“Then find something else to work on and I’ll be happy to test it as well,” Cora added as she came to her feet and reached for Heidi’s collar. “I’m ready when you are, Sophie.”
The ladies ushered one another out the back door, leaving Brock scraping the bottom of the bowl.
“Do you want me to leave this stock boiling?” Macy asked.
“No. Go ahead and turn it off. I’ll use it in the morning to make up the dinner.”
“Are you guys dating or something?”
Liam froze at Brock’s question. Macy had turned her back as she twisted the burner off. But seeing her rigid shoulders, he guessed she was just as stunned by the words hovering in the air.
“I’m going to take that silence to mean you aren’t dating, but you’re more than friends.”
As if the one-sided conversation was completely normal, Brock got up and put his bowl and the two forks in the dishwasher. “It’s cool,” he went on as he turned to face Liam. “I think you’re both awesome, so if you want to date, that would be—”
“We’re just friends.”
Damn it. Why had that come out of his mouth? He didn’t mean to downplay what they had going on, but at the same time, he didn’t know what to say and he didn’t want Macy to feel uncomfortable. So . . . yeah. Now the words were out and she probably felt even more uncomfortable.
Macy turned, pasted a smile on her face, and nodded. “Just friends. But glad we have your blessing.”
Brock looked back and forth between them, clearly not believing them, but Liam wasn’t about to say anything else. Finally, he shrugged.
“I have a proposition for you.” Brock glanced at Macy and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Do you need any part-time help in your store?”
“Whoa.” Liam held up his hands, shaking his head. “Did you talk to Zach or Sophie?”
Brock glanced over his shoulder. “No. I thought I’d see what Macy said and then I’d talk to them.”
Macy shifted the pot to the back burner. “Well, I haven’t thought about needing anyone. Dad still comes in sometimes and we’ve never had anyone other than family work there.”
Brock turned back to Macy, but not before Liam saw the teen’s face fall. “Oh, okay. No big deal. Just thought you were an obvious choice to ask.”
“Wait a minute.” Macy held her hand up and pursed her lips as if she were doing some calculating in her mind. Knowing Macy, that’s exactly what she was doing. “How many hours were you thinking?”
Brock lifted a shoulder, shifted his feet. “Not sure. The resort is a top priority for me, so maybe just a few hours. I just want to earn some extra cash.”
Macy stole a look over Brock’s shoulder, catching Liam’s eye. Liam didn’t say a word. He was rather proud the boy was taking initiative, but he wished Brock would’ve discussed this first with Zach.
“I’m sure I could find things for you to do.” Macy shifted her attention back to Brock and smiled. “You talk to Zach and Sophie and give me a call. How’s that sound?”
“Really?” Brock’s voice lifted, as did his whole demeanor. “That’s awesome, Macy. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me just yet,” she countered as she tugged the strings of her apron undone and pulled it over her head. “Let’s see what they say before we go any further. You still have school and that comes first.”
“I know,” Brock agreed. “I’ll call you later today. That work?”
Macy laughed. “Of course.”
Brock practically ran out of the room, most likely to find Zach or text him or to make sure the resort was all set to go for their guests arriving in the morning. Regardless, Macy had just made his day.
“He wants a different car.”
Macy nodded. “I figured it was something like that.”
“I have a few more things I need to do here. Shouldn’t take me more than an hour.”
Liam wanted to cross to her, but he also didn’t want to get caught kissing her or backing her into the counter and groping her . . . which is exactly what he’d do if he knew they wouldn’t be caught.
“You want to wait or do I need to run you home?” he asked. “I know you want to work more in the room, but I can help.”
“I think I’ll take a walk out back, if that’s okay. I never take time to just do nothing.”
Liam knew that feeling all too well. In fact, coming home had given him more free time than he’d ever had when he worked in Savannah.
Was that something he was willing to give up? Was he ready to get back to that hustle and bustle? And if he thought he was busy before, going back in as an owner would be pure insanity . . . and everything he’d ever dreamed of.
“Liam?”
Blinking, he focused back on Macy. “Go ahead. I’ll come find you when I’m done.”
Stepping closer, she tipped her head. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Um, about that whole friend thing earlier—”
Waving a hand, she shook her head. “I know. It’s all right.”
“Really?”
Laying her apron on the counter beside her, she blew out a sigh. “I don’t know what to call this—us. I know you didn’t want to get into all of this with Brock, but hearing you say the words just had me thinking.”
His chest clenched. “About?”
She opened her mouth, then closed it. “Nothing. Come find me when you’re done. I’ll probably be out by the pond watching the little duck family.”
Macy let herself out the back door, the screen slamming behind her. Liam had no idea what she’d been wanting to say, but whatever had gone through her mind had involved them.
No, they weren’t “just friends” as he’d indicated, but at least she understood why he hadn’t said more. Seriously, what could’ve been said? Like he was just going to tell Brock, an impressionable eighteen-year-old, that he and Macy were having sex as often as they could, but they weren’t dating. In fact, they’d never gone on a date.
