‘That thing we were talking about,’ Alex digressed, in Catalan again. ‘Are you going to go ahead with a complaint?’
‘I was,’ I replied, ‘but things have changed in the last few hours. I could be fighting the guy on another front very soon. I need to focus my attention on that.’
‘Well, don’t wait too long,’ he warned. ‘The opportunity won’t be there for ever.’
‘I know.’
He called after us as we left, ‘Have a nice evening.’
Liam caught the greeting, understood and laughed. ‘Him too, eh?’
‘You better believe it. What I said last night on the beach about at least three guys watching you? I wasn’t kidding. I know at least half the people in this square.’
‘I’ll bet,’ he said. ‘About those three people. Please regard this as comforting, for I am very firmly among your admirers, but they wouldn’t have been enough.’
We reached Meson del Conde as he spoke. Jose Luis, the head waiter, greeted us and escorted us into the terrace restaurant, and to our table. He wouldn’t have done that for me alone: he was as curious as the rest of them.
‘If you don’t mind me saying so,’ Liam murmured as he left, ‘that is quite a dress. It’s been a while since I saw so many men drool simultaneously.’
I smiled. ‘Thank you, kind sir. Funny, innit? Go to the beach beyond the Riomar when I’m on it, and they’d find a hell of a lot more of me on show. They might be impressed, they might not, but cover it up in the right way …’
‘Cover most of it,’ he countered, his eyes falling from mine. I tracked them downwards.
‘Do you like the gold sparkles?’ I asked. ‘I do.’
‘I like all of it. But why, given that it was you who set the ground rules?’
‘Why am I wearing a “fuck me” dress? Because I paid two thousand dollars for it, thanks to my bloody sister, and I’ve never had an opportunity since to strut my stuff in it. You’re the first man I’ve encountered in years with whom I’ve been able to wear something like this. I feel comfortable with you, Liam; I don’t feel as if I’m being ogled across the table. Does it make you feel uncomfortable?’
‘No.’ He chuckled quietly. ‘It makes me feel honoured. And it produces the vestigial memory of a very sore nose.’
I shot a question at him. ‘Are you afraid of the dark?’
‘No, of course not.’
‘Then why are you afraid of the dead?’
He looked into my eyes once again. ‘There’s a difference between fear and respect. What Conrad said that Oz said about me: it wasn’t what I expected. I thought he’d have said, “Good guy, but I wouldn’t trust him with a water melon, let alone my woman.” But he didn’t. I can’t tell you how touched I was to hear that.’
‘Why did you come here? Was it just because of what Miles said?’
‘Pretty much. I didn’t tell you all of it. After he’d said how cool you’d become, he added something else. He said that often he worries that you’ll become so cool you’ll turn to ice, and then you’ll break, or just melt. That worried me too when he said it.’
‘Then he’s wrong. Steel can be cool when you touch it, as cold as ice. So, how long are you staying?’ I asked, as Jose Luis returned with the menus.
‘I have no idea,’ he confessed. ‘I’ve booked into the hotel for a week with an option on another. I was hoping that you’d be my tour guide, and show me the best of this area. I’ve been to Barcelona … you know that; Christ, you were there … but you know how my life was then, a maximum of three days in any location, so I know next to nothing about it or about this part of Spain. And I need to, for my book.’
‘Yes, your book,’ I repeated. ‘You never did tell me what it’s about.’
‘Travel,’ he replied. ‘It’s about the places I’ve been in my wrestling career, and the places I’ve seen, however briefly. I’m writing about them, about the different cultures and mentalities of their people, and about what makes them special.’
‘And you’re doing all the photography?’ I guessed.
‘You got it.’
‘You must have seen a fair few places with the GWA,’ I said. ‘How’s the organisation going these days? The sports entertainment industry isn’t something I keep up with. Nor does Tom. He’s not barred from watching it,’ I added, ‘he doesn’t, that’s all.’
‘He’s a purist,’ Liam replied. ‘Any kid who knows what wing chun is is unlikely to be too impressed by the likes of Jerry The Behemoth Gradi.’
‘Hey,’ I protested, ‘Jerry’s a lovely guy. His was a life really worth saving.’
‘I agree, I agree, and I’m not knocking him. I was talking about his type, the giants, the musclemen. The level of skill that Tom must have, with his belt, he’ll see through everything they do, straight away. As for the GWA, it’s doing fine. Everett’s probably the biggest name in the industry now, in every way, performer and promoter. Starting in Europe and building a brand there was a brilliant idea. When he relocated to the US he was able to take his TV deals with him and ramp them up a notch.’
‘And you have no connection at all?’
‘Only my shareholding. That’s considerable, and thanks to the big man it pays me a very nice dividend every year. It’s helped to make me a free man. I haven’t really thought about it, but I suppose you could describe me as semi-retired, which is not bad at forty-three years old. You should know; you’re in the same position.’
I smiled across the table. ‘Won’t see forty-three again, though.’
‘You’re kidding. You don’t look a day over forty.’
‘Liam,’ I laughed, ‘if you’ve found the courage to try to get into my pants, you’re wasting your time.’ I almost added, ‘Not least because …’ but stopped myself just in time.
‘No,’ he said, ‘but it’s a matter of respect, not of courage. Anybody who didn’t want to would be crazy, but I understand how you feel about it, and I’d much rather have you as a friend than a conquest. So, take the compliment for what it is, an honest opinion.’
‘Then thank you once again, very much. You are good for a middle-aged lady’s morale. I’d be very happy to show you Barcelona, and even the whole of Catalunya. You may think this place is nice, but there are plenty to challenge it. Only problem being … it can’t be next week. Tom and I have to go to Scotland on Monday. Something’s come up, and I have to do it.’
‘How long will you be gone?’ he asked.
‘Until next Saturday. I have some business to do, and some family to catch up on while I’m over there. Honestly, when I saw you this morning I didn’t know about it, that’s how suddenly it developed.’
‘Nobody’s ill, are they? Nobody close.’
‘Apart from Susie, no. But …’ I stopped as Jose Luis appeared beside us, order pad in hand.
‘You choose for me,’ my companion said. ‘I’m lousy with menus.’
‘Okay.’ I looked up at the waiter. ‘We’ll have the fish soup and baked monkfish, twice. And to drink, sparkling water will be fine. You don’t mind going all pescatarian, do you, Liam?’
‘Not a bit. To tell you the truth, these days that’s what I am, mostly. I’m not religious about it, but eating mammals makes me uncomfortable. You were saying,’ he continued. ‘You stopped on a “but” …’
‘But the business I have to do is for Susie and involves Susie.’
‘Can you tell me?’
I looked at him. ‘This morning you said you were a shareholder in the Gantry Group, didn’t you?’ He nodded. ‘In that case I don’t think I can. I’ve got insider knowledge of the company, and I’m pretty sure that sharing it would be illegal.’
He laughed. ‘That sounds intriguing. Are you joining the board?’
I looked at the table, feeling a flush spread down from my face to fill in the V of my seriously plunging neckline.
‘Oh Jesus,’ Liam exclaimed. ‘I’m sorry. I won’t ask you anything else.’
‘Thanks,’ I said, then added, ‘but feel free to speculate all you like.’
‘Mmm,’ he murmured, at my invitation. ‘You told me Susie’s very ill, so if I was to make a guess it would be that whatever your business is with her …’