Page 38 of Just Say Yes
‘She is,’ I said, picking up on our host’s comment. ‘That’s why I really want this to come together for them.’
‘Not to mention you want to get paid,’ Lorcan added, not looking at me.
‘Everybody likes to get paid,’ his friend batted back. ‘Even you, when you get around to sending a bill.’ Eoghan turned to me. ‘Lorcan helped me out when I wanted to redevelop this place into a restaurant. I didn’t know where to start but it’s turned out exactly how I pictured it in my mind.’
‘That’s fabulous. Lorcan didn’t tell me that’s how he knew you. You’ve all certainly done a wonderful job. It’s beautiful in here and complements your food perfectly.’
‘Ah, I’ve known Lorcan since school and most of us have moved around but we all know our old friends are there if we need them. It’s grand.’
‘It must be lovely to have that bond of friendship and history.’
‘Aye, it is. Even though it does make it difficult to try and get your mate to ever send you a bill for all the effort and time he put in.’
‘I was busy,’ Lorcan said, studying a menu.
‘Too busy to collect the money you were owed. We know you do well, mate, but you’re not using a gold-plated loo seat just yet. You’ve got to treat everyone the same and let us pay what we owe when you’re owed.’
‘Quit your whingeing. You paid, didn’t you?’
Eoghan turned to me. ‘Eighteen months it took me to get a bill out of him. Eighteen months.’ He shook his head and bit down on a cracker. Lorcan continued to study the menu and I worked on trying to figure out just who this man was. Why did he try to act so nonchalant and casual, when it was becoming clearer that there was a heart of solid gold in that hard and muscled chest? My eyes drifted down to it and I found myself wondering what it looked like without the tee shirt. I’d already had a glimpse of a toned stomach and I could only imagine— No! I couldn’t imagine! I mean, I really could, which was the problem! I shouldn’t. I mustn’t. Lorcan O’Malley was too laid-back in a lot of ways and too complicated in others. A romance would be a disaster. And against my rules. And just…
‘Maddie?’
‘Nothing!’
A smile began to tease Lorcan’s lips. ‘You OK, there?’
‘Yes. Just… thinking of… stuff. For the wedding. Obviously.’ I tapped my planner with my nail for emphasis. ‘Yep. All about the wedding.’ Oh, God, Eoghan must think I was an idiot. ‘Sorry.’ I turned to him. ‘It’s just kind of an important wedding. I mean, not that all of them aren’t but… you know. It’s a biggie.’
‘Yep. All our sort of businesses certainly took a hit, didn’t they? Don’t worry. It’s going to be great.’
I smiled at his reassurance and felt the flush of colour fading from my cheeks. Ireland was having a very strange effect on me. So far I’d slept in, which I hadn’t done for fifteen years, I’d eaten a massive cooked breakfast, which again was a rarity, and now I was having inappropriate thoughts about a man who, although admittedly good-looking, was completely wrong for me and had only ever shown interest in me when it gave him an opportunity to wind me up. Had it not been against my own rules to date anyone I’d met through the business, Lorcan O’Malley was not someone I’d consider anyway. He was gorgeous – but trouble. Peyton’s comment about the trail of broken hearts scattered behind him was enough to keep me warned off. The sooner I got back to the safety of my own house, the better, even if it did leak like a sieve. At least there my mind didn’t drift off into hot daydreams about Lorcan O’ bloody Malley!
‘OK, do you want me to meet up with you in a bit?’ I asked as we left the restaurant. ‘We have some time before the cake-tasting, thank goodness,’ I said, patting my tummy, ‘so if you want to go off and do something, that’s fine.’
‘What’s next on your list?’ he asked.
‘A few things but that’s OK. I thought I could ask Brighid for some tips on places around here. You’ve done more than enough already.’
‘And how are you going to get to them if Brighid recommends somewhere?’
‘I’m sure there’s a taxi firm.’
‘There is. But, let’s just say, he tends to work to his own timetable.’
‘Which means?’
‘Which means whether you get one is hit and miss.’
‘Well, then, I’ll use a different one.’
A curl of amusement slid onto Lorcan’s face. ‘This isn’t Surrey, Maddie. Pete’s is the only taxi service for a distance around here.’
‘I’ll walk, then.’
He looked down at my shoes as we strode back the short way to the pub, stopping at the hire car we’d collected yesterday. The heels were only two inches high as opposed to the four-inch ones I wore as a rule, but admittedly perhaps not ideal for tramping about a village like this in.
‘So,’ he said languidly, leaning on the roof of the car, arms crossed, ‘I’ll ask again. What’s next on that list of yours?’
