Page 57 of Lost in You (The Monroes 3)

Okay, well. She could go with that, couldn’t she? Yes, it would hurt when he left, but she had already come this far. Why shouldn’t she enjoy their time together?

“Have you told your brothers?” she asked.

“I have.” Liam went back aro

und to the stove, stirring the pots and then pulling down two plates. “They were supportive. I don’t know what I expected, but knowing I have their approval makes my decision easier.”

Macy didn’t want to discuss this any further. She had no hold on him. She had no right to even ask him to stay to see where this led. But at the same time, when they’d been together, he’d called her “mine.” What did he mean by that? That she was his for now? She was his until he left and was finished with her?

As he sat their plates on the counter and joined her in the empty stool next to her, suddenly Macy had more questions than ever . . . and she feared she didn’t want to know the answers.

Chapter Thirteen

The customer load this week was light, for which Liam was slightly thankful. He could handle the three women in the dining room. The one woman he couldn’t handle was the one who’d gotten inside his head and had him all torn up in knots.

Liam placed the caprese salad on the glass plate and headed toward the sideboard in the dining room.

Now that they’d arrived, Liam remembered Livie and her friend, Jade. The other lady, Melanie, was from Atlanta, and Liam knew that’s where Livie and Jade lived now.

The ladies were drinking their tea, and as much as Liam hated to interact with people outside his comfort zone, he couldn’t ignore the reason they were here, either.

“Livie, I’m sorry about your dad.”

Paul Daniels had owned and operated the small airport strip in Haven. Liam had the impression Livie was set to follow in his footsteps, from what he’d heard during their school days, but then she graduated and left. Liam didn’t keep up with the hows or whys, but Paul had run the airport until his death two weeks ago. Now, to Liam’s knowledge, the mechanic who worked for Paul for years was running the place, but for how long was anyone’s guess.

With a tight smile, Livie nodded. “Thank you. It’s hard being back, but this resort is absolutely amazing and exactly the escape I needed.”

Liam returned her smile. “We’re here to honor Chelsea.”

“She would be proud of what you guys have done.”

“I’ve already texted some of my friends back in Atlanta,” Jade chimed in. “They’ll be calling soon to book a weekend.”

That’s what Liam liked to hear. They needed to keep this momentum going, to keep the business buzz thriving and spreading all over the state and beyond. He also needed to get on the ball in finding a new chef.

“I’ll let you get back to your meal. I just wanted to offer my condolences.”

Feeling better about stepping from his little box of comfort and speaking to Livie, Liam headed back toward the kitchen, where Cora and Heidi were waiting.

“Liam?”

“It’s me,” he told her. “Everything okay?”

“I’m done for the day and Braxton isn’t here to take me home. Have you heard from him?”

“I haven’t. I’ll try his cell.”

Cora reached for the island, feeling along the edge, then down to where a stool was. “He had class until four and then he was supposed to come straight here,” she said, taking a seat.

“Maybe he got held up by a student,” Liam offered as he pulled his cell from his pocket. The call went to voice mail, but Liam wasn’t too concerned. Braxton would be here.

“How about you have a glass of wine?” he offered. “Your parents just shipped us an insane amount. I need to figure out a way to thank them for always being so gracious with the chocolates and now the wine.”

Cora waved her hand and shook her head. “We’re all family. I’m glad they’re helping the resort. I think they know how much this life means to me.”

Liam pulled out a sweet red and poured Cora a glass. Her parents had given her a hard time about not taking over the family business, but Cora had held her ground. She was definitely someone he admired for not backing down and for going after what she wanted in life. So he shouldn’t feel any guilt about wanting to do the same. But he’d seen the look in Macy’s eyes. She’d wanted to voice her opinion, but she’d kept it to herself.

Part of him wanted to know exactly what she’d thought, but the other part was afraid he wouldn’t like her answer.

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