Page 62 of Burned By the Broken Doctor

I know better than to get my hopes up.

20

EMMA

The rhythmic hum of the engine fills the car, a steady thrumming counterpoint to the jumbled mess of thoughts swirling in my head.

Liam’s full concentration is on the road as he drives us to the next town for the cake tasting appointment. I can't help but steal glances at him as he drives. His side profile is all strong jawline and focused eyes, effortlessly handsome. It’s like looking at someone carved out of my dreams.

The memory of this morning makes me smile—meeting his dad, sharing breakfast together. It felt so natural, like we were a real couple. But I know better. Liam Miller is never one to commit. I know it firsthand from our first meeting.

Liam glances over at me. “What are you thinking about?” His voice breaks through my thoughts.

I glance over at him, shaking my head slightly. “Nothing.”

He looks at me skeptically for a moment, then turns his attention back to the road. “Hope you aren’t feeling uncomfortable about this morning with my dad?”

I chuckle softly. “Honestly, it was more comfortable being with your dad than with you.”

Liam laughs, a genuine sound that warms my heart. “Touché.”

I toy with a loose strand of hair, avoiding his gaze. If he knew what was going on in my head, I doubt he’d be this comfortable around me.

The way his dad accepted me so easily this morning was surprising yet comforting. These are the moments I’ve always dreamt about—dating a man, meeting his family, sharing meals together, getting to know one another.

Liam fits the image perfectly on the surface. Devilishly handsome, with a career that commands respect, his charm is undeniable. He can make my stomach erupt in a frenzy of butterflies and ignite a fire in my core with a single touch. But beneath that alluring facade lurks a truth I can't ignore—commitment is the last thing Liam Miller seems to want.

He raises an eyebrow, a playful challenge in his eyes. “So, you’re that impressed by him?”

I sigh. “Maybe a little,” I admit, hesitantly meeting his gaze. “Your dad being…so cool this morning… It was all a bit unexpected.”

“Yeah,” he says, a wry chuckle escaping his lips. “Dad has a talent for doing that.”

We share a moment of laughter, and he corroborates my thoughts. “He's always been like that. The embarrassing dad at school plays, the one who volunteered to chaperone field trips even when none of the other parents wanted to. He was the one who picked me up from school, showed up at parent-teacher meetings, and took me and my friends out most times.”

“He sounds…awesome,” I mumble with a smile.

Liam nods. “My childhood friends used to tell me how cool my dad was. For a couple of years in high school, I wasn’t sure if he was really cool or just embarrassing, to be honest.”

“Aren’t we all embarrassed about our folks at that point in our lives?”

“Yeah,” he nods. “I learned quicker than others that I love the things he did when he wasn’t there to do them anymore.”

He falls silent for a moment, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. I can hear the underlying sadness in his voice.

“Must have been tough when he left,” I say gently.

Liam shrugs, his expression unreadable as he chuckles, but there's no humor in it. “I managed well without him, I think.”

The words hang heavy between us, a stark contrast to the playful banter just moments before. I'm not sure if he wants to delve deeper, so I nod, deciding not to probe further.

The silence stretches for a few minutes, thick with unspoken works as I stare at him. Then, to my surprise, a crack appears in his carefully constructed mask.

“Actually,” he starts, his voice barely a whisper, “I missed him. A lot.”

My heart aches for him. The tough, arrogant exterior he presents to the world seems to crumble at the edges for the first time around me, revealing a vulnerable core I hadn't expected.

Just as I'm about to reach out, wanting to offer some form of comfort, the navigator’s voice announces that we've arrived. The car slows to a stop in front of the lavish bakery with its windows adorned with colorful frosting swirls and gingerbread men.

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