“Hi, Sweet Pea. How’s your Monday?”
I wrapped my arms around his neck, playing with the thick strands of his hair. “It got better.”
He chuckled. “I missed you.”
“Really? You hid it so well.”
“My bed is far too big without you in it. I barely slept last night.”
“Well, this one is never too big when you’re around.”
He laughed and sat up, looking at the clothing tossed around the room as if caught in a windstorm.
“Wow. I came at you, didn’t I?”
“Hmm, you did. I didn’t object, though.”
He pulled me to his lap, holding me close. “Should I apologize?”
“Nope.”
He lifted my chin and kissed me, his tongue stroking mine in long, sensuous passes. “You hungry?” he whispered, ghosting his hands along my sides, cupping my breasts, and rolling my nipples. Turning, I straddled his hips, draping my arms over his massive shoulders. He was obviously hungry again—and not for food.
“Soon,” I whispered, kissing my way down his neck. “Soon.”
Tuesday was much the same, although he showed some restraint since I was on a call when he arrived. He did pull his chair close, kissing his way up my arm and nuzzling at my neck, silently driving me wild until I was able to sign off and throw myself at him. We never made it to the bedroom that time.
Wednesday, he walked in, sitting beside me when he saw I was on the phone again. Hastily, I scribbled him a note before he got it in his mind to start kissing and caressing me.
Lucy home.
He frowned and mouthed the word Why?
Not feeling well, I wrote.
Then I indicated the headset.
Problem customer. Sorry.
I waited for the look of disappointment to cross his face. I figured knowing I couldn’t concentrate on him, he’d eat his lunch and leave to go back to work. But instead, I saw only concern. He stood and left the room, and I heard him mutter something about noticing Lucy didn’t eat as many tacos as usual the night before. Listening to him, I missed what the customer said and had to ask them to repeat themselves. I shut out everything else and focused on the task at hand. Finally, I was able to hang up, and I headed down the hall, wondering what was going on. Liam hadn’t reappeared. I stopped in the doorway of Lucy’s room, my heart speeding up at the sight before me. Liam was propped against Lucy’s headboard, his body too big for her bed. His feet hung off the end, and he filled the small mattress completely. She was asleep on his chest, her head resting against his shoulder. Mr. Teddy was tucked up with them, and Fluffy the unicorn shared the little space he had on the pillow. Liam stroked her back, rocking slightly as he hummed to her, his eyes shut, oblivious to my presence.
I had barely been able to get her to settle all morning. Her fever made her cranky, and she was restless. But in Liam’s arms, she rested, safe and secure.
He opened his eyes, smiling at me.
“She needed a snuggle,” he whispered.
“You’ve been ‘snuggling’ for over thirty minutes.”
He shrugged, careful not to disturb her. “I canceled everything this afternoon. I’ll stay with her so you can work.”
“You didn’t—”
He cut me off. “I wanted to.” He pressed a kiss to her hair. “I don’t like seeing her sick.”
“It’s a little bug. She’ll be fine. Kids get them.”
“I still don’t like it.”
I bent over, feeling her head. “She’s cooler.”
“I put a cold cloth on her head, and I got her to drink a little. She passed out after that.”
“You’re so good to us.”
He smiled. “You make that easy. Go eat your sandwich I brought, and I’ll be out in a while. I want to make sure she’s okay.”
I saw the sincerity in his eyes. Holding her, taking care of her wasn’t a burden. It never would be for him. He would never find caring for someone he loved a chore.
The last little piece of my doubt broke off and disappeared.
The next while, life had a new pattern. Most days, I saw Liam for lunch. It was, as he said, our time. We talked and laughed, and the more I got to know him, the more I fell. He was genuine. Honest. Completely forthright in his words and deeds. The evenings, the house was usually full. Ronan and Liam were often there. We’d take turns going out while the other couple stayed home with Evan and Lucy. We went out as a group together. Ronan and Liam loved to bowl, go to movies, and do all sorts of things we were never able to afford. Watching them be patient with Evan’s leg or Lucy’s arm as they showed them how to roll a ball in the bowling alley, or the treats they snuck to them at the movie theater made my heart warm. Weekends became the time we spent in Port Albany.
All too soon, school was out, and day care was done for Lucy. Beth and I had pooled our resources and found some day camps for each of them, but the rest of the time, they would be home. Once again, I assumed Liam would stop showing up for lunch when the kids were home, but as usual, he surprised me. Tuesday became his afternoon with them. He took them out, visiting parks, playgrounds, gardens, and arcades. The local swimming pool. When he could, Ronan joined him. My regard for them grew every passing week. My love for Liam deepened, strengthened, and I couldn’t imagine my life without him in it.
We sat on the steps, a rare day when the house was empty except for us. Beth and Ronan were in Port Albany. Both kids were with them—Lucy having one of her girls’ nights with Ava. I was pretty sure Cami would join them, maybe even Emmy and Dee. They were all incredibly fond of Lucy, who lapped up the attention. Liam had arranged for Ronan to bring Lucy back tomorrow night, and we were staying in Toronto. Although I would miss the interaction with the family, the thought of Liam to myself until tomorrow evening was too tempting to resist.
I sighed as I settled against his chest. I rested my arms on his strong thighs and enjoyed the unexpectedly cool air that followed the rain of the last couple of days. It was a nice change.
Liam stroked his fingers up and down my arms, his touch leaving a trail of warmth. I gripped his knees, my hands hardly fitting around the large muscles.
He sighed and bent low. “I want to show you something.”
I glanced up, seeing the nervous expression on his face.
“Okay.”
He took out his phone and scanned through it, holding it in front of us. I studied the picture, the familiarity of it striking me.
“That’s like that bed we saw at the auction.”
“It is. I bought it and had it made for Lucy. For her room in Port Albany.”
“You spoil her, Liam.” I took the phone, studying the image. “It’s so pretty, she’ll never want to leave.”
“That was part of my plan.”
I froze, my hand midair in the act of returning the phone to him. “Pardon me?”
He shifted so our eyes met. “I want Lucy in that room permanently. I want you there every day.” He sucked in a deep breath. “I want you to move in with me.”
I stared at him, part of me not surprised to hear the words, yet still shocked.