Page 14 of Just Say Yes
‘Could – and I mean no disrespect by this – but could your sister have been mistaken or missed something?’
‘Not a chance. She’s bloody good at what she does.’
‘I’m sure. As I said, I didn’t mean to imply—’
‘I know you didn’t. I’m not offended. It was a reasonable question.’
I looked back up at him and he looked back at me. ‘And now you’re trying to work out whether I’m an arse or a nice guy?’
‘Or perhaps something in between.’
He laughed, rich, deep and throaty. ‘I’m sure that, like most things, it depends who you ask.’
Something from earlier was prodding at my brain and, as much as I tried to ignore it, I couldn’t.
‘Thank you for arranging things with Peyton with regards to the flights.’
Lorcan shrugged as if he didn’t know what I was referring to, but I’d already worked out he was way brighter than he let people believe. It wasn’t just this man’s cheekbones that were sharp.
‘Shrug all you like but we both know I can’t afford a trip anywhere at the moment, even if I get to claim it back. You saw the state of my garden and I’m pretty sure you heard the water dripping from my roof in the kitchen. You can give me that innocent look, but I noticed you conveniently close the door to the stairs, presumably to mask the sound of the leak. I wasn’t sure if it was coincidence but your actions tonight show it wasn’t. I don’t like being beholden to anyone, but it would be rude of me not to thank you for making the arrangements in such a way that makes it easier on my bank account.’
‘You don’t owe me anything, Maddie. And you heard Peyton yourself say I was to bill it to her daddy.’
‘I did.’
‘So there you go. Nothing to thank me for or, God forbid, be beholden about.’
‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, can you not just accept a thank you?’
‘I can, but you have a funny way of thanking people.’
‘Excuse me? I most certainly do not.’
‘Ah, yes, you do. You ever read any Jane Austen?’
‘Of course. Have you?’
‘Of course,’ he shot back. ‘You know when Darcy asks Elizabeth to marry him the first time, then mentions her terrible connections and recites a laundry list of objections?’
‘Yes.’
‘Your thank you was kind of like that.’
‘Oh, it was not.’
Lorcan didn’t answer, just looked down at me with those eyes, and that face and a ridiculously sexy curve of a smile.
‘It was not!’ I said again, turning away so that there was no chance of him seeing the flush I could feel on my cheeks.
‘So, I guess you and I need to work out our long weekend to Ireland.’
‘Perhaps you could refer to it as a business trip, as that’s what it is? I’d hate anyone to get the wrong idea, should you mention it.’
‘And who would I be mentioning it to?’
‘I don’t know. Anyone.’
‘Are you trying to find out whether I have a girlfriend, Miss Madeleine?’
