The kind gesture made me stand there like a deer in the headlights. My heart started beating faster. Weird. Then he sent it into overdrive.
“I owe you an apology for yesterday.”
What the hell was happening? Who was this man? Maybe I had bumped my head. Was it possible to get hypothermia from five minutes outside? Perhaps I was hallucinating.
“I dragged you here and have been less than appreciative of your time. And since my sister really liked you and invited you over, I want to say I’m sorry for getting annoyed. I’d like it if you came tonight.”
I simply stared. Seeing this human side of him while wrapped up in the warm sweater that smelled of him was doing funny things to my insides. I should still say no. Hell, I never should’ve accepted the invite to begin with. But his sister was so friendly, and I was in serious need of company outside of the Grinch who stole any sense of humor. Not to mention I had a burning curiosity to learn more about his family. Considering Allison was the complete opposite of her brother, who could blame me for wanting to discover more about his home life?
“Say something.”
“I don’t know what to say. I think it’s the first time you’ve ever apologized.”
“I’m sure it’s not the first time it was owed. I don’t properly appreciate all you do. I realize I don’t always make it easy.”
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
Maybe this whole grief thing and being home was making him sappy. Or perhaps he was the one who’d hit his head. “I, um, appreciate you saying that. Sorry for calling you a dick.” It wasn’t my best career move for sure.
He cracked a smile. “I’m sure I’ve been thought of as worse. Thanks for cooking the meals. I’m afraid I’m horrible in the kitchen, and French toast sounds way too good to pass up. Let me get the fire started, then I’ll eat.”
Taking a tally, there were two thank yous and an I’m sorry. And even a compliment. As I watched him start a fire with practiced ease, I wondered for the very first time if perhaps I didn’t know the real Liam Davenport at all.
After three hours of going through paperwork and highlighting important details, I was ready for a break. Unfortunately, the snow had stopped with only a couple inches on the ground, which meant no snowman today, but on the other hand, it wouldn’t make driving terrible. At least that’s what logic told me. But apparently I had absolutely no reference point.
“Do you mind if I take the truck to the store?”
He gave me a side-eye. “Yes, I do mind. You can’t drive in the snow.”
“How do you know?” I was mildly offended despite realizing he was probably right.
“You’re a Southern California driver. A drop of rain causes people to freak out there.”
This was true. We did freak out. Still I didn’t want to admit it.
“Do you know what to do if you skid?”
Had no clue. “Um, push on the brakes?”
My guess earned me a shake of the head. “Stepping on the brakes is definitely what you don’t want to do. You have to turn into the skid. Give me ten minutes, and I’ll take you to the store. I want to be sure I pay anyhow.”
Fifteen minutes later Liam was pushing the cart down the aisles for me while I got the ingredients for enchiladas. There was something very strange about the situation. It was almost domestic. Like we were a couple. Of course, smelling him on the sweater I was wearing wasn’t helping such weird thoughts. I probably should take it off, but I hadn’t yet.
“Where is the medicine aisle?” he queried.
“Normally in the middle. You okay?”
“Just a headache.”
“Oh, you should’ve said something. I have Motrin in my purse.”
“It’s fine. I’ll get some for myself.”
We were walking toward the center of the store when he stopped suddenly. “Aw. Hell.”
“What?” I scanned the aisle, spotting a busty redhead coming right for us.
“Oh my God. Liam Davenport,” she yelled from ten feet away, rapidly approaching in her stilettos.
“Do you think running away would be too obvious?” he asked quickly.
The fear etched on his face was comical. “Probably. You need a rescue?”
“Yes. Anything to keep this impending conversation as short as humanly possible.”
“Oh, yeah. Anything?”
“Anything.”
He seemed desperate. Desperate enough to tempt me to walk off and leave him alone. But my next thought was to mess with him a bit. He wanted a favor. He’d get it. But with a price. After all, he’d thought I was trying to catch myself a husband by cooking for him. “You got it, babe. Now put your arm around me and pretend to like me.”
