‘I think you might have said that before but that doesn’t explain what’s wrong my legs.’

‘You’re being deliberately thick. I’m trying to tell you I’m only human.’

She frowned. ‘I still have no idea what you’re talking about.’

‘Jaysus, woman. They’re indecent. Nobody wants to see all that leg.’

‘What?’ She frowned.

‘Those little shorts. On the beach. Very little. You’ve got fine legs. And I do have a very good memory. I’ve seen them up close.’

She blushed, remembering some of the things that had gone on in his bed and then couldn’t help a little smirk.

‘And you can take that look off your face.’

‘What look?’ she said with a demure raise of her eyebrows.

‘The very-pleased-with-yourself, cat-that-got-the-cream-and-the-chocolate-cake-and-drank-the-Guinness look.’

She grinned at him. ‘If you’ve got it, aren’t you supposed to flaunt it?’

He laughed. ‘You’ve a quick, clever mind, Hannah Campbell.’

‘And I thought it was just my legs.’

‘There’s much more.’ His eyes rested on her face. ‘But I’ll be looking not touching. I know I’ve said it before but you’re a guest.’

‘Just out of interest, what’s your deal with guests? Been burnt before?’

‘It’s not real. Everyone falls in love with Killorgally. With my mam, the place, the idea of it. The scales fell off my last girlfriend’s eyes pretty quickly when she came to live out here.’

Disappointment twinged low in Hannah’s gut, she’d have liked to think that she was a bit more self-aware than that but it made sense now.

She gave him a teasing smile to soften the words.

‘I think I got the message loud and clear. I don’t suppose it occurs to you that I never thought I’d see you again and that what happened in Dublin was supposed to stay in Dublin. It certainly wasn’t meant to travel.’

‘Grand. So we’re on the same page.’

‘Yes. We can both be grown up about it and move on.’

‘That sounds like a good idea given we’ve got to share a home for the next week or so. Truce.’ He held out his hand. She took it deliberately, making her handshake firm and business-like, ignoring the persistent thought that these very hands had roved all over her body.

‘Fresh start,’ she agreed. ‘Dublin never happened.’

‘Dublin never happened.’ Conor nodded, putting the subject to bed once and for all.

When both of them exhaled a relieved sigh, they glanced at each other. Conor rolled his eyes and Hannah laughed at him.

They walked in silence until the cottage came into view, the yellow walls glowing in the evening sunshine.

‘Lovely night,’ she said wistfully, looking at the golden-tipped clouds strewn across the pearly-blue sky. For some reason she didn’t want to go inside just yet.

‘There’ll be a great sunset on the beach. Want to go down?’