Thankfully it wasn’t long until we were pulling into a small village, the lights of it welcoming after what felt like miles of darkness. After a short distance Lorcan swung the car into the entranceway of a pub, its roof low, as though hunkered down against the harsh Atlantic weather that blew in from the nearby ocean. Yellow-tinged lights spilled from the windows. A couple entered as we got out of the car and the sound of laughter and music poured out momentarily before silence reigned again as the heavy wooden door closed behind them.

‘This is you,’ Lorcan said, scooping Bod up with one hand and opening the door with the other.

‘Are you not staying here too?’ I asked, following him out and heading towards the boot to retrieve my luggage.

‘Nope.’

I waited for him to elaborate but he didn’t so I pulled the handle up on my suitcase and belted my coat back around my waist.

‘Right. Goodnight, then.’

‘I’ll see you in.’

I remembered back to what he’d said the night of the restaurant meal about always ensuring his sisters got home safe and tempered my reply. ‘Thank you, but I’m sure I’ll be OK walking from here to the door.’

Lorcan shut the boot of the car and took a step towards me. I could feel the warmth of his body despite the chill evening air. He tilted his head down as I looked up, meeting his eyes, cool as the air around us. ‘I said,’ his voice low and with a rough edge of tiredness to it, ‘I’ll see you in.’ His body was almost touching mine, his eyes lingering on me a second longer as he leant towards me a little more. I felt my heart speed up despite my brain yelling at it to fall back into line. That hint of smile tempted his lips as he moved closer again. ‘I’ll take this.’ His words brushed my ear as he took the handle of my suitcase, turned and, forgoing the wheels, carried it towards the pub.

I let out a breath, angry with myself and at him – but mostly myself. If we managed to survive the weekend without me pushing him off one of those steep, brooding cliffs I’d seen catching the moonlight as we approached the village, it would be a miracle. I turned on my heel and followed him towards my abode for the weekend.

Lorcan pushed open the heavy door and the noise we’d heard earlier almost bowled me over. It was a total cacophony of laughter, music and chat. The pub was completely jammed and I hesitated for a moment at the door.

‘In you go,’ Lorcan said, holding the door for me to go first. ‘They won’t bite.’