A Change of Heart (The Heartfelt Series) by Adrienne Vaughan Read Free Book Online Page B

quantity of chemicals and concoctions, so lovingly packed by Mimi on the other side of the Atlantic, in the pretty blue bathroom. Oonagh had decorated all three cottages in fresh, gypsy-bright colours and although Marianne totally remodelled Weathervane when she bought from the Quinns, she delighted in her friend’s flamboyant legacy. She missed Oonagh every day, and never more than when she unexpectedly came across little flashes of her ebullient personality. Closing the bathroom cabinet with a sigh, she went back into the room.
    Larry, in grey trousers and beige turtle-neck, looked like a character in an old movie shot half in black and white, waiting to turn into colour for the fantasy dance routines. Fidgeting with his spectacles and smoothing his hair, he looked like he was on the wrong set completely.
    Despite outward bonhomie, Larry was wary of Marianne. He watched her organise groceries in the yellow kitchen, then taking the cafetière from the dresser he started to make coffee, fussily. Ryan was smoking a cigarette in the garden. He allowed himself one a day, after dinner. It was still mid-morning. Marianne waited for Larry to speak, while he waited for her to say something. They spoke together.
    “I er ...you ...”
    “No, you first.” Marianne watched his hand shake slightly as he put coffee into the pot.
    “I’m sorry, Marianne, really I am, but I’m gonna have to take him back. He can’t just quit like this. There’s too much at stake.” Larry avoided her eyes.
    She handed him the kettle. As he poured the water, she could see his usually beautifully manicured nails were chewed. She placed a hand on his shoulder. He jumped, splashing the work surface.
    “Crikey Larry, relax. You’re wound up like a spring.” Marianne was careful not to give any hint she knew what was on Ryan’s mind. The last thing she wanted was for Ryan to return to America. Now she had him home, they needed to build a life for themselves and their little mismatched family. She had been strong alone for long enough, waiting yet pretending not to wait. Now she had him back, she wanted him to stay.
    Larry mopped the work surface with kitchen towel, glancing at her under hooded lids. She was leaning against the sink, arms folded, eyes full of steel. Ryan appeared at the door, still tanned from his sojourn as the world’s most famous super-spy, streaky ebony hair swept back, the aroma of exotic tobacco filled the kitchen briefly. He looked like he was in the wrong film too.
    “You guys okay?” he asked, feeling the frost.
    “Sure,” Marianne beamed at him.
    “Yeah, I’m making Marianne’s day here by telling her you gotta go back and sort this mess out before it goes too far. We still have time to say it was a crazy publicity stunt - you were in Dublin, partying, thought it was funny, a prank,” Larry offered.
    Marianne blinked at Larry, then looked at Ryan.
    “Do you really want to say that?” she asked. “You’d look a bit of a prat.” She turned to Larry, “It’s not true anyway, he meant it, he has resigned.”
    Ryan kept his tone light.
    “She’s right, my friend. It’s a decision I had to make, so I’ve made it, end of.”
    “ No !” Larry slammed a mug down, “It’s not end of. Act quickly and we can save the situation, continue with this madness and we’re all done for.”
    “Larry, calm down,” Ryan said softly. “My contract’s with the studio, they deal with this sort of thing all the time. They’ll wheel their lawyers out, we’ll wheel our lawyers out, they’ll haggle a bit, go through the small print and come up with a solution, that’s what they’re paid for.” He gave Larry an encouraging smile.
    “Any normal contract, with any normal studio, yes. But your contract is with WonderWorld - Franco Rossini’s studio - Rossini, the godfather of the movie industry. No-one says no to Franco, especially when it looks like the franchise you happen to be starring in is going to make him yet