And that was a smack of reality to the face. He’d been adamant that Macy not treat him like the other guys she’d seen, yet here he was making sure she did just that. He’d never taken her on a date. He’d never even attempted to actually do something romantic.
Romantic? Is that where he wanted to go with this?
He glanced around the empty kitchen. His kitchen, technically. He’d given Zach the exact specifications for the remodel, not having a clue he’d actually be the one working here. Yet, here he was. Fate was funny that way.
Liam didn’t even remember what he wanted to get started on for tomorrow’s prep. Shifting slightly, he stared out the back door.
The pond in the distance was always a breathtaking view, but the woman standing at the edge was captivating. The skirt of her dress blew in the breeze, swaying against her bare legs. He had no clue what expression she wore on her face, had no idea what she was thinking.
When he’d come back, he never dreamed he’d get tangled up with her. He wasn’t sorry. How could he be when she was such a bright spot in his life? How could he regret being here for his family when they needed him most?
He had a serious decision to make. When the phone rang, Liam ignored it. The machine would pick up and Sophie would return the call later. He continued watching Macy. She tucked the dress against the back of her legs as she lowered herself to the grass. What was she thinking? About the child she was going to foster? The potential of adoption? What went through her mind when she thought about him? She knew he wanted to go, but they’d never fully discussed that fact.
Perhaps they were both avoiding a topic that would invite more questions than answers—and emotions neither were ready to deal with.
With an unwanted ache in his heart, Liam turned away and started working. The sooner he got done, the sooner he and Macy could leave. He wanted to know what was going on in that head of hers. And if that coincided with her heart, then he’d have to be ready to deal with those emotions as well.
* * *
“Perfect.”
Macy stood back and watched as Liam adjusted the curtains on the newly hung rod in the spare room. The curtains were perfect, as was the view from her angle. When she’d sat out by the pond earlier, she’d worried about where she and Liam were headed. But then she realized she needed to keep her questions to herself because she didn’t want Liam to feel pressured to stay. He owed her nothing, had promised her nothing.
Still, she deserved to know if he was for sure going back to Savannah. He’d tell her. Surely he wouldn’t keep something like that all to himself. Liam had been honest with her from the start. So, for now, she’d enjoy their time together.
Liam came down off the step stool and propped his hands on his hips. “You’ve done a good job in here.”
Macy glanced around the room. The twin bed in the corner with a bright yellow blanket and yellow and white checkered sheets. The toy chest, and the small basket overflowing with new books. The white chest of drawers she’d had as a little girl had been repainted and now held a little giraffe lamp.
“I hope she likes it.” What would the little girl think? Macy only hoped she could provide some stability, some sense of security. “I’m a little nervous.”
With outstretched arms, Liam crossed to her and pulled her into his embrace. “You’re going to be fine. You’re going to care for her—”
His cell went off, cutting through the moment. Macy stepped back and waited while he pulled the phone from his pocket.
He glanced at the screen first before answering. “Hey, Sophie.”
Not wanting to seem like she was obviously listening, Macy went to gather the empty curtain containers. She threw them away in the kitchen and came back to fold up the step stool. Liam’s closed eyes, his head dropped forward, shoulders slumped, put Macy on alert.
Placing a comforting hand on his arm, she couldn’t help the thoughts spinning through her mind. Was someone hurt? Was it Brock? Did something happen at the resort?
“I’ll think about it,” he finally stated. “Yeah, um . . . that’s great. I’ll let you know.”
When he hung up and slid the phone back into his pocket, he raked a hand through his hair and pulled in a deep breath. The fact he hadn’t looked at her yet also sent warning bells off inside her head.
“What is it?” she asked.
Shaking his head, he pulled away. “Nothing.”
Macy crossed her arms over her chest and watched as he picked up the ladder and left the room. Okay. So he was just going to shut her out?
Macy stood in the doorway from the kitchen and watched as he went down the hall toward the attached garage and hung the ladder back on the wall.
When he turned to face her, she merely raised her brows.
“It’s just resort stuff,” he told her.
“Resort stuff? That’s why you look like you’re torn into several pieces?”
His lips thinned, the muscle in his square jaw ticked. “Macy . . .”
“What? I wouldn’t pry into your personal calls if you didn’t look like you were ready to run away.”
When he remained silent, Macy threw up her arms and went back into the kitchen. She wasn’t begging.
Footsteps followed behind her as she headed toward the hallway. It was getting late, so whatever the call was about must’ve been important. Not important enough to share with her, but whatever. Hadn’t she already told herself he didn’t owe her anything?
She had fallen in love. Maybe she’d been fooling herself to think—
Liam’s grip on her arm as he spun her around cleared all thoughts from her mind. Suddenly she was backed up against the wall of the hallway, looking up into a set of heavy-lidded eyes. She couldn’t tell if it was passion or anger staring back at her. There was such a fine line between the two emotions.
“I’m not shutting you out,” he claimed. Those powerful hands came up to frame her face. “Sophie threw me for a minute, that’s all. I just need to think some things through.”
