Stay the Night (13 page)

His lips curved slowly. “You think you’re that good?”

“I know I am.” She stood and climbed out of the tub, grabbing his towel and wrapping it around herself. She picked up her clothes, aware of his gaze on her, and left the bathroom to find a private place to dry off.

She got dressed in record time to avoid the temptation of climbing back into MacNiven’s bath. She let herself out and went outside. Unfortunately, her bicycle was still in the same spot.

Something was different. Frowning, she walked up to it. It was clean, washed so it shined. The tire was repaired, too, and there was a taillight attached to the back.

Taped to the front, there was a note. She ripped it off and opened it. “Thanks!” it said in sloppy handwriting.

Sticking the note in her pocket, she pedaled home on her revamped bike that rode like a Jaguar now instead of a tuk-tuk.

Chapter Twelve

Niamh sat inside the bank branch waiting for her appointment. She’d listened to the men and dressed nicely. Her skirt was a little tight and even sitting down her shoes pinched her feet.

The loan manager’s assistant came out and motioned to her.

Tugging at her skirt, Niamh stood and followed the woman, feeling uncomfortable and off-balance instead of confident like she was going for. She was halfway there when she realized she’d forgotten her portfolio on the seat next to her.

Hurrying back, she grabbed the portfolio and rushed after the assistant, who was already holding the office door open for her. She smiled apologetically and tried not to break her ankle as she walked into the room.

The loan manager got up from his chair and stretched his hand out across the imposing desk. “Ms. Kelly, I’m Bert Stanley, the loan officer for this branch. Please sit down.”

She took the chair he indicated and tried to cross her legs without ripping out the seams on her skirt.

Bert Stanley pulled his keyboard closer and tapped at it. Next to him the printer began spitting out pages. “I see you’re interested in buying 51 South Street.”

“The Red Witch. It’s a pub.”

He reached for the printed pages and flipped through them. “You’ve worked there for quite a while.”

“Yes. I know the business forward and back.” She held out the portfolio that included her business plan. “This is my prospectus.”

“Excellent.” He took it and skimmed through it quickly. “Very thorough.”

“Thank you.” She’d stayed up half the night to polish it. She wished she could have run it by someone with more expertise. Beatrice would have given her feedback, but she didn’t have her mobile number.

She leaned forward. “I’d like to be honest here.”

He set the applications down. “That’s refreshing from my standpoint.”

“I know that I don’t have assets or much money to put down to secure the loan. But I’m a good risk, because I know what makes the business run, and I know what will increase profits.” She tapped a finger on the plan. “I’ve outlined all the changes I plan to make in detail, with the projections of the increase in business.”

“You’re well prepared,” he said as he scanned the pages. “I’m very impressed with what you have here.”

“Thank you,” she said, sitting straight with hope.

“But there’s no way I can give you a loan.”

She gaped at him. “But you just said you were impressed.”

“Yes, but you don’t have enough money for a down payment, and you have no collateral to use. You don’t have a substantial credit history either.”

“You’d have the pub as a guarantee.”

“From the bank’s standpoint, it’s not enough.” He smiled apologetically. “I have a feeling you’d do everything you set out to, but if I gave money based on a feeling they’d fire me.”

“Isn’t there anything I can do?”

“Get the down payment. Then I can help you.” He slid the business plan back toward her. “Perhaps you have family you can borrow the money from.”

She thought of her brother and resisted the urge to make a face.

She went home to change her clothes and lick her wounds. She made herself some tea and sat at the rickety table she’d salvaged from the Red Witch to use in her kitchen. She looked around her apartment, her mug cradled in her hand. What did she have to show for her life but cobbled together furniture and a rundown apartment?

Isn’t it time to grow up, Niamh? she heard Cormac ask her.

Checking the time, she pushed her tea aside. Playing her violin would make her feel better, and the old boys would arrive at the Red Witch soon. She grabbed her fiddle and went to meet them, knowing Geraldine wouldn’t be there this late.

They sat huddled at their usual table, looking up as one unit when she walked in. She wouldn’t have doubted if they had special radar where she was concerned. She waved at Joe, the other bartender, as she joined the old boys.

