Page 57 of Return
Liam didn’t hesitate—kneading gently, his hands found her aching soles.
“Come on. Give yours here.” She patted her lap, gesturing for his feet.
“No, you’re all right.”
“You worked just as hard as I did. Your dogs must be barking as much as mine.”
“Well, it’s true—I have never peeled that many potatoes in my life. Have it your way.”
They shifted until they were holding each other’s feet, falling into easy conversation. She bit back a yawn, and Liam chuckled.
“Honestly, I think my IQ dropped ten points listening to the dumbest conversations ever known to man,” Liam groaned.
“Come on, don’t be so hard on them. I’m sure Gnarly and Lala will be top-notch musicians,” she said dryly. “In fact, it’s too bad I didn’t get their number to invite them to play here.”
He smirked, reaching into his shirt pocket. “Oh wait, what’s this?” With exaggerated flair, he pulled out a crumpled receipt, their phone number and email scrawled on the back.
She rolled her eyes. “I would wad that up and shove it up your nose if I weren’t so tired.”
“They insisted I take it, and I promised to give it to you,” he said, grinning. “And you know, I always keep my promises.”
She snatched the paper from his hand, crumpled it up, and launched it across the room, sinking it into the wastebasket. “Today reminded me that I need to advertise for staff.”
“Don’t think about that right now. You can deal with that tomorrow.”
From down the hallway, Keefe’s voice rang out. “Hey, you two! Quit flirting and get your asses in here for dinner while it’s hot!”
Liam grinned. “I’m starving.”
“Me too.”
With that, they headed to the dining room.
Chapter19
Sophie hesitatedat the door of Sondra’s boutique, her hands tucked deep into her coat pockets. In the window, three outfits were on display—each effortlessly chic, one as stylish as the next. They certainly made her plain jeans, sneakers, and sweater look downright dingy. Not that Sophie didn’t believe in the value of plain and sensible. There was always a time and place for that. But today was not the time or the place. Today Sophie wanted to sparkle.
She could still hear Liam’s voice in her head, low and warm, telling her she was beautiful. She believed him, of course, but she wanted to be the woman in his painting, the one who radiated confidence, who owned her body and her presence without question. If she was honest, she wanted to show him that woman, too.
The chime of the bell above the door pulled her from her thoughts, and before she could second-guess herself, she was yanked inside.
“If you’re waiting for divine intervention, I hate to break it to you but ta! da! It’s me. Now, in you go!” Sondra’s voice rang out. She enveloped Sophie in a hug then pulled back, eyes twinkling. “Every woman deserves to feel like the best version of herself. And you, my dear, are about to be reminded of just how gorgeous you are.”
Sophie exhaled and gave a self-conscious laugh. “All right. Do your worst.”
Sondra grinned. “Oh, honey, I only do my best.” In an instant, the statuesque blonde was striding across the floor, all long legs and effortless grace, towing Sophie along with her.
With a flick of her wrist, she led Sophie deeper into the boutique, where racks of stunning clothes hung on display. A plush chair sat in the center of the fitting area, and beside it, a tray with a small glass of whiskey and a plate of chocolates.
“Sit,” Sondra commanded, pushing Sophie gently into the chair. “Relax and let me do what I do best.”
Sophie picked up the glass, taking a small sip, then another, then she threw back the whole glass as Sondra pulled pieces with the precision of a woman who understood exactly what would work. She didn’t just see fabric. She saw transformation.
After a few minutes, Sondra returned to find the glass of whiskey and the plate both empty. She smiled in sympathy. “Nervous much? There’s no need, I promise. I’ve got a few choices for you to try on. But,” she added with a smirk, “I already know which one is the winner.”
Sophie arched a brow. “You do?”
“Absolutely. But you’ll see.”
