‘I am. But I don’t agree with those plans. I think the place should be restored. Converted for modern living, but sympathetically. I agree with you that it would be a shame for it to be lost but the longer it’s left in its current state, the more likely it is that modern housing will take its place. Which is why I bought it. I’m headed over to the local solicitor shortly to sign the papers. Hence, as much as I would like to admit that I drove all the way out here just to see you, if that would bring a smile to your face, I really am here for work.’

‘You’re buying it? And saving it?’ I grabbed his arm.

‘I am.’

‘Lorcan! That’s amazing!’

‘Well, I’d rather you’d smiled like that just to see me for no reason, but as you don’t smile nearly enough, I’m going to take this as a close second.’ His own smile softened his face as he chuckled.

‘I smile plenty, thank you.’

‘No, darlin’, you don’t, which is a great shame as when you do, it’s a beautiful one.’ I stared at him and he gave a tiny shake of his head, a grin sweeping across his face. ‘And as much as I’d like to find out why you don’t smile more often, I better get going for this meeting.’

‘Go, go!’ I said, almost bundling him towards the door. ‘Don’t you dare lose the deal now.’

Lorcan turned and stopped as he got to the door. My own momentum took a moment to catch up and I slammed into his broad chest and immediately halted.

‘Whoops. You all right?’ he asked, gently wrapping his hands around my upper arms and standing me back a couple of steps.

‘Fine, fine. Sorry. But you mustn’t be late.’

‘I won’t be,’ he said, still not moving. ‘But I meant what I said about finding out why you hide that beautiful smile.’

‘You’ve got all the blarney, haven’t you?’ I said, laughing. ‘Even Fiadh said you always had the right lines.’

‘That she did. But sometimes the right lines are just the right lines. It doesn’t mean they’re not sincere.’

Bodily, I turned him around and then opened the door. ‘If you mess this up, I will never forgive you and I will also persuade Peyton that all the best men this season are wearing bottomless chaps.’

‘That’s OK. My arse is one of my finest attributes, so I’ve been told.’

To be fair, he had a point. He did have a great bum. Of course he did.

‘Seriously, you’d have an answer for the devil if he popped up in front of you.’

Stepping out onto the doorstep, Lorcan turned around, laughing now. ‘My mam said that to me many a time when I was growing up.’