It was as if Liam read her mind as usual. They were so in sync. “You and me both.”
Her phone buzzed. Zach, he’d be calling from London. She should answer, but she didn’t want to. She needed to live in the moment, and the moment was here and now.
Dinner was really nice, and the food they made was amazing. “You did a great job, Liam.”
“I think we all know who did most of the work.” He tipped his head toward her mom. “But I was more than happy to help. My cooking skills can definitely use some improvement, that’s for sure.”
“Well, now that you’re living together, Georgie can help you with that. Right, honey?”
“Sure.”
“I don’t think Georgie has time for that right now.” He turned his gaze to her. “Are you really taking on another project?”
“Let’s not talk about that now. I have tomorrow off, Mom, how about a mother-daughter shopping trip?”
“What about Liam?”
“I’m sure Liam can keep himself busy for a few hours, and maybe we can all meet for tea at the Plaza.”
Liam was looking at her funny, like he knew she was trying to get rid of him, but she did want alone time with her mom, and she also needed time away from Liam if she was going to keep her feelings in check.
“Well, I do like tea and shopping,” her mother said, sliding the gnocchi onto the plate. “And we haven’t had a girls’ day in ages because someone is always too busy.”
“It’s settled, then.” Georgie let out a sigh of relief. “You cool with that, Liam?”
“Of course, I am. Now let’s eat, all this cooking is making me hungry.”
LIAM WAS NO FOOL. He understood Georgie wanted some one-on-one mother-daughter time, but he also knew he was still being avoided. Their dinner Friday night had been amazing, but yesterday even before her meetings, she’d been busy being busy so as not to be near him, and today’s plan was as much as getting rid of him as the time with her mother.
This was a problem in so much as he wanted to be near her and he certainly didn’t want Zach, who was now upping his game, winning the girl. Zach had sent flowers this morning. It was a nice touch, and she did deserve flowers.
“So you’ve got some competition,” Connie said, eyeing him over her coffee cup as Georgie went to find water for the flowers.
“I don’t know what you mean,” he said, his voice neutral.
“Now, Liam, we both know that’s not true. You’ve had eyes for my Georgie since you two were just kids, and even if she can’t or won’t see it, I certainly can.”
He’d always suspected that Connie had known that, but it was the first time she’d come out and said it to him. He’d never known if that was out of respect for him or because she wanted him to stay away from Georgie romantically.
“Oh yeah, what do you think you see?”
“Liam, Liam, Liam.” She shook her head as if he were only fooling himself when at this point he had a feeling maybe Georgie was the only one he was fooling, or maybe she wasn’t fooled and she really wasn’t interested and he didn’t want to go there. “You think I don’t see how you’ve helped and protected and, yes, pushed her all these years. I know when her father got sick and we were down on our luck you thought our family was heading the way of yours . . .”
“Abject misery,” he added.
The older woman sighed. “Yes, and I know you figured out we couldn’t afford singing lessons much less college, so you took her off to that audition and pushed her to go away, even if it broke your heart. I see how you’ve spent every day since making yourself over into this slick and fancy guy so you’d be worthy of her, and I see how you’ve been heartbroken every time she’d dated someone else.”
“Oh yeah?” The woman had pretty much nailed his whole life in a couple of sentences.
“Oh yeah, and I see that living here together is your idea of a masterstroke, but it will only work if you convince her that you’re the guy for her.”
“Anything else, Connie?” he asked on a smile.
“I think that covers it.” She thought for a minute. “Actually, no, get on with it. I want grandchildren.”
Now he didn’t just smile, he laughed. Okay, so Connie was in his corner. That was good. Grandchildren, that was another sticking point. He’d always been certain he didn’t want a family, and he knew Georgie believed he still felt that way, but he did want those things, but only if he could have them with her. It was Georgie or nothing.
“Thanks, I’ll take all that under advisement. Unfortunately, right now your overworked go-getter of a daughter is completely convinced she doesn’t have time for a man in her life, so I’m just waiting until she figures out the other guys are, as she imagines, way too much work and I’m over here as Mr. Low Maintenance and Helpful.”
“So basically until she figures out she already has a man in her life?”
“Yep.”
“It’s an imperfect plan, honey,” she said on a sigh. “But I’ll try and help however I can.”
Tapioca came up and rubbed against his thigh. “Hey, girl, if only your mama was as affectionate as you are.”
“Yeah, well, Tapioca’s daddy didn’t die and leave her mama high and dry, and her boyfriend didn’t humiliate her in the tabloids after, so Tapioca’s an easy get. My baby is a bit more hard work.”
“Yeah, well as you know, Connie, hard work is one thing I’ve never been afraid of, so I have that going for me.”
She stood and walked past him, squeezing his shoulder before leaning in to kiss his cheek. “You have a lot more than that going for you, honey, and you always have, don’t you ever forget it.”
Liam didn’t necessarily agree with her, but she was sweet to say so and he had to hope she was right because if his plan backfired, he could lose Georgie for good. He didn’t have any idea how he would handle that.
