Page 37 of Look My Way
“Sometimes I forget I have them on or do a last-minute job on my day off, and I don’t have time to go home to change them.”
“Keep work boots in your truck, then.” Him and all his bright ideas. I’m a hot mess of a man, and I’m set in my ways, but who knows how much more I could change for him.
“Okay, how is it that you’re the one offering me advice now?”
“I give others better advice than I give myself.” He smirks, wrapping that pretty mouth around his sandwich. As though on instinct, my fingers reach over to swipe away the pieces of bread sticking to the corner of his mouth that his tongue misses. He goes on to sink his teeth into his food again, with what I just did not fazing him. He’s getting used to me taking care of him and accepting it easily. Good.
We walk around for what feels like hours, the sun soaking into my skin and creating sweat beneath my clothes. Liam grabs my hand when he wants me to turn in a different direction, only letting go to look at handmade bracelets, tea, and soap. His nose is shoved against a purple bar in the shape of a flower. “It smells so good.”
Leaning my head forward, I take a quick whiff. “It does.” I could get used to smelling all the pretty scents on him too.
Setting it down, he reaches for a bar infused with lavender, and it’s obvious we have a winner when he can’t set it down, even when checking out bath bombs further down the table.
“I need to stop shopping like I have all the money in the world,” he says with a laugh, fumbling with a bottle of bubble bath.
“I have some extra spending money, so I can get you whatever you want to take home from this table.”
Considering what I’m saying, he shakes his head and returns the soap to its original place. His eyes don’t leave the item as he steps back. “I can’t let you do that.” His head whips back, eyes running over the bag in my hand. “You already spent enough on me as it is.”
“I don’t mind,” I say promptly, lifting the soap from the table and handing it to the lady who bags it, telling me the total.
Liam sighs, and after I pay, I hand him his new gift with my lips pressed into a smile.
“That soap was meant to be yours, carino. Go ahead and take it.”
His chest rises heavily, his eyes sparkling, and he slowly grabs it from my fingers. “Thank you.”
“Of course. Where to next?”
“I . . .” My gaze follows his to where a man is selling banana and sour dough bread. He has several pies on the table as well, along with various hand-picked berries.
“Let’s go,” I say, lifting my hand for him to take it, and he smiles, wrapping his fingers around mine. Daniel really is an idiot. Good thing too, because I get to reap the benefits. All it took was for me to take his stupid badge and he used it as an excuse to be away longer, doing whatever shady shit he’s up to.
Liam walks forward, his warm hand tightly gripping mine as he slowly pulls me beside him to stand in front of the bright fruit. We don’t stop there either. Not with all the tables here with different goodies Liam can’t help but gravitate to, while bringing me with him. It’s easier for him to go for exactly what he wants in an instant when I’m here.
We drink way too much lemonade, eat several homemade baked goods, and leave with two arms full of bags. I load them into the back seat while Liam climbs in the front, and when I ask him where he wants to go eat, without missing a beat, he says, “The diner.”
It’s become one of our special places. So has the farmer’s market, Margo’s ice cream shop, the surrounding shopping strip mall, and his back yard.
What makes the last one more special is there aren’t as many rules there. It’s like we’re two different people, visiting a new world with no rules, Daniel, or obligations. Only us. He’s not engaged when he comes to look for me outside his window or house at night. He’s not trapped or lost, knowing exactly what hewants. He’s getting exactly what he needs in a way he feels safe enough to come after.
In between eating and talking about whatever random topics are sitting at the front of Liam’s mind, he shows me glimpses of his new book. He’s really excited about this one, and has the same glow of pride he had beaming off him when he handed me the four books in his house.
“So, you’re done?”
“Yeah. Almost. I’m only missing the epilogue, but I usually send that to my editor separately. He’s finally stopped fussing over it.” He grins his teeth, shuffling his napkin between his hands. I might have to look into this man too, since it’s obvious he sets Liam on edge, his face falling at the first mention of him.
“You don’t like the guy I take it?”
His jaw tightens and he leans back in his chair. “Not really. I didn’t have any opinions of him at first, but I swear lately he tries to find every opportunity he can to get me fired. But who knows.” One of his shoulders lifts. “It might be the push I need to go off on my own. I have my brand and readers, something none of these people can take from me.”
“That’s right.” I fold my arms in front of me on the table, leaning forward. “You don’t need any of these people. I feel they need you more at this point.”
“Yeah, I don’t know.” He shuffles in his seat, rubbing at his drooping shoulder.
After passing on dessert, we grab a to-go box for my food, and when I drop him at his house, he moves forward to hug me. His arms embrace me, heart pounding against mine, and I rub mynose over his ear. His breaths scatter along my neck and I move mine along the side of his face. “I’ll see you later, carino.”
“Yeah . . . okay.” His words come out broken and it takes a car to drive by for him to break away from me, eyes moving around frantically. “I better get going and get this read through over with.”
