Through a Magnolia Filter

by Nan Dixon

  “My, my.” Bess waved her hand like a fan. Then her smile slipped from her face. “What happens when he heads back to Ireland?”

  Her sister’s words struck her heart. “I don’t know. I can’t see that far ahead.”

  Bess rubbed Dolley’s back, soothing the tension there. “That’s...hard. Don’t let him hurt you.”

  Liam came back with their drinks. “Where’s Daniel?”

  Bess took one of the flutes from him. “He’s picking up his parents.”

  “I took some pictures of the Forester family they might like.” Liam tipped his coffee mug to their glasses.

  “I know they would love copies.” Bess sighed. “Thank you.”

  “Samuel looked stronger than at Christmas.” Dolley leaned into Liam, just because she could.

  “They lowered his chemo dosage for the wedding,” Bess said.

  While they chatted, people flowed into the room in a steady stream. Even now they formed clumps of Boston society—Gray’s guests in one corner and Abby’s in the other.

  When Mamma and Martin arrived, they circulated through the groups. Dolley was content to stay with Liam. For once she didn’t want to flit from group to group.

  Abby and Gray made an entrance, and everyone applauded. Then the servers laid out the buffet.

  “I can’t believe I’m hungry after eating steady for a week.” Dolley took a place in line.

  “Maybe it was last night,” Liam breathed in her ear.

  She turned and grinned up at him.

  Courtney stared at her from the back of the line. Her face was screwed up like she’d just swallowed a basket of lemons.

  Who cared? Courtney would go back to Boston. Dolley would only have to put up with her presence occasionally.

  “This all looks wonderful.” Liam handed her a plate. “Abby didn’t make this, did she?”

  Dolley glanced over at her sister. “She’s a control freak, but last night’s caterers did the food today.”

  She added egg strata to her plate along with fruit.

  He leaned over. “You might need more fortification than that, luv.”

  His whisper stole her breath.

  “I will?” she choked out.

  His eyes twinkled. “I thought we’d start working on your sister’s wedding pictures this afternoon.”

  “Oh.” Her sigh had a curl fluttering around her face.

  “Why, Miss Dolley, what did you think I was implying?” he asked.

  She flounced to an empty table, looking over her shoulder with a smile, and said, “Not that.”

  Liam chuckled. His laughter was a gift. He set his plate down. “Do you want coffee or tea?”

  She couldn’t help grinning. No one had ever cared for her the way Liam did. “Coffee, please.”

  He brushed a kiss on her forehead. “Be right back.”

  She watched him walk away, almost pinching herself. Liam Delaney had picked her.

  “What is it with you and your sisters?”

  Dolley turned. Courtney stood next to the table with her plate of food.

  “What do you mean?” Dolley asked.

  Courtney jerked her head at her brother. “Your sister seduced my brother, and he invests millions in your family business.”

  Dolley’s mouth dropped open. She snapped it shut with a click. “He gave us a loan.”

  Courtney waved her statement away. “And now you’re seducing this Irishman, so you can learn the art of photography?”

  “What? No!” She pushed up from the table but kept her voice down. “You have a twisted mind.”

  “Right.” Courtney drew out the word, making it sound ugly.

  “Is that how people in Boston treat each other?” Dolley snapped out.

  “It’s what you Fitzgeralds do. Use men to get what you need. Even Bess is hooking up with a hot contractor, and he’s the one working on the house that my brother bought.” Courtney shook her head. “Why can’t guys see through women like you and your sisters?”

  “You...you...you’re so wrong.” Why couldn’t she think of better words to defend her family?

  Courtney shook back her dark curls. “Everyone’s saying it.” She moved to the table where her family sat.

  Dolley slumped into her chair. Everyone?

  It felt like a thousand eyes drilled into her back.

  She should have been able to eviscerate the Boston Bitch. Why couldn’t Gray’s own sister see how in love Abby and Gray were? And Courtney had no idea the heartbreak Bess and Daniel had overcome.

  Liam set a mug of coffee next to her plate.

  “Thanks,” she mumbled.

  “What’s wrong?” He touched her shoulder.

  She chewed her lip. “Courtney was spreading her poison.”

  “Don’t let her ruin this wonderful day and meal.” He dug into his food.

  She picked up her fork and started to eat, but everything had lost its taste.

  Was she using Liam? Had she allowed their relationship to progress because he’d been so angry after Anne had made her sound like a mercenary?

  Her stomach rolled. Was she just as bad as the men in her life who’d used her?

  Courtney had jumped to that conclusion. Would everyone in the photography world assume she’d slept with Liam just to get ahead?

  “This is delicious.” Liam held up his fork. “Try it.”

  She opened her mouth and let him feed her a bite of French toast, giving him an unenthusiastic “Mmm.”

  The sparkle had gone off her day. Maybe it would be better to call it quits with Liam. Then she might salvage some professionalism.

  Liam squeezed her leg. “I’ve got this weird sensation in my chest.”

  She grasped his hand. “Are you okay?”

  “It’s happiness.” He touched her face.