GEORGIE and her mother were laden with bags as they made their way along the street toward the Plaza. Her feet were tired, so they would be early. They only had a table at all because she knew one of the chefs, and there was no way she would be able to get them in ahead of time, so they were going to go sit in Central Park for a short while and soak up the atmosphere.
They found a bench and both sank down onto the hard seat.
“We’ve shopped ‘til we dropped.” Her mother laughed. It was good to see. She was not by nature an unhappy woman, but she’d been Georgie’s father’s carer for a few tough years and money had been tight. During that time, despite her best efforts, her face had been tight and drawn. This mom was the one Georgie remembered from before that time. At least Georgie had those memories, unlike Liam.
“So, Liam’s mom isn’t making any progress?”
“That woman is not going to leave that trailer for love nor money.”
“We know this because Liam has both and he can’t move her,” I agreed.
“The agoraphobia went untreated for so long I’m just not sure anyone can make any headway, but she’s got health issues and she really needs a doctor.” Her mom sighed as she removed her sandal and gave her foot a good rub. “I’ve tried talking to her and to have the medical staff who come to see her, but truly, I don’t know if anyone is having any impact.”
“Poor Liam.” Somehow the happy glow of the day was diminished. No wonder Liam flat-out refused to discuss his mother. Georgie also knew her issues were part of the reason he had trouble sustaining relationships. He was embarrassed by his mother, but her inability to move had made him feel like he wasn’t enough. “He can’t make her leave.”
Connie looked away. “Well, he can, legally, he has the right, but I don’t think he will.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Well, honey, she may be flawed but she’s his mother. Moving her will be so painful for her, I’m not sure he can bring himself to do that to her.”
Her heart broke for him. “It’s not fair.”
“No one ever said life was. That man needs you now. You need to gi
ve him some of your precious attention for a change. The time has come.”
Georgie blinked at her. Shocked. “Are you saying I’m a bad friend?”
“I’m saying he’s always taken care of you, baby. You have everything you could ever need or want, and a good part of that is him.” She held her hand up to stop her because it was plain Georgie had a thing or two to say on that. “Nobody, least of all me, is saying you haven’t worked hard, but he’s pushed you and supported you all the way. It’s time to give back. He’s got some really hard decisions to make, and he’s going to need you by his side as he makes them.”
As Georgie took that in, the fact that she’d taken more than she’d given and that she hadn’t been as supportive to Liam as she could have been, he walked toward them. He wore chinos and a sport coat and a crisp white shirt. Georgie remembered him climbing off the Greyhound bus in LA after an overnight journey just to see her, or at an airport that she was flying through or him listening to her on the phone for hours after her breakup.
Georgie’s mother was right, he’d been with her through thick and thin and now it was her turn to step up.
He lifted his hand in a wave, and a smile lit his handsome face. In order to keep her feelings at bay, she’d kept him at a distance, even though he was her closest friend and there were times he needed her. His most recent breakup was case in point or his move to New York. Those were big things he’d been going through, and she didn’t even know about them except by chance.
There were no more excuses. Georgie was going to have to be brave and pull Liam closer even if her own heart got bruised in the process because Liam Stone needed her, and her mother was right. There was no one else but her who could be there for him.
CHAPTER 9
L iam was seriously regretting his plan because he’d just watched Georgie head out on a date with Zach. Still, he knew she’d skipped a few calls from him and that was a good sign. Alvaro didn’t seem to be losing interest either, if his attitude during the filming at the house the day before had been anything to go by.
He couldn’t be sure if Alvaro grew more persistent just when Liam was on set or if it was the norm, but he definitely looked put out when Georgie and Marnie were discussing the fact that Georgie had a date. Liam knew how he felt, but he wasn’t going to let Georgie see that, that was not part of the plan.
Marnie was still there getting her stuff together.
“You want a drink, Marnie?” She raised her eyebrows at him. “As friends, dude.”
“Okay, you didn’t need to add the dude by the way. But sure, as friends.” She sat on the barstool across the island from him. “You like this Zach character?”
“Georgie seems to,” he said, trying to keep his tone even, pouring her a glass of wine. Marnie was not a secret keeper whatever Liam said to her was going straight to Georgie.
“Funny how all of a sudden you show up and all the guys start flocking.”
“It never rains, it pours.” I shrugged.
“Yeah, that guy Neil you brought to the party called her.”
“Neil my accountant?” Okay, now that was a surprise.
She nodded. “He thinks they have good energy together.”
“He said that?” She nodded and smirked into her drink. “Don’t tell me that. I just lost all respect for the guy.”
“Yeah, well, he gets props for making the call, not hanging back and missing his chance.”
“He does.” Liam wasn’t taking the bait. He thought he needed to change the topic. “You and Mal looked cozy at the party.”
She laughed. “We’re not talking about me. Are you really okay with the new dating regime she has going?”
Liam wondered if Marnie could see how he felt, why couldn’t Georgie? “Sure, it’s what she wants.”
“Is it, Liam, or is it just what she thinks she wants?”
“Do you have to be cryptic, Marnie?”
She shook her head as if she was just tolerating his mere existence. “What if she thinks she can’t have what she actually wants? That’s all I’m saying.”
