"I told you I'd take you to Saint Pat's after lunch."
And he would, she knew. He was more than willing to take her anywhere. Everywhere. Already that morning she'd stood at the top of the Empire State Building, marvelling. She'd had a subway ride, eaten breakfast in a deli. Everything she'd done, everything she'd seen was whirling around in her head like a kaleidoscope of color and sound.
Still, he promised more.
But the prospect of having lunch with a New York agent, an obviously formidable woman, was daunting. She'd have found some firm way of excusing herself, perhaps even inventing a headache or fatigue, if Gray hadn't seemed so excited by the idea.
She watched as he casually stuffed a bill into a tin cup of a man dozing against the side of a building. He never missed one. Whatever the hand-printed sign might say- homeless, out of work, Vietnam vet-it got his attention. And his wallet.
Everything got his attention, she mused. He missed nothing and saw everything. And those small acts of kindness to strangers others seemed not even to admit existed were an innate part of him.
"Hey, bud, need a watch? Got some nice watches here. Only twenty bucks." A slim black man opened a briefcase to display an array of Gucci and Cartier knockoffs. "Got a real nice watch for the lady here."
To Brianna's dismay, Gray stopped. "Yeah? They got works?"
"Hey." The man grinned. "What do I look like? They keep the time, man. Look just like the ones you pay a thousand for down on Fifth."
"Let's see." Gray chose one while Brianna bit her lip. The man looked dangerous to her, the way his eyes were shifting right and left. "Get hassled much on this corner?"
"Nah. I got a rep. Nice watch there, quality, look pretty on the lady. Twenty bucks."
Gray gave the watch a shake, held it to his ear. "Fine."
He passed the man a twenty. "Couple of beat cops heading this way," he said mildly and tucked Brianna's hand in his arm.
When she looked back, the man was gone.
"Were they stolen?" she asked, awed.
"Probably not. Here you go." He fastened the watch on her wrist. "It might run for a day-or a year. You can never tell."
"Then why did you buy it?"
"Hey, the guy's got to make a living, doesn't he? The restaurant's up here."
That distracted her enough to have her tug on the jacket of her suit. She felt drab and countrified, and foolish with her little I Love New York bag holding her Empire State souveniers.
Nonsense, she assured herself. She met new people all the time. She enjoyed new people. The problem was, she thought as Gray ushered her into the Four Seasons, this time it was Gray's people.
She tried not to stare as he led her up the steps.
"Ah, Mr. Thane." The maitre d' greeted him warmly. "It's been too long. Ms. Winston is already here."
They crossed the room with its long gleaming bar, the linen-decked tables already filled with the lunch crowd. A woman rose as she spotted Gray.
Brianna saw the gorgeous red suit first, the glint of gold at the lapel and at the ears. Then the short, sleek blond hair, the quick flashing smile before the woman was enveloped by Gray's enthusiastic embrace.
"Good to see you, beautiful."
"My favorite globe trotter." Her voice was husky, with a hint of gravel.
Arlene Winston was tiny, barely topping five feet, and athletically trim from her thrice weekly workouts. Gray had said she was a grandmother, but her face was almost unlined, the tawny eyes sharp in contrast to the soft complexion and pixie features. With her arm still around Gray's waist, she held out a hand to Brianna.
"And you're Brianna. Welcome to New York. Has our boy been showing you a good time?"
"He has, yes. It's a wonderful city. I'm pleased to meet you, Mrs. Winston."
"Arlene." She cupped Brianna's hand briefly between the two of hers, patted. However friendly the gesture, Brianna wasn't unaware of the quick and thorough measuring. Gray simply stood back beaming.
"Isn't she gorgeous?"
"She certainly is. Let's sit. I hope you don't mind, I've ordered champagne. A little celebration."
"The Brits?" Gray asked, settling.
"There is that." She smiled as their glasses were filled from the bottle of spring water already on the table. "Do you want to get this business out of the way now, or wait until after lunch?"
"Let's get it out of the way."
Obliging, Arlene dismissed the waiter, then reached into her briefcase and took out a file of faxes. "Here's the British deal."
"What a woman," Gray said and winked at her.
"The other foreign offers are in there-and the audio. We've just started to pitch to the movie people. And I have your contract." She shifted, letting Gray look over the papers while she smiled at Brianna. "Gray tells me you're an incredible cook."
"He likes to eat."
"Doesn't he though? You run a B and B, delightfully from what I hear. Blackthorn, it's called."
"Blackthorn Cottage, yes. It's not a large place."
"Homey, I imagine." Arlene studied Brianna over her water glass. "And quiet."
"Quiet, certainly. People come to the west for the scenery."
"Which, I'm told, is quite spectacular. I've never been to Ireland, but Gray's certainly whetted my curiosity. How many people can you manage?"
"Oh, I've four guest rooms, so it varies depending on the size of families. Eight's comfortable, but I sometimes have twelve or more with children."
"And you cook for them all, run the place by yourself?"