“Uh-oh,” Bennett said.

Clancy shook his head. “That look doesn’t bode well, lass. The bank meeting was today, wasn’t it?”

“Didn’t you wear a dress like we told you to?” Sean asked.

Niamh pulled out a chair with a self-deprecating smile. “I wore a skirt and dreadfully uncomfortable shoes, and the loan manager still had the nerve to turn me down.”

“No,” they all said in a chorus of disbelief.

Bennett snapped his fingers at the bartender. “The lass needs a pint right off.”

Sean patted her shoulder. “Tell us what happened.”

She gave them a quick summary of the meeting. Retelling it didn’t make it any less painful. She gave Joe a weak smile when he delivered her Guinness and held it in her hands even though she didn’t feel like drinking it. “Basically if I raise money to buy the Red Witch, they’ll be willing to give me a loan.”

“How does that make sense?” Clancy’s face puckered. “If you had money, you wouldn’t need to borrow it.”

“Bureaucratic nonsense.” Bennett crossed his arms. “The man is trying to bring you down.”

“What man?” Clancy asked.

Sean leaned in, his expression earnest. “Take my money, Niamh. I probably have enough.”

Her heart turned over in her chest. She was tempted, because he meant it and because then she could prove to Cormac and Robert she could do it.

But what if she couldn’t and she lost Sean’s retirement?

She smiled warmly at him, squeezing his hand. “I love that you offered, but I’ll figure out a way to get the money.”

“How?” Bennett asked.

She hunched in the seat. “Maybe I’ll talk to my brother.”

The men all exchanged a look at that.

“Did I tell you about the time I borrowed money from my brother?” Bennett said.

Niamh shook her head. “I don’t think you have.”

“Because it was a disaster. The bastard held it over my head, even after I paid it back.”

“You should take Sean’s money,” Clancy said, shaking his head. “Less strings than borrowing from your brother.”

“Or borrow it from him.” Sean pointed to someone across the room.

She looked to where he pointed and choked on her Guinness when she saw it was Robert.

“He does look like he has money,” Bennett said, nodding thoughtfully. “Maybe we should—”

“
We
shouldn’t do anything,” she interjected.

They gave each other a look that she didn’t like.

But before she could make them promise not to meddle, Robert was upon them, his gaze on her though he spoke to the men. “Good afternoon, gentlemen.”

“Just in time, boy.” Bennett pushed a chair out for Robert and waved at it. “Our girl needs our help.”

“Does she?” He looked askance at her as he took the seat.

She shook her head, feeling embarrassed. She didn’t need to ask someone she barely knew for a loan. That went double for someone who didn’t think she could own a bar successfully. “I don’t need his help.”

Clancy poked her side and whispered loudly, “Lass, men like to do things for their women. Let him help you if he can.”

“He doesn’t want to help me,” she said, giving the old man a look.

He didn’t catch it though. “Of course he wants to help you! Any man worth his potatoes would want to help his lady.”

“I’m not his lady,” she said through gritted teeth. Especially after this conversation.

“You could at least tell me what you need,” Robert said mildly, an amused smile curving his mouth.

Which she could still taste and feel, despite the fact that it was days ago when he kissed her. Not that it mattered. The last thing she needed was someone who didn’t support her.

“She needs money to buy the Red Witch,” Bennett said when she didn’t speak up. “Sean’s offering it to her, but she won’t go for it. Maybe you’ll have better luck with her.”

She felt her cheeks coloring. “He’s not going to have any luck with me.”

“I’d like to,” he said softly so only she heard.

And yet he didn’t believe in her. Anger rose inside her. She could feel it flushing her chest. She wanted to point out that he was the one who agreed with her brother, that she wouldn’t make a good pub owner. “I don’t need him,” she declared, glaring at Robert even though she spoke to the old boys. “A friend of mine who comes in knows a man who invests in bars and restaurants. I’m going to work out a deal with Ellis.”

Robert cleared his throat, an odd look on his face. “About that.”

She stared at him, intuition squirming in her belly. What had he done? Was it Robert’s fault Bea’s investor hadn’t been in yet? Ellis was her last hope. “What about it?” she asked, dreading the answer.

