Page 76 of Just Say Yes
‘You suppose?’
I took another sip of whiskey and pondered the question. Every place I saw, every view, every village I drove through I saw from a work perspective and how it could feature in a wedding. I hadn’t even realised I did it until Lorcan pointed it out.
‘You’re always looking at things through the eyes of a wedding planner, aren’t you?’ he prompted as I took another sip, delaying my answer as I realised that my career had, in effect, taken over my life. Everything I did, everywhere I went, everyone I met was unconsciously assessed on how they would fit into a wedding. Even every flower I smelled, I realised now, I processed only in relation to how it would look in a bouquet. It was as if I’d forgotten to appreciate things for being beautiful in and of themselves.
I turned away from the window and met Lorcan’s eyes. ‘It’s hard not to become absorbed when it’s your own business. Everything you have goes into it and with the last couple of years…’
‘I get that. And you’re right. It’s hard for me to look at a place now without considering what I would have done, had I been the developer. At least it was. I’m better at it now. You have to take a step back from work sometimes otherwise you find that’s all you have.’
‘It’s not all I have. I do plenty!’
He studied me before replying in that calm, knowing way. ‘I was saying that from my perspective. I wasn’t suggesting you don’t have lots of other things in your life. In fact, you showed me your diary. There’s definitely not a shortage of things in your life.’
‘It’s good to keep busy. Take all the opportunities you can.’
He gave his whiskey a gentle swirl and watched the golden liquid thoughtfully as it circled the glass.
‘By the look on your face I can see you don’t agree.’
‘It’s not that I don’t agree as such,’ he said, lifting his gaze to mine. ‘It’s just that it’s always good to have balance.’
‘I’m balanced,’ I shot back. ‘I’m totally balanced. Even though you seem to take such enjoyment in criticising my organisation, what you’re missing is that it enables me to schedule all the balance I need into my life.’
Lorcan’s eyes looked deep into mine and I felt my chest expand more than it should. I really needed to have a sit down with myself when we got home and talk about my body doing things of its own accord – especially when it came to Lorcan O’Malley. Thankfully, having a break from him once we were back in England should make that easier. Getting away for the first time in years, being drawn into the romance of this wedding and the magical spell of Ireland were a lot to deal with in one go. Once I was home and in the swing of things I’d drop back into reality. Romance was high on the list in my life – just not for me. As handsome and charming as Lorcan could be, and as much as I loved being with him, I couldn’t let him into my life. He liked spontaneity, going with the flow. I needed to know exactly where the flow was, where it was going and what time it would get there. We were too different. And that was probably just as well.
‘If you say so, Miss Madeleine.’
I shot him a look and downed the rest of my drink.
* * *
‘You’ve definitely got a fan there,’ Lorcan said as he opened my door and took a protesting and very yawny Bod from my hands so that I could exit the vehicle.
‘So, what time shall I pick you up Wednesday?’ Lorcan asked as he placed my case in the small hallway of the cottage. I’d motioned him in as I’d already seen Betty’s curtain next door twitching, although inviting him in had probably made things worse. Oh, well. At least this way I got a proper goodbye snuggle from Bod.
Lorcan and I hadn’t spoken much on the rest of the flight or on the drive back from Heathrow and I got the impression that, although Bod might be a fan, his master was far less so, which was why his question surprised me. I’d already said it wasn’t necessary for him to come to see the dress and had assumed the matter was settled. But no, of course not. This was Lorcan O’Malley. Why would things be that easy?
‘We had this discussion. You don’t need to come.’
‘Yes, we did, and I never agreed. I just let it go rather than wind you up. There was a vein throbbing in your forehead that was a little scary so I dropped the subject. But now I need a reply. I don’t like to be late so I’ll ask again. What time shall I pick you up and from where?’
I frowned up at him. This man was utterly impossible. Absolutely bloody gorgeous but impossible.
‘You’re racking your brains trying to think of a reason for me not to come, aren’t you?’
‘Of course not!’
Absolutely!
‘Liar.’
‘Arrrrghhhh!’
Bod looked at me and cocked his head. Lorcan chuckled.
‘It’s literally a quick visit for me to see the dress, check out the fabric and then I’m done. There’s absolutely no need for you to be there.’
‘I disagree. It’s part of the wedding prep, therefore I should be there.’
