Page 73 of Just Say Yes
‘Really?’ I asked, laughing.
‘To paraphrase Shakespeare, he may be little, but he is fierce.’
‘He clearly has a knack for what he does and gets things done, judging by the photos in that album. Also, by the fact you’re happy to leave him to it. You don’t strike me as a man who suffers fools gladly.’
‘Definitely not if they’re going to lose me money, and Calum’s certainly no fool. So what time are you booked in to see the dress woman?’
I gave him a flat look at his terminology. ‘Izzy is a designer and a specialised, highly talented bridal atelier.’
‘That’s what I said.’ Lorcan gave a shrug and I let out a sigh. His just-full lips were straight and gave nothing away but a hint of mischievousness twinkled in the blue eyes.
‘I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself,’ I said, trying not to show that I was too.
‘I don’t know what you mean,’ he said. I shook my head as I turned back to my delicious dinner, but I knew he’d seen straight through me. ‘So what time are you meeting her?’
‘Six p.m. at her studio in London.’
‘OK. Do you want me to pick you up?’
I snapped my head up. ‘What?’
‘Wednesday. Do you want me to pick you up?’
‘For what?’
‘To go to the specialist bridal atelier.’ There was the merest hint of twitch in his dark brow. He was such a smart arse.
‘You don’t need to come to that. It’s just for my own sake. Peyton already had the dress designed and Izzy is going to do a final fitting just before the wedding itself.’
‘I have strict instructions that I am to make myself available to you for any and all wedding-related activities.’
‘Which I appreciate, but I can handle this one. Thank you, though.’
‘No one has any doubt that you can handle anything. That’s not the point. If Peyton were here, she’d be going with you, I assume. In lieu of that possibility, I am, instead, at your service.’
‘Somehow I don’t think the dress will fit you.’
‘Shame. Although maybe that’s a good thing. I’m not sure white is my colour. I find it washes me out.’ He put a hand to his cheek and glanced at the window as if checking his reflection. Laughing, I bopped him with one of my notebooks. He turned back, that smile on full wattage, lighting his face.
Why couldn’t he be this guy all the time? Although, as that smile hit me, and my face returned it without prior consultation with my brain, it struck me again that it was probably just as well he wasn’t. I had enough on my mind scraping my business back together and running repairs to my house (not to mention running water where it wasn’t supposed to be) without adding a tall, dark Irishman who had absolutely no idea how sexy he was. As for that quip about white washing him out, as my eyes drifted to the shirt now on show, Lorcan having discarded his suit jacket, I had to disagree. The tailored cut skimmed everywhere it should, and the pure white acted as a perfect foil for tar-black hair and deep blue eyes. He’d folded the sleeves back and tanned forearms with a smattering of dark hair were now on show, the cords of muscle in them rippling every now and then as he moved. I was doing my best to ignore them, but my gaze would occasionally drift down to them as we chatted when my brain was distracted and not keeping my eyes under strict control.
‘I’m not sure Patrick and Peyton meant for you to attach yourself to me on every errand. In fact, I’m certain they didn’t mean that at all.’
A thought struck me and I turned to Lorcan. ‘Or do they? I mean, I could understand them perhaps wanting that, bearing in mind what happened with the last so-called planner, but I’d rather them be upfront about that with me.’
‘No!’ Lorcan moved his arm across and covered my hand with his own. ‘That’s not it at all.’ He shifted position so he could take both my hands in his. Bod raised his head to see if he was missing anything, decided he wasn’t and went back to snoozing beside his master. Lorcan’s hands folded gently around mine.
‘Jesus, are your hands always this cold?’ he said, laughing, enclosing them together within his own warm ones. ‘You mustn’t think that. Peyton and Patrick trust you implicitly. Just because they got burned before doesn’t mean that they won’t trust anyone else now. They’re good people and they know that you’re genuine and will be doing everything you can to make this the wedding they want it to be, if not better. I promise you.’
I lifted my eyes from where I was studying his hands. ‘And you?’ I said, meeting his gaze.
‘Me?’
‘Do you trust me?’
‘Of course.’
‘You said you felt responsible for not being able to spot the previous woman was a fake. Like I said, I can understand the situation, but I’d rather know where I stand. Especially with you.’
