Page 72 of Meet Me at the Grand

“I’ve often wondered.”

“Whatever the case, you’ve done an amazing job fulfilling her wishes. Though I don’t think your mom meant for you to carry so much.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just that she never meant for you to become responsible for your dad and his health and his choices. Do you even want to be CEO?”

“Not especially.”

“You’d rather stick with the architecture, being on site, right? I see how you come alive when you’re working on your plans. And yet, you’re planning to give that up so your dad can feel okay about retiring.”

“I don’t think he’ll retire with anyone else at the helm. It has to be me.”

“But would your dad want you to give up your dreams for his sake?” She said the words gently, because she didn’t want him to think she was judging him. Just that she wanted to help.

“That’s what you do for family.” He studied her then lifted a hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. The motion surprised her, but she welcomed his touch. “Isn’t that what you’re doing here with the hotel?”

“Regardless of my reasons, it’s literally my job to restore the hotel, to rebuild the economy.” Dani’s hands fell from her knees, and she sat cross-legged, leaning forward, intent. “And there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing.”

“You sure about that? Because, so long as we are lobbing truth bombs, you could have any job in the world. For someone who loves the Travel Channel so much, you haven’t really gone anywhere.” His words sliced, though the tone with which he said them offered a healing balm. “I know you love it here and love your job, but how much of that is wrapped up in this hope that doing that job will bring your family back?”

“To be honest? I don’t know. Maybe…maybe more than I want to admit.” Dani looked away. “Thankfully, I think with our plan, we have an amazing shot at that happening. If we can just get the proposal right. Get the council to agree.”

“We are definitely going to give it our best shot. But Dani, you’re banking everything on them coming back. Your happiness most of all. And what happens if they don’t?”

“You’re not the first person to ask me that.” Something in her heart throbbed at the thought. “And my answer hasn’t changed. I’m not sure.”

“Would you…” Liam cleared his throat, and that brought her attention back to his face. Reaching out a hand, his thumb traced her jaw all the way to her ear lobe. What was happening? This was not a friendly touch. It was more.

And she should move away for both of their sakes, but she was caught, completely derailed, with no desire to move away. “Would I what?”

“If your family didn’t come back, would you ever consider leaving the island?”

Why was he asking her? Oh. His eyes held a desire that reached inside, took hold. Oh.

“Oh, Liam, I don’t know. I’ve honestly been holding so tightly to this dream that I haven’t allowed myself to consider another possibility. But…” Was he saying what she thought he was? “I…”

“Okay, how about this.” Bringing his face closer to hers, Liam touched the tip of his nose to her own. “What if I told you I was thinking of staying past Thursday?”

Be still her heart. “For how long?”

“Well, I have to go back to pitch the Bertram project to my dad along with my coworker, Travis. But Dad said I don’t have any other projects scheduled for the next month. So I could stay through the weekend for sure and then maybe come back after that for a bit? I’m not positive. I only know I’m not ready to leave you. Dani, I…”

“Liam,” she breathed. “Are you serious right now?”

“More serious than I’ve ever been. So. What do you think? Are you willing to try with me?”

In reply, Dani closed the gap between their lips and kissed him. And this was no ghost of a kiss. At first, it was sweet, tentative. She wound her hands up and around his neck, running her fingers along his hairline. One of his hands fell to her waist, and he tugged her closer. The other plunged into her hair as he deepened the kiss.

She sighed at the taste of cocoa on his lips, at the sweetness of Liam, at the kisses he feathered along her cheeks and jaw. How had she gone her entire life without ever feeling so cherished? Liam was…well, maybe he wasn’t as big-city as she thought. Maybe deep inside he was small-town too, and maybe he’d awakened more in her also. A bigger life. Or maybe it was just that with him she was more courageous, more willing to see a different tomorrow.

So she leaned into the kiss, and with it, awakened something in him. He seemed to groan, deep inside, and deepened his kiss and no longer was he touching her with the same care he’d give a glass ornament, but breaking her apart with his kiss.

Breaking, and remaking, and suddenly she saw herself as more.

The person free of the haunting of her past.

Finally, he pulled back, both of them out of breath. He set his forehead against Dani’s, and for a moment, neither spoke. Then, his lips lifted into a grin. “So I guess the feeling’s mutual, huh?”

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