Page 78 of Lost in You (The Monroes 3)

What? They were sleeping together, she’d opened up and trusted him more than anyone, and she’d admitted to falling for him. If he were on the outside looking in, he’d damn well say this was a committed relationship. But, wait, hadn’t they agreed to keep this just physical while he was here?

When had this developed into something more?

Macy’s soft voice filtered in seconds before the door eased open. Liam braced himself. He didn’t know what he expected, but Macy carrying in an infant in her footed pajamas wasn’t it.

The little girl with short, curly blond hair clutched a stuffed dog in one hand and sucked the thumb on her other hand. Macy turned to close the door, then met his gaze over the top of the girl’s messy bed head.

“Hey.” She smiled. “Can you stay here for a bit? I just want to show her to her room and get her settled. She’s . . . she’s had a rough night.”

Macy’s voice caught on the last word and there was no way in hell he was going anywhere. She couldn’t do this alone. Her father was out back in his apartment, but Macy wanted Liam. Another click locked into place. Was this where he should be?

He nodded, ignoring the lump of emotion in his throat. “I’ll be here.”

As Macy headed down the hall, the girl’s bright eyes met his. He kept his marred side turned away, but offered what he hoped was an encouraging smile.

He figured Macy would be a while and he needed to concentrate on something he could control. Cooking had always done that for him.

Once again, he started up some water to begin on the mac ’n cheese recipe. The party was still going on tomorrow, so he needed to step up and finish the food so she wouldn’t have to. He could also whip up something for her so she didn’t have to worry about breakfast, too. Hopefully she had the right ingredients.

Nearly an hour later, with mac ’n cheese bites in the oven, he managed to find what he needed to make some homemade cinnamon rolls. Surely a toddler would eat those, right? He knew absolutely nothing about children, but food tended to bring people together. Bonds were made in kitchens, around dining tables. He couldn’t do much, but he could at least try something.

He’d just pulled one pan out of the oven and slid another one in when Macy came into the kitchen, with red-rimmed eyes and a quivering chin. Liam forgot everything he was in the midst of and crossed the wide kitchen. She fell into his arms, gripping his shirt as she sobbed. There wasn’t much he could do for her. He had no idea what she was dealing with, but if she needed to lean on someone, he wasn’t about to let anyone else take his place.

He rubbed his hands up and down her back, rested his chin on top of her head. Her shoulders shook as she tried to keep her crying under control, but he wished she’d just cut loose. If she needed to break, he’d gladly pick up the pieces.

“I’m sorry.” She eased back, shaking her hair away from her face. “This was all more than I’d thought.”

Liam used his thumbs to swipe away the moisture on her face. “Don’t apologize for caring for a child, Macy. She’s lucky to have you.”

Macy nodded. “I’m just sorry I soaked your shirt.”

“It will dry.” He bent his knees, angled his head to look her in the eye. “Want to tell me about it, or do you want to go to bed and I’ll finish in here?”

She blinked, peered over his shoulder to the island. “You’ve been busy.”

“I needed to distract myself and you needed help.”

She let out a laugh. “It was pretty bad in here earlier. But I’m okay. I couldn’t go to bed now if I tried.”

When she shifted around him, Liam crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the counter. She was wound so tightly, she needed to relax.

“Why don’t you take a seat at the counter and let me do the rest,” he suggested. “I’m working on some cinnamon rolls for your breakfast so you won’t have to worry abo

ut what you two will eat.”

Oh, no. That chin started quivering once again. Tears filled her eyes.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

With a shrug, he moved to the oven to check on the bites. “I know I didn’t have to, but I wanted to and I knew you’d probably open one of those nasty cans of biscuits or something. I couldn’t let you do that.”

“Actually, I would’ve done Pop-Tarts.”

Liam cringed as he stood back up, resting his hand on the edge of the counter. Even with her puffy eyes, the red splotches on a face void of makeup, Macy was absolutely breathtaking. She wouldn’t believe him if he told her now, but she was perfect. Beauty was seriously found on the inside, something he’d learned from his mother and the Monroes. Macy let her beauty flow freely in the way she felt so deeply for others.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, her brows drawn in.

Liam smiled. “Because I can. Now take a seat and talk to me while I work. Talk about tonight, the party tomorrow, the store. Anything.”

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