Just Say Yes, page 18
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 what you think about the place – not Madeleine the wedding planner.’
‘Oh… well, I suppose I think the same.’
‘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.’
‘It’s bad luck for the best man to see the wedding dress before the actual day and I know you wouldn’t want to be responsible for risking any more of that for Patrick and Peyton, especially considering the setback they already had.’ I fixed on my most understanding expression as I tilted my head back to meet his eyes.
He took a step closer, transferring the dog from my arms to his, our hands and arms brushing as he did. His voice was low when he spoke.
‘Even I know that it’s the groom who’s not supposed to see the dress, not the best man. Besides,’ he added, the voice still low and melodious and dangerously intimate in the soft glow of the small table lamp, ‘you know if you don’t tell me, I’ll just ring the designer and meet you there.’ His voice was close to my ear now and I could feel warm breath tickling it. I turned my head, ostensibly to tell him firmly that his assistance was not needed once and for all. But as I did so I found myself perilously close to his lips, and staring directly into the deep pools of blue that could transform from calm sea to thunderous sky in seconds, and for that split second my mind emptied of everything but the thought of how it would feel to have those lips on mine, on me, on my—
‘I have to be at the studio at six!’ I blurted in an octave higher than usual, stepping back as I did so and tripping over a heavy doorstop in the shape of a hippo. Lorcan’s free arm reached out and steadied me, his brows drawing together.
‘Everything OK?’
‘Yes.’
He paused a beat or two, watching me. ‘Message me where to pick you up from once you’ve checked your schedule. See you Wednesday.’
I gave him a tight smile as he began to head down the path.
‘Thanks for looking after Bod today,’ he said, turning back. ‘I appreciate it.’
‘That really was my pleasure,’ I replied, this time with a genuine smile.
He gave a short nod. ‘And if you ever figure out a way to think about it separate from work, I hope you find you enjoyed Ireland.’
I gave him an exasperated shake of my head and squelched the rebellious smile that was trying to curl my lips.
‘Don’t think I don’t see that smile, either.’
Honest to God, how did he do it? It was practically dark. I swear he had Leprechaun blood flowing in his veins.
‘I’m not smiling,’ I called out.
‘Liar,’ he called back lazily as he slid into the driver’s seat, a low, disturbingly sexy chuckle drifting after it on the still night before the low growl of the engine swallowed it up. With another wave, he drove off into the darkness. I closed the door before the tail lights disappeared and leant against the thick wood for a moment before heading straight up to the bathroom to take a long, hot bath. Although, as the memory of Lorcan’s mouth drifted uninvited back into my thoughts, I considered that perhaps a cold shower might be more appropriate.
The following morning, after a good sleep in my own bed and my usual green smoothie for breakfast, I was feeling more like my old self and wondering what all the fuss my mind (and body) had made over Lorcan O’Malley was about. As I had suspected, it was clearly just to do with being out of my environment for the first time in ages – the magical surroundings of Ireland, a romantic castle setting and the kind, genuine people I’d met. I’d be more prepared on my next trip and on top of my game, able to deal with anything and – more importantly – anyone, without getting distracted.
‘Hello?’ Betty’s voice called through the letterbox when I ignored my doorbell while trying to get a session of Pilates in – something else that had gone amiss at the weekend. I’d had to modify my practice thanks to my injury but at least I was getting some exercise. Well, I had been but my neighbour could be persistent, especially when she’d clearly spotted me getting out of a car, aided by a good-looking man. To be fair, it had been a long time since she’d had the opportunity to good-naturedly spy on such an occurrence, but still. I was desperately trying to get back to my schedule and Tuesday mornings from eight until nine, clearly marked, in purple, were Pilates.
‘Hello-o-o-o-o-o!’ she called again.
I flopped back on my mat and let out a sigh.
‘Coming, Betty.’
27
I pushed myself up off the mat and went to answer the door. ‘Hi,’ I said, pulling it open.
‘Hello, dear. I’m not disturbing you, am I?’ She glanced at my workout top and shorts, then noticed the dressing on my leg. ‘Oh! What happened there?’
‘Come in, Betty. Nothing much, I fell over at the weekend and cut it.’
‘Oh dear. Is it bad?’
‘A couple of stitches. I’m having them out in a few days.’
‘You poor thing,’ she said. Then a faint smile began to form on her kindly features. ‘Was it…?’ She made a drinking gesture.
‘Not at all,’ I replied. ‘Like I said, it was a business trip. I was working the whole time.’
‘Oh. Was that nice Irish man there all the time too?’ She arranged her face to look innocent but I could see the interest in her eyes flickering behind her glasses.
‘Some of the time. But,’ I repeated, ‘it was a work trip and the only reason I was with him was because my clients want him kept up to date while they’re out of the country. Lorcan offered his assistance with the area as I’m unfamiliar with it. That’s all.’
My mind fluttered back to the night I’d fallen, when Lorcan had sat with me on the bed keeping me company – hardly in his remit – and I turned away from my visitor momentarily to shuffle through my post and hope that the blush I felt on my chest didn’t betray me by creeping up to my face.