He met her gaze and stuck his hand out. “I’m Robert Ellis.”

Niamh stared at the hand, wanting to take it and wanting to break all the fingers at the same time.

All three old boys stood up at the same time, their chairs scraping the ground. Bennett picked up his violin. “Well. We’ll just leave you two to chat, shall we?”

Clancy said nothing, ambling after Bennett. Sean patted her shoulder and hurried after them.

She watched them walk out, trying to collect herself though it seemed like a lot to ask. Gripping her fists in her lap so she’d be less tempted to pummel him, she faced him. “So what were you doing? Having a laugh at my expense?”

“Of course not.” He took her hand even though it was still tensed. “In case it wasn’t clear when I kissed you, I’m attracted to you.”

Her belly fluttered, and she hated that she was still attracted to him even though he’d pulled the rug out from under her.

And then she realized she’d made out with her potential partner, and she gasped. “We
kissed
.”

“Yes, we did,” he agreed emphatically. “I’d like to again.”

“
No.
” She yanked her hand back and moved her chair away from his, just in case. “You don’t get physical with someone you work with. And it’s even worse now that I know you’re the enemy.”

He frowned, clearly irritated. “I’m not the enemy. I told you I’m on your side.”

She held one finger up. “You lied to me about who you are”—she held up a second finger—“and you sided with my brother. How is that on my side?”

“I’m sorry I neglected to tell you I was Beatrice’s friend.” He leaned forward. “Initially I wanted to find out more about you, candidly. You don’t go into a partnership with someone lightly. I wanted to get to know you before I told you who I was. I didn’t count on being attracted to you.”

She frowned. “Thanks a lot.”

“That’s not what I meant. You’re being prickly.” He leaned forward, elbows on his knees and gaze intent on her. “I didn’t side with your brother. I told you quite honestly that someone who has an affinity for music the way you do should be pursuing that. We all have a gift to offer the world, and if you saw how you affected others you’d know yours is music.”

Crossing her arms, she shook her head. “What I do with my life is my own decision.”

He pressed his fingers together, obviously trying to control something he wanted to say. Then he exhaled and nodded. “Fine. If you want to be stubborn, be stubborn.”

He stood up.

Panic flared in her, which was ridiculous. She hugged herself tighter, trying to keep from asking him to stay, which was not what she wanted.

Not really.

“I have two more things to tell you,” Robert said, hands in his pockets. “I want to buy the Red Witch.”

She blinked, hope replacing the anger and panic. “You do?”

“Don’t get excited.” He gave her a wry smile. “You aren’t going to like my plans for the space. I want to turn it into a lounge, like Nuit Blanche.”

“
What?
” Gasping, she jumped to her feet. She tried to imagine Nuit Blanche occupying this space and her heart broke. It was so wrong to do that to the Red Witch. Where would Bennett, Clancy, and Sean go for their pints?

“And the second thing I have to tell you,” he said, ignoring her outrage, “is that I got you an audition.”

“An audition?” she said slowly, trying not to choke on the word.

He took a card out of his pocket. “It’s not with an orchestra. You’re something of a lone wolf, and playing in a group that isn’t of your choosing doesn’t seem the way to make you happy.”

She glanced down at the card he set on the table. Her gaze flew to Robert’s. “The Blue Note is the most lauded music club in London.”

He nodded. “My friend Pierce owns it. He owed me a favor. Pierce also owns a club in New Orleans and New York, both known for their music. He’s successful. I think you’d do well with him, and you wouldn’t answer to anyone about your music. He said he’d see you in two weeks, when he returned.

“The time and date is on the card. I hope you decide to make the appointment. Give yourself the option, Niamh,” he said as he left.

Halfway to the door, he turned around and returned. Taking her by the arms, he kissed her as though it was the last time.

It had to be the last time, didn’t it?

He let her go, touching her face tenderly before walking out.

Slumping in the chair next to her, she picked up the card and stared at it unseeing, not sure what to think—not sure how to feel.

Chapter Thirteen

Cole called late at night.

Sitting up in bed, Titania stared at her screen. Maybe she should let it go to voicemail. But what if he was calling to tell her this was all just a joke?