Hot Property (Irish romantic comedy) by Susanne O'Leary Page A

“Hot sex, I hope. Now, concentrate on the house. I don’t understand why you’re spending every cent you have on it.”
    “Because it belongs to my family. Always has, Paudie said. The O’Farrells have been there since the beginning of time. That ruined tower on my land was built by my ancestors in the fifteenth century. My great-great grandfather cleared all the stones and rocks out of the land and grew things on it. Had his little farm on it and fed his family and all the families after that. How can I sell it? It wouldn’t be right.”
    Beata nodded. “Just like in that movie I saw on TV last night. The Field . Must be something Irish. This thing about land.”
    “Yes, I think it is.”
    “More important than sex?”
    “Much more.”
    ~ ~ ~

    In her underwear, Megan caught her reflection in the bedroom window. The shape she saw was round and feminine. The bra pushed her breasts into a very pleasing cleavage, making her waist look smaller. Her wide hips and firm thighs completed the picture of a mature, shapely woman. Normally so critical of her unfashionable shape, Megan now felt proud of her body. This is me, she thought, take it or leave it, Dan Nolan.
    He did. His eyes on her when she got into the car were appreciative, to say the least. His hand on her shoulders, and his light kiss sent hot sparks into her groin. “Where are you taking me?” she asked with intended innuendo.
    He winked. “I haven’t quite decided where yet. But we’ll eat first.”
    “Where? Mulligans?”
    “No. Better than that.” He started the car. “We’re going out to the Maharees. A pal of mine has a cottage there. He’s away, so he lent it to me for the weekend.”
    “Perfect,” Megan purred.
    He shot her an amused glance. “For what?”
    She smiled innocently. “Well, you know. For watching the sunset.” She stretched, arching her back. “Oh, I’m so stiff. My back is killing me. Working for Beata is no holiday.”
    He glanced at her breasts. “I’ll give you a massage when I get the chance.”
    She closed her eyes and smiled. “That would be wonderful.”
    He laughed. “Enough of this, or I might just throw you on the lawn and ravish you. But being a gentleman, I want to wine and dine you first.”
    “Sounds wonderful. I could do with a little wining and dining.”
    The cottage was at the end of the little peninsula. Overlooking the harbour, it had spectacular views of the sea. The sun was still warm, the wind balmy. With the sound of the waves and the distant cry of seagulls, there was a wonderful peace there. A feeling of being at the end of a continent.
    Megan gazed at the horizon. “The next landfall would be America, wouldn’t it?”
    Dan took a shopping bag from the car, out of which stuck the neck of a bottle of wine. “Not quite. Right across, it would be northern Canada. Labrador, to be exact.”
    “Oh.” Megan turned from the view. “I was hoping it would be New York. Love that city.”
    “Me too.” He handed her a plastic bag. “Here, I got some fresh prawns from the fish shop. Could you peel them while I get the barbeque going? That’s just the starter. I got lamb cutlets for the main course.”
    “Sounds fantastic.”
    ~ ~ ~
    Half an hour later, they were sitting on the little beach below the cottage, eating lamb cutlets with their fingers and sipping wine from paper cups.
    Megan nibbled the last of the meat from the cutlet. “Wonderful flavour. You’re a good cook.”
    He shrugged. “Not my cooking. The lamb from this area has a very distinct flavour. Could be because the sheep graze all over the mountains, eating heather and grass.”
    Megan put the bone on the paper plate beside her. “That was all so delicious. The prawns, the lamb, the baked potato. Thank you.”
    “More wine?” Without waiting for a reply, he leaned forward and filled her cup.
    Leaning on her elbow, Megan stretched out on the blanket. “The sun has disappeared. I love this light, just before it gets really