“What?” He simply stared at me as if I’d grown a second head, so I took the initiative and put my arm around him.
The fiery redhead, in a cheetah-print dress with heavy makeup, squealed, causing my fake boyfriend to cringe.
“It is you. I wondered if you’d be back in town for your daddy’s funeral. How are you, handsome?”
“Uh, good, Tonya. How are you?”
“Great. You know, I got divorced a few months back.” Her gaze traveled down his body like she had every intention of making him husband number two.
“I wasn’t aware.”
She then seemed to notice me. “Who’s this?”
I stuck out my hand. “I’m his girlfriend, Kendall.”
She frowned, popping her gum several times instead of taking my hand. Okay. Miss Manners she was not.
“I ran into your mom last week at the post office, and she didn’t say you had a girlfriend.”
“Yeah, well. It’s all very new,” he stuttered.
So much for being any good at this game. Frankly, he sucked at it.
“You know Liam and I dated in high school. Went to prom together. Had quite the night, remember?”
I could practically feel the repulsive shiver go through him. I had to stifle my laughter at his expense. But then I realized if I was actually his girlfriend, her words would be offensive. “He never talks about high school since it was so long ago. Anyhoo, nice to meet you, Tonya. Have a good night.”
“Oh. Yeah. I mean sure. You, too.” She seemed put out when we were ready to move on.
Liam was already two steps ahead, moving quickly toward the drug aisle while I asked, “What’s your poison? Tylenol, Motrin, Advil?”
“Advil is fine.” Once we were stopped and alone, he asked, “What was that back there?”
I quirked my head to the side. “You said, and I quote, you would do anything to keep the conversation short. You’re welcome, by the way.” I quickly shut up because approaching was none other than Tonya again.
She gave him a seductive smile. “I realized I left without giving you my card. It has my new contact information on it.”
My boss stiffened but stood still while she gave him the card. I noticed her hand lingered on his as if she wanted to be sure to put that little added touch in there. Then she walked off with an extra shake to her hips.
“Her card?”
He flipped it over and sighed, showing me the back.
“If you get bored and want a real woman, call me.”
Jealousy and a healthy dose of rage hit me all of a sudden. I had to remind myself that I wasn’t in fact his girlfriend.
Chapter Sixteen
Liam
One minute Kendall was standing there, her face getting red while reading Tonya’s not-so-subtle note, then the next she proceeded to push the cart as if this was a normal everyday occurrence.
I didn’t bring up the whole fake girlfriend thing again while in the store. Probably wise as it was in fact a small town and the checkout clerk knew about everyone, evidently including my assistant.
“You’re back, honey. Whatcha making tonight?”
“Hi, Peggy. Enchiladas. Black beans and rice.”
“Sounds good. Hi, Liam. Nice to see you again.”
I couldn’
t place her, even after reading her nametag. “Nice to see you, too, Peggy,” I offered, wanting nothing more than to down my Advil and go lie down. But I had to drive over to help my mom pick out a headstone.
Once the bags were in the truck and we were settled inside, I turned to Kendall. “Do you mind telling me what the hell that was all about in the store with Tonya?”
She sighed. “I could say the same to you. For wanting me to rescue you, you did a lousy job of acting. And I can’t believe the nerve of her. Giving you her card implying I’m not a real woman.”
My gaze floated to Kendall’s purple sparkly boots. They could be part of the reason. She looked like she could be my kid sister.
“Gotta say, I’m not a fan of high school Liam’s taste in women.”
Yeah, that made two of us. I certainly hadn’t dated Tonya for her personality.
“Where did you get the idea to be my fake girlfriend to begin with?” This was a small town, and news of her being my girlfriend was bound to reach my mother. My sister was already suspicious, so this wasn’t what I needed.
“How the hell else did you intend for me to rescue you?”
