‘Rubbish,’ Lorcan countered. ‘You can be excellent at your job, which you clearly are, and still have personal barriers. In fact, maybe it’s a necessity at work, but I get the feeling there’s more to it when it comes to you.’

I looked up in order for him to witness my exasperated sigh but instead found myself hooked into that deep blue gaze and for a moment it felt as if he could see straight through me. Right back to that night. Right back to the moment when my life changed forever and I was hit with so much pain that I went out the other side of it into a place where I felt completely numb. A place I’d never thought I’d return from. A place perhaps I hadn’t truly come back from, not entirely. But no one had ever called me out on it before. Of course, Lorcan O’Malley was different from anyone I’d met before and that meant Lorcan O’Malley was dangerous.

‘What time do we need to leave for the airport?’ I asked, gathering up the neat pile of work I’d tucked beside me when the food arrived and putting it in my carry-on suitcase.

‘OK, I guess that’s the end of that conversation.’

I looked up from my task with what I hoped was an innocent expression. ‘Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you’d finished. I just don’t want us to be late.’

Lorcan raised a hand and gave a little wave to the woman behind the counter, signalling for the bill as he spoke. ‘We won’t be late, don’t worry. I’ll just settle up here and we can head off.’ The worn, comfortable leather of the sofa creaked as he stood, unrolling his sleeves and deftly fastening the cuff buttons, before slipping his jacket back on. The fabric momentarily stretched across his broad back before settling into just the right position.

‘Let me give you some money for the bill,’ I said, reaching into my purse.

‘No need. I’m here for business meetings. Had I not been we wouldn’t have had to stop off here, ergo you wouldn’t have had to eat here and may, in fact, be at home now knocking back some vile green juice thing instead of a hearty Irish stew. So, my meetings delayed us, therefore the onus is on me to pay.’

I let out a sigh. ‘Fine.’

Lorcan looked down, as though studying me. ‘You know, most people would just say, “Ah, thanks, Lorcan, that’s grand. I’ll get it the next time.”’

‘Well, I’m not most people, plus it’s unlikely that there will be a next time so it would have just been simpler if we split the bill now, but, as you seem so determined, I won’t object.’