‘There’s a truck just over there. You stay there and rest a bit and I’ll get it,’ she offered.

‘Hey, don’t do me any favours. I don’t need anyone to baby me.’

‘I’m not looking to baby you,’ Hannah shot back sharply, despite her best intentions, Ed’s words about not being afraid to speak her mind popping into her brain all of a sudden. Then she bit her lip. ‘I was just trying to be considerate.’

‘Yeah, well, if you were being considerate, you would have agreed to meet me in a bar again like the first time and listened when I told you that I wasn’t interested in any damned makeover.’

‘Oh, for feck’s sake will you give it a rest? For the hundredth time, I’m not trying to make you over. Far from it. After that pointless day at the shelter, I’m just trying to get a better handle on what you’re happy to share about yourself. Simple as that.’ She took a deep breath, annoyed with herself. Losing control of her emotions like this was unlike her, but there truly was something about McKenzie that somehow always seemed to unnerve her.

He snorted. ‘And what if someone doesn’t want to share anything? What is it with people having to know everything about everyone these days? Speaking of which,’ he added gruffly, ‘I didn’t realize you were Irish.’

Despite herself, Hannah smiled. So many years of living in the US had dispelled much of her accent, but it unfailingly resurfaced when she was riled.

She worked to get the conversation back on track. ‘It’s you that we’re here to discuss. Like it or not Ward, you’re a talented pro athlete in a successful team – and that puts you in the public eye. I know you manage to get some benefits out of being a celebrity,’ she added, referring to his womanising reputation. ‘But having a public profile comes with a price. So maybe level with me a bit.’

He didn’t seem to be listening though. In fact, he was beginning to sweat and his pallor was now a worrying shade of grey. Yikes.

‘OK. Just … stay there, and I’ll grab us a coffee. And maybe some water?’

Looking as bad as he did, Hannah wasn’t sure whether it was a good idea to leave him alone, but she knew he’d surely have something to say about it if she refused.

When she came back with the drinks, the two sat in silence for a moment drinking their beverages, until Ward spoke again.