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“What does that sound mean?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
“Yes, it does. You made a sound like something I did proved something to you.”
“Just taking note. You like to have the last word.”
“I do not!”
He made the sound again. She wondered if she could throw the brick at him.
“Look me in the eyes and tell me that when you and the boys slip down to the pub to have a pint, you’ll tell them you fell in love with me because I’m clever and wily.”
“You forgot fiery.”
“Is that some reference to how I supposedly behave in bed?”
“I’ll let the lads take it as they will.”
Her jaw dropped.
“But no, that’s not what I’ll tell the lads. They can see plain enough what attracted me to you. You’ve got those eyes that are green as Ireland itself, that red hair that looks so soft a man wants to bury his face in it, and a mouth that—when it’s not pursed like ‘tis now—was made for kissing.”
She blinked in surprise and the anger she’d felt began to melt away. Until he spoke again.
“And those ti—er, breasts. More than a handful, lass.”
Bridget tossed her clipboard on the seat beside her and reached for the brick at her feet. His own hands intercepted it first. He slid it away from her and crossed to sit beside her.
“I didn’t ask you to sit beside me.”
“And no doubt you never planned to,” he said, “but I’d rather not have me nose broken by flying bricks.”
“Go back.”
He settled in. “Plenty of room here. Besides, if I was married to you, I’d insist on sitting beside you.”
“Then move once we near Heysham.”
“I’m already here and comfortable. And I thought of something you need to know about me. Something important.”
She stopped trying to think of how to make him move. “What’s that?”
“There won’t be any nipping to the pub for a pint for me. I don’t drink—not beer, not wine, not whisky. I’ll tell the lads I break out in hives if I do and stick to tea.”
“Is that true?”
“No, but you’ll be the only one who knows it.”
“And why do you not drink alcohol then?”
He didn’t answer right away. He stared at the seat he’d just vacated as though considering. “I don’t like the taste of it. But that needn’t stop you. If you want a glass of wine or whisky—”
“I won’t.” She sat back, her shoulders feeling lighter than they had since she’d agreed to this mission. If Callahan was telling the truth—and why would he lie about this—then she wouldn’t have to fear him coming in drunk and belligerent. “Is there anything else you avoid? Anything I should know about?”
“I don’t gamble. Not cards, not dice. I’m sorry to say I won’t even play at children’s games with cards. I don’t touch them.”
“Any particular reason?”
