing around her shoulders. Leah faced Ethan and smiled. “She’s so lovely.”
“Which makes it a little easier to ask you something.”
Her smile faltered, and then realization struck and she grinned. “You want me to babysit her? I’d love to.”
“Really?” He blew out a breath and his shoulders relaxed. “Would it be too much to ask if you could have her for a sleepover? I know we’ve only just seen one another after I asked for space, but Daisy adores you, and if I thought for one minute you both wouldn’t enjoy—”
“Ethan, if she wants to, I’d love to have her.” Leah reached over and squeezed his hand. “It means the world to me that you trust me with her.” She glanced at Daisy, who was pointing through the window and chatting with a waitress. “I’d love to have her stay.” She faced him. “Truly.”
He smiled, his gaze happy, but with a hint of something Leah could only assume was worry.
She squeezed his hand again. “She’ll be fine, honestly. Just concentrate on getting your book done. How about you bring her tomorrow?”
“That would be great.” He picked up his water and drank. “Why don’t I go get her and you can ask her yourself?”
He left the table and Leah turned in her seat. Her smile was so wide her cheeks ached. Now she dared to dream, dared to hope, that she might just become a part of a new family.
Was she mad? Was she wanting too much, too soon? Possibly, but while she was this happy, this content, she’d ride every last wave.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON, as Ethan pulled away from Leah’s house, guilt pressed down on him. He’d lied to Leah by omission. What choice did he have but to end the trouble Anna had brought to his door?
If he eliminated the problem of the thugs threatening Anna, then he’d obliterate the threat to his, Daisy’s and Leah’s immediate—and, hopefully, long-term—future. The only way to ensure that was to seek out the threat at its source.
He’d spent the morning tracking down the club owned by Harry Wyatt. On the internet, the guy appeared cleaner than clean. A self-made man who’d built up his club empire from next to nothing. A man of a seemingly effective disguise, who was often invited to charity events and rewarded with accolades for his philanthropic work.
Considering what Anna had witnessed going on in his club, the entire write-up about Wyatt had to be a joke. Ethan didn’t doubt that it had been Wyatt’s public persona that had drawn Anna to him in the first place. He was rich, successful, had countless connections and was practically lauded as one of the city’s saviors, for crying out loud.
Pressing on the accelerator, Ethan drove out of town toward the highway, the most direct route into the city. He prayed Leah understood why he had to do this, once she discovered his ulterior motive behind asking her to watch Daisy. The only reason he hadn’t shared his intentions with her was the certainty she would try to stop him.
He couldn’t allow the situation to continue without at least knowing he had done all he could to protect his family...and the woman he cared for deeply.
A couple of hours later, he pulled into the parking lot at the rear of Passions nightclub and cut the engine. He surveyed the back of the yellow-stone building. Wrought-iron steps led to closed doors on the second and third floors, and railings surrounded the entrance, which looked as t
hough it could be entered only with an access code.
Blackened windows dotted the three-story building from ground to upper floor. Ethan narrowed his eyes. No doubt the four surveillance cameras screwed to the walls provided a clear view of the parking lot and grounds. Meanwhile he could see nothing that might be of any help in locating Harry Wyatt.
Ethan blew out a slow breath. He would have to enter the club through the front door. He glanced at his watch. It was nearing seven. Maybe the club opened for early drinks at the bar before the main show got started, around nine. Adrenaline sped up his heart as he gripped the steering wheel. He had tried phoning Anna several times, but his calls had gone straight to voice mail.
Whether or not she would be inside, he had no idea. Either way, he would speak to Wyatt tonight.
Getting out of the car, Ethan locked it with a lift of his keys over his shoulder as he strode toward the club, his gaze firmly on its exterior. The crunch of gravel under his feet and the screech of a bird flying across the sky seemed heightened in his ears. Leah’s, Daisy’s and even DI Garrett’s faces flitted through his conscience.
It was too late to turn around now. He’d most likely already been spotted by one of the cameras bolted to the side of the building.
He marched along a small walkway to the front of the club, where the glass door stood wide-open.
Ethan walked inside. Plush carpet muted his footsteps, and sconces on the walls provided subtle illumination of black-and-white pictures of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and a young Sinatra.
A soft jazz ballad, rich in atmosphere and superb sax playing, serenaded Ethan’s approach toward the young brunette standing behind a small podium.
She looked up and smiled, her red lipstick and dark lashes complementing the 1950s vibe. “Good evening, sir. Have you a table booked, or are you just looking to have a drink this evening?”
Ethan glanced toward a drawn velvet curtain farther along the corridor. “Neither. I’m hoping to speak with Harry.”
Her smile faltered. “Is Mr. Wyatt expecting you?”
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