She frowned, feeling a little as if she were standing on the edge of a bog: one false step and she’d be up to her neck in it. A bit like being back at work confronted with a legal argument before she’d had the chance to check the precedents. ‘Not unless I’ve developed some kind of psychic skills in the last few minutes, no. Did the barman make it up? I assumed he knows you.’

Conor, if that was his name, considered her for a moment and she could almost see him weighing things up. She knew she’d been found innocent of whatever crime he’d initially supposed when his face softened.

‘Sorry, you’re English. Yes Conor is my name. And now I’ve been churlish when you so charmingly came to my rescue.’

‘Yes, you have,’ said Hannah still feeling as if she’d stepped into another dimension. ‘Although I don’t normally rescue people. Not like that anyway.’

‘I’m glad to hear it.’ Suddenly he was all smiles again and she felt back on solid ground, although she wasn’t sure what to say now. What did you say when you’d just been kissed senseless?

‘I’m Hannah.’ She held out a formal hand as that seemed to be the only way she could regain some semblance of control.

‘Conor.’ He shook her hand. ‘Can I get you another drink?’ he asked with a gesture towards her empty glass.

‘I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I think that might have been what got me into this predicament in the first place.’

‘Predicament.’ He rolled the word around his mouth in his soft Irish accent and she found it gave her a little thrill somewhere in her solar plexus. ‘I’m a predicament, am I?’

‘Well.’ She lifted her shoulders.

‘I think I like being a predicament. What were you drinking?’

She couldn’t resist.

‘Red wine. The Bordeaux.’

‘You know about wine?’

She laughed. ‘No. Only that I liked that one.’

‘With wine that’s all you need to know.’ He stood up and raised a hand at the barman, lifting Hannah’s empty glass.

‘And just like that. Does everyone do your bidding?’

Conor grinned, his eyes twinkling with a touch of devilment. ‘Of course.’

‘You’re very sure of yourself.’

‘If I’m not, who else will be looking out for me?’

‘Good point,’ Hannah acceded with a nod of her head.

‘So what brings you to our fair city? Hen do? Stag do? Weekend break? Business?’

Hannah hesitated. Enough people at home thought she was crazy to just suddenly up sticks and go on a cookery course for six weeks, she didn’t need a stranger concurring with them. ‘Just a holiday.’

‘I’m afraid you haven’t had the weather for it today.’

‘I’ve not heard that people come for the weather.’