Page 19 of Just Say Yes
Lorcan parked the car and I met him at the boot to retrieve my case. He hefted one out with each hand and placed them on the ground and I began wheeling mine along, scanning the surroundings for the lift to the terminal.
‘Which airline did you—?’ I stopped, realising that I was alone. Glancing back, I saw Lorcan was still at the car. I turned and walked back, pulling my weekend case behind me. It gave a quietly rhythmic squeak as I did so.
‘You need to oil that,’ he said, his head still inside the car.
‘Annoyingly, my can of WD40 is in my other handbag.’
He gave me a tight smile as his head and shoulders and a fair bit of broad chest appeared back over the top of the car as he stood. ‘Smart arse.’
‘Takes one to know one.’
‘I’m going to take that as a compliment.’
‘It wasn’t meant as one.’
‘Too late,’ he said, grabbing his case and walking towards me.
‘What’s that?’
Lorcan looked down at the pet carrier in his hand. ‘Bod, of course.’
‘You’re bringing your dog?’
‘No, I just thought he might enjoy a tour of the airport.’
I let out a huff and turned back towards the terminal entrance. Lorcan was beside me within a few strides.
‘Problem?’
‘No. I was just surprised.’
‘My mam likes to see him, plus it looks like I’ll be needing the company as you’ve sworn to not speak about anything other than the wedding, which, just for reference, I’ve already heard more than enough about for my liking.’
‘I didn’t say that at all. I merely advised I had no intention of talking about my love life with you.’
‘So there is a story there with old Tom, then?’
‘Ugh!’ I tipped my head back momentarily. ‘No. No story. No nothing with Tom.’ I punched the lift button for the ground floor harder than I needed to and saw a pilot surreptitiously watching me, likely hoping I wasn’t on his flight and being thankful for the locked-door policy. I turned and smiled at him. He smiled back but I was pretty sure the damage was already done.
‘Why not? What’s wrong with him?’
‘Nothing, he’s very nice.’
‘And he’s smitten with you.’
‘He is not!’
‘Oh, come on, you can’t tell me you’ve never truly noticed.’
‘We’re friends.’
‘Maddie, he looked like I’d kicked his puppy when he thought you were coming away on a weekend tryst with me.’
The lift arrived and we walked out, followed by the pilot striding purposefully away in the opposite direction.
I looked up at Lorcan, horrified. ‘Don’t talk about kicking puppies in front of Bod!’ I whispered.
Lorcan stared at me for several beats then burst out laughing. And with that single action, his whole face, his whole demeanour changed. The cynical frown and questioning eyebrows were replaced by warmth and joy, which only enhanced his attractive features. Mean and moody was all well and good but its appeal was short-lived – at least for me. This version of Lorcan was far more approachable, and even more attractive, if that was possible. Oh crap.
