‘No,’ she said, with a touch of desperation that brought a satisfied nod.
They both knew where things were headed and Hannah had reached a point where she didn’t see the need for any further delay. She was the sort of person that, once she’d decided on a course of action, she’d see it through. She might dither before coming to the decision, but once made she was a woman of her convictions. She wanted to sleep with Conor and she couldn’t for the life of her think why on earth she’d been fighting it.
As soon as they left the pub, Conor curled his hand into hers as they half ran and half walked back to the Land Rover. As he unlocked the doors, he snagged her hand and pulled her back towards him for fierce, quick kiss.
‘Conor,’ she laughed up at him, feeling a heady punch of power. He wanted her as much as she wanted him. ‘At this rate we’ll never get back.’
‘True,’ he said and with another one of those naughty smiles, bundled her up into her seat and slammed the door before hurrying around to the driver’s seat.
He drove with one hand on her leg, as if he had to keep touching her.
‘Are you sure about this?’ he asked in a low voice.
‘Yes.’ Hannah swallowed. ‘I’m sure. Are you?’
‘Oh yes. I just wanted to give you a chance to change your mind, if you wanted to.’
‘I’m not going to change my mind,’ she murmured, as his fingers massaged her inner thigh.
‘Just don’t want things to go off the boil on the way home,’ he teased, in a low, throaty voice.
‘You are a chef. I’m sure you’re quite adept at keeping things simmering.’
‘Oh, I am,’ he agreed, his hand inching a little higher.
‘Don’t you think you should concentrate on the road?’ she squeaked.
‘Where’s the fun in that?’
‘Staying alive is always good.’
‘Spoilsport.’ He gave her thigh a squeeze and put his hand back on the steering wheel but not before giving her a look that promised so much more later.
She caught her lip between her teeth, trying to think of an opening conversational gambit but all her senses were humming and she felt too lethargic to try and break the thick atmosphere. Instead, she leaned back against the headrest and closed her eyes, enjoying the feelings buzzing through her body.
When they approached the turning for Killorgally, Conor wheeled the car up the gravelled track and slammed on the brakes as soon as they hit the car park. He looked at her from the driver’s seat, a question in his eyes. She nodded and they both almost hurled themselves out of their respective seats. He caught her hand and they dashed down towards the cottage. Anticipation hummed like an electrical charge between them. In fact, Hannah almost expected sparks to arc and jump where their hands touched. Her breasts felt heavy and between her legs there was a sweet ache; she’d never felt so revved up and desperate in her life. She squeezed Conor’s hand and he squeezed back. They exchanged mischievous grins. Hannah loved this. Loved being so open. Nothing shameful or hidden.
He leaned in, dropping her hand to cup her ear and whispered, his words sending a zing of heat straight to the sweet spot. ‘God, I want you, Hannah Campbell.’
‘I want you too.’ She spoke with a natural sultriness she hadn’t known she was capable of. She relished this feeling of being all woman. With other men she’d always let them take the lead. Now that Conor had declared his desire for her, it gave her the confidence to be bold. She might not be like those other women but right now and right here he wantedher.And it might not lead anywhere but she was done worrying about that. She’d spent too much of her life worrying about the unknown and the unexpected. Today had shown how wonderful the unknown and unexpected could be.
The cottage came into view and they both slowed a little as if now with their goal in view they could afford to take their time.
‘Hannah! Conor!’ Meredith stepped out in front of them from the orchard next to the path, followed by Alan. Her face was lit by a lovely, contented smile and she was wearing the cherry-red cardigan that she’d talked about. ‘Isn’t it a lovely day? We’ve been to Killarney. What a lovely little town. Do you know it, Conor?’
He nodded dumbly.
‘Alan drove me there and we had the most wonderful lunch on the coast. Honestly, Hannah, you should take a drive out that way. It really is glorious, isn’t it, Alan?’
He stepped forward. ‘It really is. I’ve not been out this way before but it’s such a gorgeous spot. Although you wouldn’t want to get stuck behind one of those buses.’
‘No,’ agreed Conor, succinctly.
‘And the views are just spectacular. We had to stop the car a couple of times. It’s just breath-taking. I was glad I wasn’t driving.’ Meredith beamed at Alan. ‘Thank goodness you’re such a good driver, otherwise I think I might get a little nervous on some of those narrow roads.’
Hannah was tempted for a second to pipe up with, ‘Boreens’, but thought better of it. She could see Conor shifting from foot to foot with the same frustrated agitation that was killing her.
‘And where’ve you been today? Exploring? Conor showing you the sights?’ Meredith’s gaze became a little calculating. ‘Where did he take you?’