“And why would she think that, keeping in mind I am not entirely sure what it is you think she wants.”
“Well, if she wants, say you, for example, she would be under the impression that would stop her from having other things she wants.”
“I don’t follow.”
“You’ll figure it out, meanwhile you get to watch her date the Alvaros, the Zachs, and the Neils of the world.” She polished off her drink and stood to go.
Why had Liam thought hanging out with Marnie would be a good idea? He was more confused than ever.
TONIGHT GEORGIE WAS HAVING dinner with Neil, and last night she’d dined with Zach. She wasn’t even sure why she’d agreed to this dinner. She thought perhaps that she was so surprised Neil had called she’d been unprepared with a polite reason to say no. He was a friend and work associate of Liam’s, so she couldn’t be rude and she also figured he’d be a decent enough guy.
There was nothing wrong with Neil per se, apart from the fact that he wasn’t Liam. Even Zach who she’d now been on three dates with was a great guy, and she should be wanting to take it to the next level with him, but she wasn’t. There was something about him that just wasn’t clicking. Maybe it was that he seemed to go through the motions of asking about her life and listening to her stories rather than really listening. It felt like she kept telling him the same basic information again and again.
Last night he’d been annoyed she’d been a few minutes late after a shoot. She’d politely explained that just like a plane might get rediverted due to bad weather, if, as had happened yesterday, two bike couriers had an altercation outside the house and they could be heard yelling in the background, you had to start the shoot again, and if you had already cooked something, you had to start from scratch. He nodded and looked contrite, but she couldn’t get past the feeling he didn’t take what she did seriously.
Also, while they’d struggled to make a date to meet, somehow he expected her to be available when he was home. They both traveled for work. This was the twenty-first century, and she had a career, one she was not prepared to sacrifice for Zach after a few dinners.
Neil, on the other hand, was clearly a fan.
“I have all your albums,” he’d told her earlier. “And of course I watched the show.”
Great. “Well, you do know I’m not really like my character. She, after all, is an imaginary teenager.”
“Yes, and you are a very real woman.” He drew out the word real in a kind of creepy way. Georgie took a sip of her seltzer and grabbed a menu. The sooner she ordered, the sooner they’d be done. The restaurant was a pizza joint, and while it was not horrible, it wasn’t a very inspired choice, especially when Neil announced he was gluten and dairy intolerant.
“Ah, Neil, why choose this place, then?”
It turned out they were clients and the meal was free.
There were so many strikes against Neil it reminded her why she’d joined the No Brides Club in the first place.
She was very happy to walk out the front door of the restaurant and leap straight into a cab and home. She expected to find Liam there. She wouldn’t mind a glass of wine and a debrief, but the house was in darkness when she got there and only Tapioca was there to greet her.
She checked her phone and saw a text. Liam had been sent to LA for a couple of days.
“Just you and me. Tappy,” she said as she cradled her dog in her arms. Funny how she’d lived alone and happily for years but suddenly Liam’s absence was palpable. They hadn’t even lived together a month, and yet it felt so natural to her, she couldn’t imagine living alone again, or with anyone but the man whose scent seemed to waft out of the sofa as she sat down on it.
“What am I going to do, girl?” she asked the dog. “I can’t date Liam, but I don’t want to live without him either.”
The dog gave her a small lick. She missed him too, no doubt.
CHAPTER 10
L iam walked in the front door and was pleased to be back in the sanctuary of his home. He pulled loose the tie that had been choking him for the last hour of meetings. This particular meeting somehow ended with him agreeing to attend some swanky fundraiser with one of Mal’s prep school friends who reminded him way too much of his most recent ex, and not in a good way. Not only was she rail thin and clearly fixated on her appearance, if the number of times he caught her glancing at her refection was any guide, but she was also the daughter of a client.
This was not a win-win for Liam.
Georgie, for once, was at home on the couch working on her laptop. Between her dating, his trip to LA, and her brief trip to New Orleans, they’d been ships passing and he’d missed her, which was why being roped in last minute to attend this gala tonight was particularly galling.
Her face lit with a wide smile when she saw him. “Hey, handsome stranger.”
He smiled back at her, collapsing on the unoccupied end of the couch and bracing himself for Tapioca’s imminent arrival on his lap, which happened exactly as anticipated. He rubbed her tummy. “Hey yourself. For people living together, we sure don’t live in each other’s pockets.”
“Or each other’s time zones. I thought those days were behind us, but I guess I was wrong.”
He raked a hand through his hair, the one that wasn’t focused on the dog. “It’s crazy.”
“You want to get takeout tonight, or I could make us something?”
She looked so hopeful, and there was nothing Liam would have liked more than some of her home cooking. He shook his head. “I have a date.”
“You have a date?” She repeated it as if it were a foreign concept.
“Yes, I’m not as hideous to others as I am to you.”
She kicked him with her foot. “They don’t know you like I do. Seriously, I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.”
He was going to correct her, but then it occurred to him that maybe she was a tiny bit jealous and that might work to his advantage. “It’s new. I met her through work and this gala is tonight.”
No Time for Temptation (The No Brides Club Book 4) Page 9
