“No,” she insisted through clenched teeth. “I shattered my own.”
Griffin slipped his arm around her shoulders and gave her a comforting hug. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring back such sad memories.”
Before Darcy could respond, the woman who’d whispered Griffin’s name as they entered approached the table followed by her husband. They were middle-aged, slender, expensively dressed and, from the width of their smiles, devoted fans.
“I do hope you’ll forgive this intrusion, Mr. Moore,” the woman began, “but I just couldn’t leave without telling you how much we enjoy your concerts.”
“We own all your CDs,” her husband added.
Griffin slipped out of the booth to shake their hands. “Thank you very much.”
The couple gushed praise for several moments, then turned to Darcy. “You look so familiar, dear,” the woman exclaimed. “I’m certain we’ve seen you in a recent film, but I’m embarrassed to admit I can’t recall your name.”
“I’m Darcy MacLeod, and I’m part-owner of Defy the World Tomatoes, not an actress.”
“Oh, then that’s where I’ve seen you.” Obviously disappointed not to have met a movie star, the woman turned back to Griffin. “Would it be too great an imposition to ask for an autograph?”
“Of course not.” Griffin removed a card from his pocket and, after requesting the proper spelling of their names, he signed it for them. “Good night,” he emphasized and sat.
The couple hurried away, passing the card between them, but Darcy was completely confused. “Did you just give them your home telephone number?”
“No, I don’t give that out to just anyone.” He pulled another card from his pocket and showed it to her. “All this has is my name and a list of CDs. It’s shameless promotion, nothing more.”
Darcy fiddled with her salad. She hadn’t expected the couple to be as thrilled to meet her as they were to see Griffin, but the cool manner in which she’d been dismissed still hurt.
“I hated to disappoint them. Maybe I should have said I’d starred in the latest Pedro Almodovar film and given it some hot title like Down to the Skin.”
Griffin laughed, then realized she wasn’t kidding. “That does sound like one of his titles, but the fault was mine. I should have introduced you when they first approached us, but I just wanted them gone. I should have been more considerate. It won’t happen again.”
She stared him. “Do you actually plan to be seen with me again?”
Griffin had been about to lift a bite of salad to his mouth, but caught it in time. “Hold the jokes until we finish eating, please. Of course, I plan to keep seeing you. Unless you don’t want to see me.”
As if, she thought. “As long as you keep the blinds closed at sensitive times, I won’t mind.”
Charmed by her nonchalance, Griffin gave her knee a playful squeeze. “You’re going to need a passport.”
“Why? I’ll not have the time to travel with you.”
Griffin winked at her. “One of these days, you’ll make the time.”
She could have argued, but it made little sense when she had the uncomfortable suspicion he was right.
Chapter Ten
Despite Griffin’s prediction to the contrary, he’d fit in Darcy’s bed, and quite comfortably, although they hadn’t gotten much in the way of sleep Monday night. Tuesday he’d gone into rehearsal mode before leaving for Chicago, while she’d been inspired to rush his fountain to completion before he returned.
Certain he would go along with whatever she selected, she chose a trefoil over a simple circle and had it lined with a beautiful sea-green tile. She called a sculptor she’d admired, grateful that Griffin could afford the woman’s exquisite work, and purchased a marble mermaid.
The enchanting figure was turned in a twisting pose, her chin nearly touching her right shoulder. Her crossed arms demurely covered her bare breasts, and water bubbled through her hands, clasped with da Vinci’s graceful perfection, to spill into the base of the fountain.
Delighted with the whole installation, Darcy had photographed it for her portfolio and returned to Defy the World Friday afternoon to spruce up the nursery for the weekend. With lovely weather and plenty of tourists, the remaining time would pass quickly until Griffin’s return, but she couldn’t help but count the hours. She hummed softly to herself as she rearranged the white and pink cyclamen clustered beside the register stand.
“Where’s Twink?” Christy Joy called. She scanned the walkways, then fixed Darcy with an accusing stare. “Isn’t she out here with you and George?”
George immediately left his post at the cash register. “I’ll check the pottery shed. Maybe she’s playing inside.”
Darcy felt certain she’d just seen the little girl skipping along the paths. “Twink was here a minute ago.”