Page 37 of Just Say Yes
A small, humourless smile lifted the corners of his mouth, before he turned towards me.
‘Nothing.’
‘You’re a terrible liar.’
‘Am I now?’
‘Yes.’
‘Maybe that’s true. But I’m not the only one keeping secrets, am I?’ His gaze pinned me where I was, and I felt my breath quicken, sure that for a moment he could see deep into my soul where I kept everything stored safely. Hidden but not forgotten. Never forgotten.
13
‘Here we are!’ Eoghan backed out of the kitchen door carrying a huge tray of tea and coffee as well as a cheese course. ‘I thought I’d bring a few of these to try to see which you preferred,’ he said, pointing at them as I helped him unload the tray onto the table.
‘That’s great! Thanks. Do you mind if I just excuse myself for a moment?’
‘No problem. Go to the end of the room, then turn left.’
‘Thanks,’ I said, without looking at Lorcan, and headed to the ladies to regain the composure he’d unexpectedly dislodged.
As I walked back to the table, Peyton’s number buzzed on my phone. I answered the video call and Peyton was now showered and dressed immaculately. A still sleepy-looking Patrick ducked his head in and waved.
‘All right, Maddie. That eejit, Lorcan, behaving himself?’
‘I’m right here, thank you. Eejit yourself, you are.’
I turned the camera around to where the two men were sitting at the table. ‘Ah, so you are. Hey there, Eoghan. How you doing?’
‘Good, thanks, Paddy. And yourself?’
‘Ah, good. Crazy busy but good. Thanks for agreeing to do the food. I know it’s late notice. I didn’t think you normally did outside catering.’
‘I don’t normally but when Lorcan rang and explained the situation. Well, you have to change the rules for a pal and his beautiful bride. Lord knows why she’s marrying you though.’ Eoghan winked before laughing with Lorcan, and I guessed that Patrick had made a gesture.
‘Right. I’ll hand you back to my beautiful bride and Maddie.’ The two men waved and I spun the camera again. ‘Thanks, Maddie,’ Patrick said. ‘I’ve got some prep work to do so I’ll leave you with Peyton. Speak to you soon,’ and with that he disappeared from the shot.
‘So, what did you both think?’ I asked Peyton as I retook my seat at the table and mouthed a thank you to our host as he poured me a cup of tea into a beautiful bone-china Limoges cup.
‘The dishes look amazing. And if both you and Lorcan think they taste as good as they look, we’re happy.’
‘They definitely do,’ I confirmed, glancing at Lorcan, who was nodding, but not turning the camera to him this time.
‘Let’s go for it, then. Can I leave you to set it all up? They can definitely do the date and the amount of guests?’
‘Yes. I’ve double-checked and we’re all good.’
‘Perfect! Oh, yay! I’m so excited. Thank you both for this. I knew you’d work brilliantly together.’
I fixed on a smile, pretty sure that neither I nor Lorcan would agree on that front while doing my best to hide the fact that we were nowhere near done with arranging this wedding and the clock was ticking – loudly!
‘Great.’
‘OK. I’ll talk to you later.’ Peyton waved, blew a kiss at the screen and was gone.
‘She seems nice,’ Eoghan said, taking a sip of tea as Lorcan crunched down on a handmade oat biscuit.
‘Wow, these are grand,’ Lorcan said, munching away.
