Page 67 of Lost in You (The Monroes 3)

“Then she’d love that you’re the chef at her dream resort,” Macy stated. Cooking lesson forgotten, she moved around the island and took a seat on one of the stools. “There’s so much irony in the fact that you and your brothers are complete opposites, but Chelsea continues to pull you all together.”

Liam tipped his head, crossing his arms over his chest. “Yeah. I wish she were here to see all of this. She’d get such a kick out of Zach heading that whole project up. Not to mention the fact he and Braxton are planning a wedding at the house.”

Macy reached across and gently flipped the cover open on the cookbook. “Let’s do the dumplings.”

“Now?”

/> She glanced back up at him. “Why not? You have something else to do today?”

“I’ll have to go to the resort at some point and get some dishes ready for tomorrow.”

Macy shrugged. “Then let’s take this show on the road. We’ll do dumplings at the resort and the guests will love some nice southern cooking.”

Liam narrowed his eyes. “You want to come cook at the resort with me?”

The more she thought about it, the more she loved this idea. She’d not spent much time at the resort; it wasn’t as if she had the time to spare.

“I would love to.” She came to her feet. “And later, I’d like to talk to you about something.”

She hadn’t known when she’d tell him about the fostering. Actually, she wanted to make sure the child was indeed going to be in her home. The call could literally come at any time.

“Something wrong?” Liam asked. He straightened, worry etched on his face.

“Actually, something I’m pretty excited about. I’ve not told anyone yet. Well, my dad knows, but that’s all.”

Liam grabbed the eggs and put them back in the fridge, then rounded the island. He turned her stool until she faced him, and stepped between her legs.

“Tell me now, since you’re excited.”

Macy wasn’t sure what he’d think, or what he’d say. She had no clue what they were doing together, or how long they’d be doing “it” together, but she refused to let anything deter her from her goals. A family was the one main thing she wanted and there were too many children out there who needed good homes.

Macy clasped her hands in her lap. “I’m going to be a foster mom.”

Silence. Stunned silence. Liam continued to stare at her. He didn’t move, didn’t speak. Was he breathing? Nerves fluttered in her stomach.

“Liam?”

“Yeah, I’m processing all of this.”

Macy laughed. “There’s not much for you to process. I mean, I’ll be caring for a child. Dad is actually excited to help and she’ll be coming to the store with me on occasion.”

“She?” Liam asked. He sank back on a stool as if the conversation had knocked him for a complete loop.

“I requested a little girl under the age of five. I had my home inspection done and passed my background check. I’ve been evaluated over and over. I finally got the green light.”

Liam ran a hand over the back of his neck, then faced her again. Well, he kept the unmarred side to her. The habit was one she fully intended to break, but he’d done this for over a decade. Hard to deprogram something that was second nature to him.

Still, as intent as he was on making her overcome her past, she was just as hell-bent on seeing him tackle his own host of issues. And she had a feeling the scar was just a minor portion of all that weighed heavy on his shoulders.

“That will be one lucky little girl,” he told her. “Are you sure that’s not too much with the store?”

Anticipation flooded through her. “Not at all. My parents raised me in that store. I plan on having Dad watch her a few days, then bringing her in a few hours a week. She will have fun. I even still have my old toolbox my Dad got me when I was five. She can play with it and not get hurt since it’s all rubber.”

Liam continued to stare at her.

“You think I’m crazy.”

Instantly, he grabbed her hands and squeezed. “Not at all. I’m just surprised. Though I’m not sure why. I know you want a family. You’ll be an awesome foster mom.”

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