‘No one’s complained so far.’
‘Of course they haven’t,’ she muttered, more to herself than him.
‘I’ve got a request.’
‘Oh, isn’t it my space you’re invading? I’m not sure you should be laying down the law. After all, I don’t even want you there.’
‘And I don’t want to be there. Blame my mother, not me. I’m just the bodyguard.’
She was about to say she didn’t need a bodyguard but she had been unnerved by the face at the window and now it appeared that there was no obvious explanation, she wasalmostglad that Conor would be there.
‘So what’s this request?’
‘That you don’t walk around half-naked. And perhaps avoid wearing those shorts you had on yesterday around the house.’
‘What’s wrong with my shorts?’ her voice rose in pique. They were her favourites. Who was he to dictate what she wore? He could go sing. From now on, she’d wear them all the time in the house, no matter what the weather.
‘There’s nothing wrong with the shorts. It’s the legs.’
‘What’s wrong with my legs?’ That stung; if there was one part of her body she liked, it was most definitely her legs. Her sister had got the womanly curves and Hannah had got longish legs and a disappointingly flat chest. She’d have thought their genes could have been a bit more fairly shared out but apparently not.
‘Oh mother of God, woman. I’ve told you I don’t sleep with guests ever.’
‘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.