No matter what headway she thought she was making with him, she kept finding herself slammed against the blocker he placed between them. Exhausted, Macy dropped her head back against the wall.
“You don’t owe me an explanation,” she murmured. “I just . . . I thought I could help.”
His thumb raked over her bottom lip. “You help, Macy. Just being here helps. I wasn’t looking for this and that’s what makes everything so damn difficult.”
She reached up, gripping his wrists as he held her face. “I wasn’t looking for this, either. But I want—”
“What?” he whispered as he stepped closer, lining their bodies up together. “You want this? I told you that I wasn’t going to be like other guys in your life, Macy.”
The warning of those words hit her hard. Liam wasn’t a man to just sit back and let her control every aspect of their intimacy. That ever-present fear coursed through her, and as much as she willed it away, she couldn’t just dismiss how she’d purposely kept herself protected.
“Liam, I can’t.”
His thumb slid over her bottom lip. “You trust me?”
Macy couldn’t look away from those eyes. How could one look make her feel so vulnerable, yet so protected at the same time? She knew in her heart he’d never physically hurt her, never force her. She’d given herself to him many times, but what he was asking was so far outside her comfort zone.
“I don’t trust myself.” How humiliating that was to admit aloud. “What if we get in there and I can’t stand it? What if I embarrass myself and you—”
His finger covered her lips. “And what if I get you in that bedroom, your bedroom, and you have an experience like nothing you’ve ever had before?”
Macy opened her mouth, but he kept his finger in place.
“And what if you stop questioning everything that scares you and let me show you that you’re worth so much more than a quickie in some random place.”
Liam removed his hand and brushed her lips with his. Those strong hands came to encircle her waist as his mouth traveled along her jawline and toward the sensitive part beneath her ear.
“Say the word, Macy, and I’ll make sure you’re never afraid again.”
How did he do that? How did he obliterate every single nightmare she’d held inside her for so long? There was something special about Liam, not that she needed this moment to prove her theory. But he wanted to crush that defense mechanism she held so firmly in place.
And to be honest, she wanted him to.
She’d never wanted to face her fears with another man, never gave it a second thought.
Clenching her fists at her side, she tipped her head to give him better access. “What if I can’t do it?” she asked.
Liam lifted his head, looked her dead in the eye. “Then we’ll stop. I meant it when I said you could trust me.”
Could she do this? Now? With Liam?
“Stop thinking of all the things that could go wrong,” he ordered. “Take what you want. Don’t let those bastards control you another second. They have no place coming between us.”
The way he used the word “us” clicked. Her heart turned over in her chest and Macy knew she’d been on this path for some time. Liam was the man she’d been waiting for to break this hold.
Macy looped her arms around Liam’s neck and held on tight. “Take me to bed.”
Chapter Sixteen
Liam lifted Macy in his arms. She hadn’t expected romance.
Resting her head against his shoulder, she kept her arms around his neck as he toed open her bedroom door and let himself inside. She didn’t have a clue if she had clothes everywhere or if her bed was made. Right now, she didn’t care. Her heart pounded hard in her chest, and her nerves swirled around in her stomach.
The glow from the hall light filtered in through the open door. Liam gently laid her on the bed, which had been made. He eased back, keeping his eyes on her as he yanked his shirt over his head and tossed it aside.
“You good?�
� he asked.
Macy nodded, trying to stay in this moment and not go backward. When he reached down to take her boots off, Macy cringed.
“It’s me, Macy.” He kept his eyes on hers the entire time. “Just you and me. Nothing else comes in this room.”
She nodded, knowing she came across as weak. She wanted to be strong for Liam, for them. The freedom he was offering by breaking her chains was the greatest gift. She needed to overcome all the doubts and fears in her mind because this man was absolutely everything to her.
Liam came around the side of the bed and grabbed her hands, pulling her to her feet.
“Let’s start here,” he told her. “We’ll work our way down.”
Macy nodded. “I’m s—”
“Don’t even apologize,” he scolded. “Do I look angry?”
No. If anything he looked like a man who was determined to make this moment all about her.
“Tell me what you want me to do or not do.”
Macy stilled. “Honestly, I don’t even know. I’ve never attempted this before. I mean, not in a . . . a bed.”
There was no room for humiliation, only honesty.
“Then you say the word if you feel afraid,” he told her. “I mean it.”
Nodding, Macy offered a smile. “I’m sure you’ll know if I start freaking out.”
“You won’t,” he assured her, sounding so confident in his answer. “I won’t let it get that far.”
Macy didn’t want this to simply be one sided. Drawing on the strength Liam exuded, Macy reached for the hem of her dress and pulled it up over her head. Tossing her hair out of her face, she met his gaze as the dress dropped silently by her bare feet. Standing only in her matching pink bra and panty set, she pulled in a deep breath. She could do this. She wanted to do this. All those years she’d commanded herself to remain in control—this was no different. Liam was giving her all of the power here, he was just guiding her with a dominant yet gentle way.
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