“I don’t know—something else.”
She simply blinked three times. “Like what?”
I didn’t have a clue. Matter of fact, her idea probably was the best one. But I didn’t like how it was making me feel. “Look, this is a small town. The last thing I need are for people to think I’m in a relationship with my assistant.”
A pretty blush crept up on her face. “Right, I mean with all the times you come back to Tazewell, I’m sure it’ll really affect your reputation. You wanted a rescue. I went with the path of least resistance, not that it seemed to deter her. Must’ve been some prom night.”
I had to keep myself from an awful shudder. “Point taken.”
One had to admit I hadn’t given Kendall a lot of choices. But she’d been clever. Now I needed to ignore the fantasy of me ripping off her green puffy coat and having her naked beneath me. I was all out of sorts and blamed the fact on my apology this morning. From there on out, it had become weird all the way around. Having her in my sweater. Spending time with her in the house. Having her be my fake girlfriend for a half a minute. Now having her come to my sister’s house tonight. I could practically feel the lines blurring.
“Sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
I shook my head, chuckling despite wanting to pretend I was annoyed. “No, you’re not.”
She flashed me a smile—the type that hit me square in my solar plexus. The kind I’d never been lucky enough to have been on the receiving end of.
“You’re right. I’m not sorry. Consider it retribution for thinking I was trying to play house with you the first day.”
I wasn’t sure when we’d crossed the line into this easy teasing banter, or her giving me special smiles, but I found myself preferring it to the icy coldness we’d previously established. Which was a problem. A big problem judging by the way I was having a hard time breathing without smelling her strawberry lip gloss.
Suddenly, I needed space. Space to figure out how to get back into a professional balance and routine. I reasoned it was the circumstances of the week making me feel off-kilter.
“I’m dropping you off at the house. Then I have some errands to run.”
“’Kay.” She either didn’t notice my panic or was simply too laid-back to care. Either way, I was relieved once we pulled up in the driveway.
I stepped out of the truck to help her with the grocery bags, then was out the front door and back on the road in minutes, already breathing easier with each mile I put between us. I had no destination in mind as I was too early to meet my mom and sister, but I found myself back at the cemetery my grandparents were buried in.
I didn’t get out of the truck. Just sat there gazing out the window, taking in the peaceful landscape the freshly fallen snow had made. My father’s ashes would be buried here. Eventually, so would my mother.
My sister had told me she planned to buy a plot for her family here, too. She’d asked if I wanted to be included, but I’d declined. I wasn’t ready to think about it. Nor did I want to face the fact I led a lonely existence. How depressing to think at the end of my circle, I’d probably end up buried in the same small town I’d avoided for my entire adult life.
This town and all of the painful memories were the reasons I hadn’t been able to wait to get out. Start over. Become a new version of Liam Davenport where everyone didn’t know about the verbal abuse, bruises, and the abandonment. Where people didn’t whisper with looks of sympathy when they saw my mother using food stamps at the local grocery store. Those days might be long over, but the scars still ran deep.
Finally deciding to make my way to the funeral home for our appointment, I braced myself for the task of picking out the headstone. But I wasn’t prepared enough.
“I want it to say loving husband, father, and grandfather on the stone,” my mother announced to the director.
Wearing a tasteful suit, he sat in a comfortable room with the three of us.
I shared a look with my sister. Thankfully, both her girls were with her husband and wouldn’t be here for the tension-filled afternoon. I decided to voice my opinion first.
“Mom. I know you’d like to think of him that way, but Allison and I didn’t have a relationship with him.”
She sighed. “You would’ve if you’d answered his calls over the last few months. It’s my one regret that he wasn’t able to make amends to you.”
My gaze landed on the director. “Can you give us a moment, please?”
He was more than happy to excuse himself. Once he was gone, I took a deep breath, hating the fact I had to be the one to burst my mom’s imaginative recollection of things. “He wasn’t a loving husband, father, or grandfather.”
