Page 75 of Liam

“Of course not,” he mocked. “You forget I’ve been here before. I thought you were different. That was obviously my first mistake.” He put the truck in gear, turned the wheel, and drove back to town. “Son of a bitch.”

They didn’t speak as he drove back and pulled to the steps. She got out without looking at him, slammed the door, got her case from the back, and marched up the steps. He watched her stop, turn around, and move down two steps. He lowered the window.

“I knew you’d break my heart, Liam Flynn. I fucking knew it!” She turned and ran up the steps, unlocked the door, went inside, and slammed the door. He raised the window, hit the steering wheel with his fist, and swore at the pain. Taking a deep breath, he drove home. Swearing the entire way.

“When will you learn that you’re better off alone? I thought this time would be different.” He snorted. “There you go thinking. Idiot.”

The following day, he rode the fence in the east pasture and saw a section down. He dismounted, took his tools from the saddlebag, and repaired it. All the while trying to forget her.

****

Siobhan did all she could to not cry. Scarlett asked her what was wrong, but she broke down anytime she tried to tell her. She was sure Scarlett knew it had to be about Liam.

“Siobhan? Do you want to go home?” Scarlett asked her.

“No. This will keep my mind off it. If I go home, I’ll be miserable.”

“Youaremiserable.”

“I’ll be better here. Please.”

“Of course. I just thought you’d feel better away from here.”

“I’d rather work.”

“Okay. Then get to work.” Scarlett moved along the bar, taking orders, and Siobhan made drinks.

When would this night end?

She’d been here since four, and it was only nine. There was a good-sized crowd. Not as many as Friday or Saturday nights, but for a Tuesday, it was packed.

“What can I get you?”

“Beer, on tap, please, darlin’.”

She tried to smile at the cowboy, but failed. She got his beer and then set the mug on the bar. He winked, but she turned from him to wait on someone else. She glanced around to see if Liam was here, but she knew better.

Being a Tuesday, he wouldn’t come into town, and even if he did, she knew he wouldn’t come into the bar. Not since the last time they were together. Damn that man.

“Come to my office,” Scarlett said as she passed her.

Siobhan watched as she walked down the hallway and disappeared. Taking a deep breath, she set the drink she’d been making on the bar and headed for the office.

She knocked on the door and entered when Scarlett told her to come in. Siobhan opened the door, stepped inside, and walked to the chair opposite Scarlett’s desk.

“Am I in trouble for something?”

“No. I wanted you to take a break, and I had a feeling if I told you to, you wouldn’t have. This way, you have no choice.”

Siobhan shook her head as tears threatened.

“I screwed up, Scarlett.”

“How?”

“Liam was taking me to his place when I mentioned him working the next day and that I thought he’d take it off. He got angry, telling me I knew he worked every day. When I said, all right, he pulled over and asked if it really was all right, and I said, I suppose it has to be. That didn’t go well at all. He said he thought I’d be different, and it was his mistake to think that. He turned the truck around and took me home. I haven’t heard from him.”

“Give him time—”

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