“Men’s look,” Shannon corrected, buttoning the oversize shirt.

“What’s the difference?” He sat on the grass to put on his shoes. “Would you go out with me tonight, Shannon, if I come calling for you?”

Baffled and pleased, she looked down at him. That the man could ask, so sweetly, when they’d barely finished going at each other like animals, charmed her. “Well, it may be I’d do that, Murphy Muldoon,” she said, giving her best shot at a west county brogue.

His eyes danced as he tossed her one of her shoes. “You still sound like a Yank. But I like it—’tis a darling accent.”

She snorted. “I have a darling accent. Right.” She reached down to pick up the blanket, but he stayed her hand.

“Leave them . . . if you will.”

Smiling, she turned her hand so that their fingers twined. “Yes. I will.”

“Then I’ll walk you to your door.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I do have to.” He led her through the arch of stone and into the field where the light was just beginning to pearl the dewy grass. “And want to as well.”

Happy, she leaned her head against his shoulder as they walked. In the east, morning was rising gently in pinks and golds, like a painting washed by a pastel-tipped brush. She heard the crow of the rooster and the cheerful song of a lark. When Murphy stopped to pick a wildflower with creamy white petals, she turned, smiling, so that he could slip it into her hair.

“Look, there’s a magpie.” She lifted her hand to point as the bird darted low over the field. “That’s right, isn’t it? Brianna showed me.”

“That’s right. Look there, quick. Two more.” Pleased at his luck, he swung his arm around her shoulders. “One is for sorrow,” he told her. “Two is for mirth. Three for a wedding, and four for a birth.”

She watched the flight and cleared her throat. “Murphy, I know you have very strong feelings, and—”

He lifted her up and set her over the next wall. “I’m in love with you,” he said easily. “If that’s what you’re meaning.”

“Yes, that’s what I mean.” She had to be careful, she realized, as her own emotions had gone so much deeper than she’d ever intended. “And I think I understand how you believe that should progress. Taking your personality, your culture, and your religion into account.”

“You’ve a wonderful way of cluttering things up with words. What you mean is I want to marry you.”

“Oh, Murphy.”

“I’m not asking you at the moment,” he pointed out. “What I’m doing is enjoying a morning walk with you and looking forward to seeing you again in the evening.”

She slid him a glance, saw he was studying her. “So, we can keep it simple?”

“There’s nothing simpler. Here. Let me kiss you before we’re in Brie’s garden.”

He turned her into his arms, lowered his head, and melted her heart. “One more,” she whispered and drew him back.