My mother was a religious woman who believed in forgiveness. And who hadn’t wanted to move on despite her husband being gone for years. Her religion was probably why she never divorced him, despite my urging once I’d become a lawyer. She hadn’t wanted to break her vows even after he’d shattered every single one.
“He was a good husband, father, and grandfather in the end.”
I stood up and went to the window. “Not when it counted.” My last word broke in my throat. This was too much. I wanted to rage about not paying for it, but I wasn’t dick enough to threaten something so petty.
Luckily, my sister backed me, her words causing me to turn. “Mom. It’s too much to ask of us. Instead, it could say loving husband if you want. But not the father part. Or we could simply have it say rest in peace—or something else. Please.”
My mother glanced between us and seemed to deflate under the weight of the truth. “Okay. If it’s what you both want.”
Allison and I both let out a breath of relief.
As I walked in the front door of the rental, the aroma hit me. It smelled delicious. Of course, I’d skipped lunch which had me starving.
In the kitchen, Kendall was slicing and dicing peppers with the precision of a proper chef. She had her iPad on the counter, watching some show, and was dressed casually. The way she worked was fascinating. She was so quick and efficient with her movements in the kitchen. Almost like a dancer who was expertly choreographed.
Suddenly she turned her head and startled at seeing me standing there. A yelp quickly followed.
“Oh, shit. Did you cut yourself?”
She was holding her finger and walking over to the sink. “Yeah. You startled me. Sorry.”
I was over in a flash to take her hand and inspect the damage. “Just a nick luckily.”
Her doe eyes locked on me. “Yeah, good thing they weren’t the sharp knives I’m used to.”
“Let me get you a Band-Aid.” Only I didn’t move. I simply stayed there with her hand in mine, staring at her.
“I think I have one in my purse. It’s on the kitchen table stool. Look in the side pocket.”
There was so
mething strangely intimate about going into a woman’s purse. But with her bleeding over the sink and me to blame, who was I to argue? I tried not to focus on the cute little spotted change purse, the pack of cinnamon gum, or the strawberry lip gloss I’d already spent too many hours obsessing about. After pulling the adhesive strip out, I opened it for her.
She was over at the table, having put her finger in a paper towel, and reached for it. “Thanks.”
“I’ll do it. Hold your finger out.” It was always easier to have someone else do it.
“At least it was my left hand. Wouldn’t want it to ruin my bowling game tonight.” She gave me another genuine smile, making my stomach do this weird little flip.
We both jumped at the voice on the iPad. “Honey, you still there?”
Kendall giggled. “Oops. I’m, um, FaceTiming my nan,” she whispered, going over to the iPad. “Sorry, Nan. I was distracted by cutting some veggies while watching.”
“It’s okay, honey. Let’s get back to the show.”
Her nan turned the iPad back to her television, which appeared to be playing some Western-type show.
Kendall muted it quickly and turned back to me. “I’ll be done in about twenty minutes. We, um, our thing is to watch Little House on the Prairie together every Sunday.” A blush stained her cheeks with the admission.
I recalled the title as something my sister may have read when she was younger, but I’d never seen the TV shows. Guilt crept up. Kendall had to FaceTime her nan instead of being there with her. It also made me miss my grandmother and all of the time I used to spend with her as a kid. “There’s nothing on the agenda. Take your time.”
Chapter Seventeen
Kendall
Nerves struck me once we pulled into Liam’s sister’s driveway. I looked forward to satisfying a burning curiosity about my boss’s family, but I needed to remember they’d just experienced a loss. Although his sister was nice and friendly, I wasn’t here for a party. I was here as part of a family dinner occurring three days after they’d lost their father. It was just difficult to remember that since Liam didn’t seem to want to talk about it nor did he act overly upset. Hell, neither had his sister, come to think of it.
Miss Understanding (The Miss Series Book 1) Page 8
