Page 49 of Homebody
“No, it’s not.” He smiled. “Do you like it?”
“Yes. It’s beautiful. The table too. Everything.” Then she frowned when the logistics of his surprise hit her. “How did you get inside?”
“Your landlord knows my mother from church. I guess with Mom as my character witness I was convincing enough for him to let me inside.”
The couch and the table were both amazing. But not as amazing as the man. She stood and walked to Liam. Standing on tip toe, she hugged him hard and said, “Thank you.”
He cleared his throat and pulled back, saying, “You’re welcome.”
They stared at each other a few more moments before he took a step back. “I’m gonna go. Let you get settled in with your sofa.”
He was halfway to the door before she realized he was really leaving. He had the door open by the time she reached where he stood.
“Oh, okay. Um, thank you again. Really. I appreciate it.”
“You deserve it and so much more,” he said with sincerity. “But it’s a start.”
“It’s a start,” she repeated as he stepped outside.
He turned back to face her, hesitating again before he said, “Goodnight.”
“Good night.”
Then he was gone.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Dean didn’t drive home from Tessa’s apartment. He drove to the Muddy River Inn instead. He needed a beer and someplace to get his head on straight.
Walking in, he found Liam was still there even though the women he’d been with before were not.
Dean pulled up a bar stool next to his friend. “Hey.”
“Hey,” Liam returned.
Dean caught the eye of the female working behind the bar tonight and pointed toward the beer tap before turning to face Liam. “You alone?”
“Yeah. Book club tonight at Natalie’s.”
He reached for the pint glass the bartender placed on the small white napkin in front of him and said a quick thanks before he glanced sideways at Liam. “Ah, book club. That explains why you’re here.”
“No kidding,” Liam said while lifting his own beer to take a swallow. “What about you? You find Tessa?”
“I did. In your lab with your favorite cadaver Gabe.”
“She all right?” Liam asked.
“Yes. Happy as a clam with a computer full of nerdy brain research to paw through. Why?”
Liam lifted one shoulder. “I don’t know. Just making sure. First day and all.”
“And because you left her alone on her first day locked in a lab with a dead body?” Dean asked.
“Yes. That’s one reason, smart ass.” Liam shook his head, but the shadow of a smile snuck through his scowl. “She still at the lab now?”
“No. She’s home,” Dean answered, his misery like a shadow coloring his words.
Liam glanced sideways at him. “I’m surprised you’re not there with her.”
