Page 69 of This Heart
I slowly shook my head. “Wow. What a disturbed person.”
He let out a humorless laugh. “Who I let get near my daughter.”
I reached for his hand and squeezed it. “You couldn’t have known, Liam.”
Closing his eyes, he shook his head. “I’m her father, and I should have kept someone like that away from her.”
“Well, she’s gone now.”
He let out a long breath. “Yes, she is.”
“Who is going to watch her now?”
“Mary.”
Surprised, I asked, “Mary? Is she returning from New York City until you find a nanny?”
He smiled. “Yes, she is returning to be Winnie’s nanny for good. It would have made Hope happy, since her wish was that Winnie not go to daycare or anything like that.”
I returned his smile. “That’s wonderful news. James will be glad to hear that.”
“James? James Quinn?” he asked. “Why would he be glad?”
Laughing, I shook my head. “I’m pretty sure they like one another and maybe there’s more to her moving back than just wanting to take care of Winnie, not that it isn’t reason enough.”
“Really?” he asked, surprise etching his voice. “I didn’t know that.”
His phone went off, and he pulled it out to read a text: “Jake and Opal are heading back to the house with Winnie.”
I stood. “I appreciate you taking the time to come over and tell me all that.”
Liam also stood, and I reached for his hand. “Wait, there is something else I need to talk to you about.”
A look passed over his face, but it was gone before I could read it. When I didn’t say anything, he asked, “What did you need to talk to me about?”
I opened my mouth to say it. To tell him I had deeper feelings for him than friendship, but I couldn’t make the words form. Instead, I took a few steps back and shook my head.
“Nothing. It’s nothing.”
He opened his mouth to speak but quickly closed it. He smiled instead and asked, “Would you like to come over for dinner tomorrow night? We can make homemade pizzas and see what crazy toppings Winnie puts on.”
Laughing, I nodded. “I would love that.”
“Great. Then I’ll see you tomorrow. Stop by anytime.”
He leaned down and kissed my cheek. And I knew it wasn’t my imagination that his lips lingered a bit longer than they should have before he stepped back, turned, and walked away.
I dropped back onto the sofa and stared out at the darkening sky.
“You are a coward, Aurora Banks. A freaking coward.”
Liam
September
“September in Moose Village is one of my favorite times of the year,” Mary said as we walked to the park with Winnie. The leaves were beginning to change and it was hard to believe summer had come and gone so quickly.
“Mine too,” I replied, glancing around the park.
