‘No, he’d have told me if it was.’ There was an air of finality about his reply that prevented me from saying anything more. ‘Anyway, turned out the little man had an infection so he wasn’t his normal self. I apologised again to Peyton the next day after we’d been to the vet and she really was sweet about it, more concerned for the dog than anything else. But I guess I’m a bit touchy about the whole thing and I took that out on you, for which I’m very sorry.’

‘Apology accepted.’

Lorcan gave a glance at his watch. ‘I should think the gate number is up now, so we could make a move if you’re ready.’

I nodded and returned my things to my bag as he packed Bod back into his pet carrier and we headed off to the departure gate.

8

‘I booked you the window seat, but you can swap if you don’t want it. I’m not fussed.’

‘No, that’s fine, if you don’t mind?’

‘Not at all,’ he said, taking my case off me and hefting it up into the overhead locker with little effort, quickly followed by his own. Taking his own seat, he placed Bod’s carrier on the floor and fastened his seat belt.

‘Is this where we fight over the armrest?’

‘You’re taking up part of my seat, so I think I already lost that battle.’

He gave me a look, half frown, half smile. ‘I got us premium seats. The only other option is for me to sit out on the wing.’

I turned and looked out of the window, tapping my finger on my chin.

‘Oh, very funny. Besides, you’re not using all yours anyway.’

I spread my petite frame out as far as I could. ‘Yes, I am. And I need that armrest too.’

The deep laugh rumbled in his chest as the grin spread across his face. ‘You know, you’re pretty fun when you’re not trying to control everything.’

I pulled myself back up into a more elegant position, calmly lifted my current novel from my bag and turned to the correct page.

‘Now what did I do?’

‘You didn’t do anything.’

‘I must have. One minute you’re all relaxed and fun, and the next you’ve shut down and acting like you’re got a ramrod stuck up your—’

‘Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking.’

‘Maddie?’

‘Shoosh.’ I held my finger to my lips. ‘I want to listen.’

Lorcan gave me a long, studied look, let out a hiss of breath through his teeth, tipped his head back against his seat and closed his eyes. I snuck a glance and saw that his jaw was tight and his hands were still bunched into fists, something I’d noticed he did whenever he got frustrated. He literally had no clue about tact. No wonder he was single.

* * *