‘Yes. What? Well, apart from you trying to spread gossip around the village that I’m off on some romantic weekend away with you, which I’ve corrected now anyway. For a grown man, you can be terribly childish.’

‘Being a grown-up isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.’

Hard to disagree with that.

We drove in silence for a while before he spoke again. ‘So, how long did you go out with him for?’

I turned in my seat, frowning. ‘Who?’

‘Old Tom back there.’

My frown deepened. ‘I didn’t.’

‘Aah.’

Don’t ask. He’s just trying to get a rise out of you. You’re better than that.

‘And what does “aah” mean precisely?’

Damn.

‘It can mean a lot of things.’

I let out a sigh between my teeth. Just let it go. He’s trying to wind you up. Don’t let him succeed.

‘And what, exactly, does it mean in this instance?’

Damn. Again.

‘It means that explains the awkwardness.’

‘Oh, for goodness’ sake. I give up.’

‘Funny. You don’t strike me as a quitter.’

I gave him a sharp look and his smile got even wider.

‘You know Tom’s got a thing for you though, right?’

‘Don’t be ridiculous.’

‘I’m not. I assumed you knew. By the way, you know he didn’t buy that “it’s just work” thing either, don’t you?’

‘No thanks to you. And it is just work and he doesn’t have a thing for me. I’ve known him for ages.’

‘Oh, darlin’, he totally has a thing for you. Why do you think he’s offering to do your roof for free?’

‘He’s not offering to do it for free. It’s just until I can pay him.’

‘Same difference.’

‘No, it’s not. It’s completely different.’

‘If you say so.’

‘I do.’ My brain was itching to follow this with so there but I managed to wrangle control just in time – I had several more days of Lorcan to go yet.

‘Don’t you like him, then?’

‘That’s not the point.’

‘It’s a relevant point.’

‘But none of your business.’

‘Maddie, we’re going to be spending the next four days together. If you don’t want to talk about anything other than Patrick’s wedding, it’s going to be a very quiet trip.’

‘Good.’ I sent him a meaningful glance. ‘I like quiet.’

He gave a large, dramatic sigh. ‘Great,’ he muttered and drove on, thankfully, in silence.

* * *

Lorcan parked the car and I met him at the boot to retrieve my case. He hefted one out with each hand and placed them on the ground and I began wheeling mine along, scanning the surroundings for the lift to the terminal.