He tipped his head back and the laugh burst from him, transforming the sharply chiselled, hard-edged features. ‘And you accuse me of not being romantic.’ When he turned, the smiling eyes seemed to look deep into my soul.

‘I’m romantic!’ I protested.

‘Within budget,’ he replied, laughter still resonating in his voice.

I shrugged, feeling the blush tinge my cheeks, hoping that he would mistake that for the chill and the breeze rather than a reaction to the teasing in his voice that, when he spoke softly like that, was like warm, melting chocolate.

‘Fair enough. Within budget,’ he continued. ‘But there was something about that original plan that seemed… not right. Patrick’s happy to go along with whatever Peyton wants. All he wants is for her to be happy.’

‘Yes, I can see that. It’s lovely.’

‘She’s got a good man there.’

‘She’s very sweet too.’

He turned back to face me. ‘She is. She’s very lovely. Too much of a princess for me but her and Patrick are made for each other. She’s like another sister, really. Not that I need any more!’

‘You did give her a bit of a hard time about the whole Irish ancestry thing.’

He dragged his hand across his jaw. ‘I know. I guess… Roísín had just finished the genealogy search and turned up nothing. I was disappointed for Peyton, and I didn’t want her to get this idea in her head that she had all these roots here when, in truth, she doesn’t.’

‘But being sarcastic about it probably isn’t the best way to go about it, or put her off.’

‘No, you’re right. It hadn’t been the best day. I know that’s not an excuse. She’s great but occasionally things rub me up the wrong way. It’s a culture thing, I guess, and, Jesus, she’s just so full of bloody energy, it feels a bit overwhelming at times. She’s like a Duracell bunny on steroids. I couldn’t cope with that all the time. But she makes Paddy happy and that’s all that matters.’

‘But you arranged this place, just in case?’

‘She’s insisted on me being involved from the beginning. Paddy and I are like brothers and I think she hoped it would be a chance for her and I to get to know each other better. Although, as it turns out, I’m spending more time with you than either of them.’

‘And you said there was no upside.’

He laughed that laugh again, looking up through envy-inducing thick lashes, and gave me a smile that did funny things to my tummy – and a couple of other places. I put it down to after-effects of the painkillers. Something that strong was bound to have some brain-addling hangover effect. That was the only explanation. Well, the only one I was prepared to entertain anyway.

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