Page 75 of Just Say Yes
‘Well, that sounded patronising,’ I said, straightening my back as much as I could in a desperate effort to try and gain even a grain more height. It wasn’t working. Lorcan still towered over me. The smile slid from his face.
‘Sorry. It wasn’t meant to. It was actually meant to be a compliment. Clearly not well delivered. My apologies.’ His frown had deepened again and the eyes were clouded with concern. The relaxed body language he’d had a moment ago had now tensed. All of it told me that he’d meant what he’d said and I was sorry now I’d misunderstood, uncomfortable that the moment of… whatever it was – truce, perhaps – had gone. Between us we really were quite the pair. He turned to head towards the counter and I caught his hand. The surprise on his face as he looked back made me pause.
‘I… erm… I…’
Bloody hell, Maddie. Spit it out.
Lorcan turned his body more, so that he was once more back in the position we’d been a moment ago, but this time a little closer. I could smell the woody notes of his aftershave. It suited him. Real. Earthy. Solid. My gaze drifted down from his face and I realised I was still holding his hand.
‘Thank you for the compliment.’
The smile returned and for a second he closed his hand around mine. ‘You’re welcome. Apologies again for the poor delivery. I’m a little out of practice.’
‘Perhaps that’s something I need to add to my schedule, then.’
He tilted his head in question.
‘You’re supposed to be very complimentary in your speech at the wedding about Peyton, the bridesmaids and a host of other people.’
The penny dropped. ‘Ah. Yes. Good point. Schedule me in, then. Do you charge extra for private tuition?’ The smile was back now and so was the tingling in my spine, except right now it was whizzing around my whole body, completely ignoring all the no-entry signs for specific areas. This wasn’t good. But… oh, my goodness, it felt wonderful.
‘Uh… no.’ I cleared my throat. ‘All part of the service,’ I added. ‘I would obviously want to hear your speech anyway. Make sure it’s appropriate.’
The mischievous twinkle was back. ‘Ah now, Madeleine, are you saying you don’t trust me?’
‘No, not at all. Again, just all part of the service.’
He shifted his weight and I could feel his warmth, the strong, solid bulk of him. Perhaps I did trust Lorcan. But right now, I wasn’t sure I could say the same of myself.
‘I’ll go and pay,’ he said, giving my hand a final squeeze before dropping it gently and striding across the stripped wooden floor, his Italian leather shoes making a small tap with each long step he took. I let out the breath I didn’t know I’d been holding and plopped back onto the sofa, disturbing Bod, who shuffled round and climbed onto my lap. I cuddled him to me.
‘Your owner is far too… everything for his own good. More to the point,’ I added as Bod listened intently, ‘he’s far too much of everything for my own good. I need this job to go well and I definitely don’t need a broken heart, so you’re going to have to help me, OK?’
Bod studied me for a moment, then did a massive yawn that ended with a squeak, flopped back down on my lap and looked out of the window, fuzzy brows twitching occasionally as something interested him.
‘Good,’ I said, running my hand down his back. ‘Glad to see you’re on top of things.’
‘Everything OK?’ Lorcan asked, returning to the table as he tucked the folded receipt into the back of his wallet.
‘Yes, thanks. All good. Just impressing Bod with my scintillating conversation.’
‘He’s a great dog but not always appreciative of the good things in life.’ Lorcan gave a wink, lifting his pet with one large hand and grabbing his case with the other. ‘Ready to go?’
‘Definitely.’
More than you know…
26
Thankfully the flight home was far less eventful than the trip over and, despite me trying to insist on Lorcan taking it, I was once again sitting in the window seat, staring out at the green patchwork of Ireland as we lifted off, leaving the sunset behind us as we headed back home.
‘So, what did you think of Ireland?’ Lorcan asked as we sipped a whiskey each that he’d advised we must have to toast my first trip to the Emerald Isle. I’d given him a small eye-roll but agreed anyway and was now enjoying the smooth taste as it warmed its way down.
‘It’s very beautiful. There’s definitely a magical feel about it. I think the wedding is going to be gorgeous.’
‘I wasn’t asking what you thought about it as a backdrop for weddings,’ Lorcan said, studying me. ‘I want to know whatyouthink about the place – not Madeleine the wedding planner.’
‘Oh… well, I suppose I think the same.’
