The tone of Susan's voice was enough to send Seamus to a dark place, one in which he was very still and the memories were right at the surface. But he'd changed. He wasn't still the same volatile person he'd been that night two years ago. He could show Susan that much, at least, but her words bit at him and he looked up at her through his lashes, gaze testy and bordering on unimpressed. Two years ago, he'd have snapped out some sarcastic reply. Now he simply stared, a wry smile quirking one corner of his mouth.
"If I'd wanted to be away from you, I wouldn't have come back to England, Susie. It's only that I don't care to die in this bloody lift without having done a little more living first. I'd like to spend a night in my new house and maybe ride my bike to the Orkneys. Go back to the Great Wall sometime." If nothing else, that should mean something to her. It was one of the best memories they shared. "If I wanted away from you so badly, I'd be yellin' or settin' off all kinds of charms to get us out of here. Don't read things into me words."
She was as likely to argue with him that he'd already left her, but he could answer that too if need be. He'd done some growing up in Ireland. Working in his dad's garage had settled him, it seemed.