  Her breath whooshed out. How could she break up with him? “You make me happy, too. Thank you.”

  “No.” He stroked her cheek. “Thank you.”

  But Courtney’s ugliness hung like a cloud over her happiness.

  * * *

  “BARBARA, HOW’S IT GOING?” Liam put his mobile on speaker.

  “You sound...chipper. Is something wrong?”

  He laughed. “Everything’s splendid.”

  “Who is this, and what have you done with Liam Delaney?”

  “Har-har.” But energy flowed through his body. He was alive for the first time in his life.

  Last night had been incredible. He couldn’t wait for a repeat. Although he’d hoped Dolley would have worked with him this afternoon, she’d begged off. Pity. He needed to work, but he also wanted to spend more time with her.

  He pushed away from the attic table and paced to the center of the floor.

  “Tell me more about your new premise idea,” his producer said.

  “You didn’t really call me on a Sunday to ask, did you?”

  “Maybe.”

  “The Fitzgerald helped a lot of Irish immigrants. I’ve interviewed a few of the descendants. Thought I would start the film with the general Irish migration, then talk about what the immigrants did in the south, the way they celebrate, and zero in on how James Fitzgerald and his son, Michael, helped their countrymen succeed. I’ll tie everything back to the families that remained in Ireland.”

  “And you’ve found enough descendants to keep the film interesting?” she asked.

  “Yes. Dolley even found a letter from the Irish FitzGeralds asking James to help immigrants from Clare.” It had been a great find.

  He heard Barbara’s fingernails tap on her desk. “I’m still thinking about this change.”

  He swallowed. He hoped Barb wasn’t going to make a liar out of him. He needed this new st
ory line to work. “We found more letters between the Irish and American Fitzgeralds.”

  “And the Fitzgeralds have signed all the releases?”

  “Yes. I interviewed them last week.”

  “Good.” There was more tapping. “I think I’ll come down with the crew.”

  “It would be great to see you.” She hadn’t come on location in years. Was she checking up on him? “Do you want me to make a reservation?”

  “You read my mind.”

  Liam got the specifics. “I’ll let you know if they’re full.”

  “I’ve one more request. We need to get a website up for this film. I should have started this a while back, but the designer quit.”

  Liam sat up. “Dolley’s a website designer.”

  “The woman who works with you also designs websites?” Glee filled her voice.

  “And does them well from what I’ve seen.”

  “I don’t suppose she’d consider designing a website under our current agreement.”

  “Barbara,” he admonished.

  “It would keep the budget in line.”

  “She’s talented.” And gorgeous and sexy. “Why don’t I show her what’s been done for prior films and see if she has any ideas. Then you can meet when you’re down here.”

  “Excellent.”

  The chair squeaked as he leaned back. Dolley needed help with a job, and he wanted to spend even more time with her. That was a win for him.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Every picture tells a story.

  Proverb

  DOLLEY PAUSED AT the bottom of the attic stairs, gripping the railing like it was the only thing between her and a hundred-foot fall.

  Liam was up there. Waiting.

  After the wedding brunch, she’d pleaded exhaustion. He called last night wishing her a good night’s sleep. She’d almost raced across the courtyard to be with him.

  Courtney’s accusations had stopped her.

  She’d stayed awake half the night debating whether she should give up her apprenticeship. Her fists clenched. Give up Liam.

  If she gave everything up, she’d have to go back and work for Jackson. The idea of a lifetime designing other people’s websites...sucked. She wanted a career. She wanted to work with Liam. She wanted Liam.

  But was she using him? Her head ached.

  Taking a breath, she headed up the steep stairs.

  Liam waited at the top, grinning. “I missed you last night.” He pulled her computer bag from her shoulder and set it on the floor.

  She couldn’t lie. “I missed you, too.”

  He laced their fingers together, reeled her close and kissed her.

  Coffee, mint, Liam and passion. She clutched his shoulders, her legs weak from his kiss.

  He pulled her into a hug and sighed. “Let’s get to work.”

  She took a deep breath and locked her knees. She couldn’t lose this, lose him.

  “I loaded the files into the work area you set up.” He stroked her back. “Get to work.”

  “Slave driver.” Dolley grinned.

  She went through the steps they’d perfected working on Lisa’s wedding pictures. Copy the file so she didn’t destroy an original. Open it. Delete if no good. Enhance if necessary. Save.

  It could have been monotonous. But she was working in the field she wanted to make her career. And seeing her sister’s wedding pictures, having a hand in making them the best they could be, had her body relaxing.

  “I love this one,” she said to Liam.

  Gray and Abby were sitting, her head on his shoulder. Gray grinned down at her. Abby smiled up at him. Their feet were propped on a spare chair, and Abby was barefoot.

  “I had an idea on how to change that up.” He started to take over her computer but stopped. “Try going to black and white.”

  She made the change.

  “Add back their eye color.”

  He’d worked with her on this with Lisa’s pictures. She made the changes. In the shades of gray, Abby’s green eyes and Gray’s bright blue popped.

  He leaned closer. “Now her lips.”