‘Oh, that’s a shame,’ Betty said, sounding genuinely disappointed. ‘He seemed such a nice man.’
‘Looks can be deceiving, Betty.’
‘Is he not, then?’ she asked, bustling through to the kitchen and placing a plate of home-baked biscuits on the table as I glanced at my colour-coded schedule for the day tacked to the fridge. The weekend had ended up entirely unscheduled but today at least I hoped I’d be able to get back into my normal pattern.
‘He’s…’ I thought of how many times Lorcan had wound me up over the weekend, but I also remembered his kindness on the plane, his concern when he realised I’d hurt myself, and his devotion to his little dog. I tried not to remember the lingering woody scent of his aftershave when he was close to me, his laugh that wrapped itself around me like a cosy blanket, and the way his warm breath had tickled my ear when he spoke close to it, the deep tones sending waves throughout my body.
‘He’s what, dear?’ Betty asked, studying me with a casual air. From the outside, she looked like a kindly, older lady who baked and always checked up on others in the village, especially if they hadn’t been seen for a few days. But Betty was as sharp as a new pin.
‘Complicated.’
‘I see. Perhaps he has a reason to be complicated.’
‘I’m sure he does. But it’s not part of my job to find out so…’ I turned up my palms and smiled, hoping that was an end to the discussion.
‘Not everything is about work, you know, love.’
‘Right now it is, Betty. My business took a massive hit during the pandemic and I need to save it, so the last thing I have time for in my life right now is complicated men. Besides, Lorcan and I are far too different. We do, and would, drive each other round the bend inside a week.’
‘Sometimes those are the best ones…’ Betty replied, her eyes twinkling.
‘No, Betty,’ I said, laughing. ‘Definitely not now and most definitely not this man.’
‘Well now, that’s a shame. You looked ever so good together and he’s very handsome.’
‘Sometimes those are the worst ones,’ I said, turning her words back on her and she shook her head, laughing.
‘What are we going to do with you?’
‘Nothing, but thank you for the offer. Really, I’m perfectly happy as I am.’
My neighbour gave me a look that disagreed. ‘I see Tom was here, checking on the place at the weekend.’
‘Yes. I have a slight problem with the roof.’
‘He told me it was leaking like a sieve.’
Thanks, Tom.
‘I’m working on getting it fixed.’
‘Tom said he’d told you he’d happily get it done for you, and that you could pay him later.’
I really needed to have words with Tom about how much of my business he discussed with the rest of the village. The fact that he’d told the neighbours this, obviously in all innocence, only backed up what I’d said to Lorcan about gossip. If Tom went around happily telling villagers that he’d done my roof ‘on credit’, firstly, everyone would know my financial situation and secondly, it would undoubtedly cause at least a few to wonder if he was receiving payment in other ways. Which was why I was sticking to my original sensible plan of praying to any god who would listen – I wasn’t fussy – for dry weather until Peyton’s big wedding and I could begin to get my finances back on track, and my roof back to being weathertight.
‘Yes, I know. It’s very kind of him, but I don’t like to be beholden to anyone and it’s not fair. He’s a small business too so it’s hardly likely he’s got plenty of money sat around in the bank to be doing favours to people.’
‘Yes, but we both know you’re not just any old people when it comes to Tom, don’t we?’
‘No, Betty, we don’t,’ I replied in a definitive tone, which she merely waved away.
‘Oh, pssh. He’s had a crush on you since the day you moved in. You must have noticed.’
I thought back to what Lorcan had said about Tom having a ‘thing’ for me. The truth was, I hadn’t noticed. I was always too busy to notice.
‘You really hadn’t, had you?’ Betty read my face.
‘There’s nothing to notice. Anyway, isn’t he living with someone? Dark hair, a hairdresser or something?’
‘They broke up about a year ago, love.’
‘Oh…’
‘He was asking what I knew about your Irishman.’
‘Well, you can start by telling him he’s not my Irishman.’
‘Yet.’
‘Ever!’ I turned back to her. ‘What did you say?’
‘Not much I could say, dear. Just that he’d been here once before when I popped round and seemed very nice. Lovely manners.’
‘He said the village looked like something out of Midsomer Murders when he first got here, so not that polite actually.’
‘Oh, love, you know everyone says that.’
‘Yes, but it was the way he said it.’ I flapped my hands. ‘Anyway, it doesn’t matter. None of it is relevant. Thank you for the biscuits, Betty. You really shouldn’t.’
‘Nonsense. You know I enjoy it. Now, I’ll get out of your way. I’m sure you have a ton of things to do as usual.’ She smiled as she turned, and I didn’t miss the glance she gave to my weekly planner. ‘You should take some time off occasionally,’ she said, making her way back to the front door.
‘Oh, that’s not just work. That’s personal stuff too. See? I have plenty of time off.’
‘It’s all very… regimented though, isn’t it, love?’
