Page 6 of Just Say Yes
He shrugged, still with a hint of mischievous smile. ‘Shame.’
‘And don’t think I won’t be warning the bridesmaids about you either. The last thing I need is you upsetting that particular apple cart.’
‘Are you always this severe on the best man?’
‘Only when required.’
‘Betty seemed to like me.’
‘Then when we’re done, I’ll send you round to Betty’s. Until then you need to behave.’
Moving past him, I double checked the table, making sure I had all I needed. Lorcan glanced down at my coloured sticky notes, pens, neatly lined-up pads (one for each person), and my main planner all organised on the table. His blue gaze then drifted to the fridge, where another colour-coded calendar was stuck with my schedule for the week. ‘You really like to be organised, don’t you?’
‘It allows me to make the most efficient use of my time. I like to plan and know exactly what’s happening and what’s coming.’
‘It doesn’t matter how much you plan, you don’t know what life has in store.’
‘Which is exactly the reason it’s good to plan as much as possible so that you have as few surprises as possible.’
‘Hate to say this, Maddie, but it doesn’t work like that.’
I was the last person who needed telling that, but I wasn’t about to go there now.
Lorcan’s intense gaze was studying me and I felt as if he could see into where I kept all my secrets.
‘Why do I get the feeling you know all that anyway?’
‘How ridiculous!’ I said, with a laugh that would get me thrown out of RADA.
Lorcan shrugged but all this did was make the tee shirt ride up and expose more stomach. ‘And put that away,’ I said, making a rough gesture around my own midriff as the bell outside clanged loudly, which hopefully signalled that this was, at last, my missing clients. Lorcan’s low, deep chuckle followed me all the way to the door.
‘Hi-i-i-i-i!’ Peyton flashed a wide, very white, very straight-toothed smile at me as I hurried her and her fiancé in out of the weather and explained the situation about the office. ‘Oh, that’s fine. Oh, my gosh, your house is just so cute! It’s like something out of an Agatha Christie movie. Who’s that one I love, sweetie? The old lady?’
‘Miss Marple,’ Patrick said, shaking my hand.
‘That’s it. Miss Marple. Not that you’re like an old lady, obviously.’ Peyton looked momentarily flustered.
‘I know what you mean and thank you. I like it.’Apart from the leaking roof and the swimming pool where my garden used to be.‘Do go through. Your best man is already here.’ Peyton squeezed Patrick’s hand, the wide smile still on her face as they walked through, and I followed.
‘What did I say about that dog?’ Patrick’s face darkened as he finally saw Bod, now snoring quietly by Lorcan’s chair.
‘That was my decision,’ I said quickly, in order to head off any disagreements. ‘I told Lorcan to bring the dog inside. He did initially leave him in the car as you asked, but it wasn’t fair on either of them. Lorcan was worried and Bod was scared. I’d rather the dog was safe and happy in here and he’s no problem. He can come any time.’ I glanced at Lorcan. ‘I’m referring to the dog, of course.’
Patrick grinned. ‘Glad to see Maddie’s got the measure of you already, you big eejit.’ His smile then faded a little. ‘Are you sure, though?’ Patrick asked, tilting his chin towards the ball of fluff on the blanket. ‘Another planner we saw got very uppity about it.’
‘Perhaps they were allergic? Or just not a fan of dogs?’
‘No,’ Lorcan interjected. ‘She was just a sour…’ He tailed off. ‘She just made a big deal about how it wasn’t in keeping with the tone of the wedding these two want. Like it had any connection at all! Ridiculous,’ he mumbled.
‘Bod really wasn’t being any trouble,’ Peyton added, sweetly.
‘And he’s no trouble here either and welcome any time. So, now that’s settled shall we get on? Can I get you a drink to start?’
‘I can thoroughly recommend the home-made lemonade,’ Lorcan suggested.
‘That sounds just perfect!’ Peyton said.
‘Great, thanks.’ Patrick added, now staring at Lorcan, who stood up to help me with the lemonade. ‘Mate, what on earth are you wearing?’