  She did. Then did the same with Abby’s bright pink toenails.

  “I love it!” She turned to look at Liam and barely missed bashing his nose.

  His breath heaved out, fluttering her curls. His stunning blue eyes stared into hers.

  “Dolley?” His gaze dropped to her lips.

  Longing flooded through her like a crashing wave.

  She closed the distance between their mouths, slipping her tongue between his lips. And the world narrowed to only him.

  He pulled her so she straddled his lap and trailed fiery kisses from her chin to her ear and down to her collarbone.

  Her hips rolled, settling onto the thick ridge forming under her. When he merged their mouths together, her fingers furrowed through his hair.

  Breaking away, he buried his face between her breasts. “We’re supposed to be working,” he gasped.

  “Mmm-hmm.” How could she ever think about giving him up? She combusted each time they touched.

  “Don’t suppose you want to head down to my room?” he asked.

  More than she wanted to breathe. “As tempting as that sounds, I suppose we should keep working.”

  “You Americans. You don’t know how to enjoy life.”

  This from the man who rarely smiled? Although, he had been smiling all morning.

  He set her back on her chair. And brushed a kiss on her lips.

  She ran her fingernail down his nose. “Have any plans tonight?”

  “I hope so.” A grin made his eyes glitter.

  She kissed him again. Because she could. “Let’s get to work.”

  They turned to their computers. “Speaking of work, are you interested in designing the website for the documentary?”

  Her body stilled. “A website?”

  “My producer is looking for a new designer. I thought of you.”

  Of course. No one thought of her as a photographer. Not even Liam, apparently. “What are you looking for?” she choked out.

  “I’ll shoot you addresses of some of the previous work. They’re not especially creative. I know you can impress Barbara. You’re so talented.”

  His compliment sounded...canned.

  But she needed the money. Masking her hurt, she said, “I’ll take a look.”

  “You have access to all my photos, so I won’t have to sort through anything. I’ll give you clips, too. And Barbara’s coming next week so you can show her your ideas and negotiate a hefty payment.”

  “Sure.” Her throat tightened.

  Liam had everything lined up, didn’t he? How long had he been planning this? Since he found out she was a website designer? She’d trusted him and instead of considering her for a photography gig, he’d gotten her a design job.

  She closed her eyes and let out a sigh. Who was using whom in this relationship?

  * * *

  DOLLEY CHECKED THE TIME. “I’m heading to Carleton House.”

  Abby smiled. “Have fun.”

  “Would you turn off the beaming smile, already? You’re blinding me.”

  Abby was back from her week-long mini-honeymoon. She and Gray planned a longer honeymoon in late April after the craziness of St. Patrick’s Day.

  “I can’t help it.” Abby threw out her arms and did a little spin. “I’m so happy!”

  “I have no clue who you are.” Dolley added a splash of milk to her tea and headed to the door. “First you come home with a tan—a tan! We’re redheads. Now you’re spinning in the kitchen.”

  Abby did another pirouette. “I married the man of my dreams, Carleton House is open.” Her grin brighten
ed. “And Gray is making tentative plans to convert the carriage house into my restaurant.”

  Dolley jerked on her coat. “That must have been some honeymoon. He wants to fund the restaurant?” What would Gray’s sister say about that? “I thought it was weird having guests move between the two houses.”

  “It’s so great! At breakfast this morning, people shared tables, and based on the laughter, they liked it. Two couples decided to visit Tybee together. Who knows, we may be creating lifetime friendships in our B and B.”

  Their B and B affected people’s lives. Dolley wanted the guests’ visits to run smoothly. She did her best to handle the registration system, Wi-Fi, room electronics, business center and now the gift shop.

  Abby filled the guests with fabulous food. Bess wowed them with the beauty of her gardens, plants, flowers and orchids that decorated the two houses.

  She’d always thought her sisters made the bigger contributions, but maybe it was the package. Maybe she was a key contributor, too.

  “I think you’re crazy. But a good crazy.” She gave Abby a hug. “See you later. I need to get to this meeting.”

  She was nervous about meeting Liam’s crew and producer. Whenever he talked about Barbara, respect filled his voice.

  She swiped her card over the reader and entered the Carleton House kitchen. A massive coffeemaker filled one counter.

  They’d really done it. They’d converted another mansion into a B and B.

  “Hello,” a young woman called, grabbing a coffee mug. “You’re Dolley, right?”

  “I am.” She’d checked in the newlyweds. “Melanie?”

  “Yes.” The bride smiled.

  “How’s your stay?”

  “Awesome. I wish we could be here another week.”

  “I can arrange that for you,” Dolley offered with a grin.

  “Oh, I wish. We both have to go back to work.” She heaved out an exaggerated sigh. “See you later.”

  Dolley headed to the dining room, where Liam and his team had begun meeting yesterday. The production company was based in New York, but Liam’s team was international. One woman was from Sweden and the rest from all over the States. And of course Liam was from Ireland.

  She’d barely left Chatham County.

  At the door she drew in a deep breath and knocked.