they reached the table, smiling quickly at Donna and then offering Luke an unabashed hug and kiss.
Donna stood staring at the tablecloth as the two greeted one another. Luke—Father Luke—returned the brunette’s kiss with much more than what Donna would have termed “fatherly” appreciation.
He pulled out Donna’s chair, but his attention was still on the other woman. “Tricia, you look wonderful. That dress has to be the sexiest damn thing I’ve ever seen.”
Tricia blushed prettily. “Luke…you’re the world’s worst tease. As if you didn’t already have the female half of Manhattan panting at your feet.” Her attention turned a bit warily to Donna, who was having great difficulty maintaining a noncommittal expression after the exchange she had just witnessed.
“Tricia,” Luke said, “this is Donna Miro. She is a good friend of Lorna’s and she’s trying to locate Andrew.”
“Oh,” Tricia murmured, then she smiled. “It’s very nice to meet you, Donna. Especially if you’re a friend of Lorna’s.”
“Thank you,” Donna murmured, still wondering just exactly who Tricia was and attempting to hide the anger growing within her as she realized Luke not only knew Andrew but obviously knew Lorna as well.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Tricia, and I can’t tell you how much it will mean to me to find Andrew McKennon—and Lorna.”
Tricia shot Luke an accusing stare. He shrugged and told Donna, “I never promised that you’d see Lorna.”
“But why…?”
His eyes met hers. No questions, they warned. Her words faded in her throat.
“I don’t know exactly what Luke has told you, Miss Miro.” Tricia, flushing slightly, looked uncomfortable, “I’m sure this is very confusing to you, but it’s an extremely delicate situation.” She smiled uncertainly as their waiter arrived. Luke automatically ordered wine for Tricia and a scotch for himself, then lifted his brows at Donna.
“I don’t think I care for a drink.”
Luke chuckled. “That’s strange, Donna. You look as if you could happily indulge in a few doubles.”
She couldn’t prevent her look from being venomous at his assessment. “I think I will also have a glass of wine then,” she told the waiter with her best possible forced smile.
They were given dinner menus and then their very proper waiter hurried away. Tricia leaned across the table to speak to Donna, a puzzled frown furrowing her brow. “I wish you could just believe me when I say that Lorna is fine.”
Donna smiled. “I wish that I could believe you too. But I’m afraid I need something more—from someone.”
“Well,” Tricia murmured, “that will have to be Andrew’s decision.”
Andrew’s decision, Andrew’s decision! Donna was tempted to pound on the table and tell them both that the almighty Andrew could rot in hell because she’d just go to the police.
But she’d already tried the police….
“I can’t begin to understand all this! You tell me that Lorna is all right but that I can’t see her. Please, I’m trying to be patient. I’m searching really hard for some faith but it’s getting harder and harder to come by!” Donna said bitterly.
Tricia and Luke exchanged glances. Donna was surprised to see both sorrow and empathy in Tricia’s eyes. Luke appeared annoyed.
“I told you,” he said to Donna lightly, “that you weren’t to ask any questions.”
“How can I help—”
“Try a little harder for that faith, Ms. Miro. Remember, I did warn you that that was the way it was going to be.”
“Okay, then,” Donna said, smiling sweetly at Tricia. “What happens now?”
Tricia returned her smile. “Donna, I do understand what you must be going through. Lorna is lucky to have such a friend. I’ll do my best to get hold of Andrew. Between Luke and me, one of us should be able to reach him soon. Hopefully, he’ll be able to give you all the assurances that you need.”
“If I could just talk to Lorna! Please, Tricia,
Donna stood staring at the tablecloth as the two greeted one another. Luke—Father Luke—returned the brunette’s kiss with much more than what Donna would have termed “fatherly” appreciation.
He pulled out Donna’s chair, but his attention was still on the other woman. “Tricia, you look wonderful. That dress has to be the sexiest damn thing I’ve ever seen.”
Tricia blushed prettily. “Luke…you’re the world’s worst tease. As if you didn’t already have the female half of Manhattan panting at your feet.” Her attention turned a bit warily to Donna, who was having great difficulty maintaining a noncommittal expression after the exchange she had just witnessed.
“Tricia,” Luke said, “this is Donna Miro. She is a good friend of Lorna’s and she’s trying to locate Andrew.”
“Oh,” Tricia murmured, then she smiled. “It’s very nice to meet you, Donna. Especially if you’re a friend of Lorna’s.”
“Thank you,” Donna murmured, still wondering just exactly who Tricia was and attempting to hide the anger growing within her as she realized Luke not only knew Andrew but obviously knew Lorna as well.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Tricia, and I can’t tell you how much it will mean to me to find Andrew McKennon—and Lorna.”
Tricia shot Luke an accusing stare. He shrugged and told Donna, “I never promised that you’d see Lorna.”
“But why…?”
His eyes met hers. No questions, they warned. Her words faded in her throat.
“I don’t know exactly what Luke has told you, Miss Miro.” Tricia, flushing slightly, looked uncomfortable, “I’m sure this is very confusing to you, but it’s an extremely delicate situation.” She smiled uncertainly as their waiter arrived. Luke automatically ordered wine for Tricia and a scotch for himself, then lifted his brows at Donna.
“I don’t think I care for a drink.”
Luke chuckled. “That’s strange, Donna. You look as if you could happily indulge in a few doubles.”
She couldn’t prevent her look from being venomous at his assessment. “I think I will also have a glass of wine then,” she told the waiter with her best possible forced smile.
They were given dinner menus and then their very proper waiter hurried away. Tricia leaned across the table to speak to Donna, a puzzled frown furrowing her brow. “I wish you could just believe me when I say that Lorna is fine.”
Donna smiled. “I wish that I could believe you too. But I’m afraid I need something more—from someone.”
“Well,” Tricia murmured, “that will have to be Andrew’s decision.”
Andrew’s decision, Andrew’s decision! Donna was tempted to pound on the table and tell them both that the almighty Andrew could rot in hell because she’d just go to the police.
But she’d already tried the police….
“I can’t begin to understand all this! You tell me that Lorna is all right but that I can’t see her. Please, I’m trying to be patient. I’m searching really hard for some faith but it’s getting harder and harder to come by!” Donna said bitterly.
Tricia and Luke exchanged glances. Donna was surprised to see both sorrow and empathy in Tricia’s eyes. Luke appeared annoyed.
“I told you,” he said to Donna lightly, “that you weren’t to ask any questions.”
“How can I help—”
“Try a little harder for that faith, Ms. Miro. Remember, I did warn you that that was the way it was going to be.”
“Okay, then,” Donna said, smiling sweetly at Tricia. “What happens now?”
Tricia returned her smile. “Donna, I do understand what you must be going through. Lorna is lucky to have such a friend. I’ll do my best to get hold of Andrew. Between Luke and me, one of us should be able to reach him soon. Hopefully, he’ll be able to give you all the assurances that you need.”
“If I could just talk to Lorna! Please, Tricia,
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