Lorcan looked at me, a question in his eyes. Something about him not wanting to upset his mum slid under my defences and I gave him the tiniest nod. His eyes crinkled momentarily with the brief smile he returned. It was honest, genuine and beautiful and I suddenly had second thoughts about the wisdom of what I’d just agreed to.

Lorcan slid one arm around me and the other swept gently under my legs, as he took care not to bump the injured one. ‘Comfy?’

‘Yes. Thank you.’

His smile sent its own thanks right back. The last thing I wanted was to come across like some damsel in distress. I’d looked after myself for long enough to know that I was more than capable of doing so in pretty much any situation but the look in Lorcan’s eyes was enough. He wanted to be his best for his mum and her good opinion, just because she was his mum. And that won over everything.

‘Oh, God, the time!’ I said, looking at my phone as Lorcan folded his tall frame back behind the steering wheel of the hire car, having ensured I was in and comfortable. ‘We’re so late!’

‘I messaged and rearranged it when the doc was sewing you back together.’

‘You did?’

‘I did.’

‘Were they OK?’

‘Yep, no bother.’

‘Wow.’

‘What?’

‘Just that quite a few of the suppliers I’ve worked with wouldn’t have been impressed at me messing them about at the last minute.’

‘It’s business. They’re not likely to kick up a stink if they might lose the business.’

‘Good people always have other clients to fall back on.’

‘No. Good people understand that sometimes life doesn’t go to plan and you have to reschedule.’

He had a point.

‘You are right, of course. Life definitely doesn’t always go to plan.’

‘Says the woman who plans everything she possibly can.’

I looked out of the window, mentally sweeping my unwanted emotions back into the corner of my mind where they had begun to spill out from.

‘Did I say something wrong?’ Lorcan’s hand touched my leg lightly. ‘I didn’t mean anything by it. I wasn’t being an arse – for once.’

I turned to look back at him, his self-deprecation tugging me from the past. ‘For once,’ I said, trying not to smile.

‘Don’t worry. I won’t make a habit of it.’

‘Now that I don’t doubt. Thank you for rearranging the appointment. I was a little distracted. I do appreciate it.’

‘You had every right to be distracted, and you’re welcome. They’re going to drop the samples off at the castle tomorrow afternoon. Although I’m not sure how that’s going to work as the doc said you’re supposed to be resting that leg as much as possible.’

‘I’ll be fine. Honestly, it’s not as bad as it looks.’

15