Page 7 of Liam
“Is it okay if I use it, too?”
Her eyes warmed. “Yes.”
He took another step closer. “How long have you been in town?”
She’d already told him she was new in town when he’d bumped into her earlier this afternoon, but he wanted to know more. He wanted to know everything he could about the woman.
“Only a couple of days.”
“What made you choose Cradle Mountain?”
“My friend had an empty condo that was available while she’s away. Plus…why not? I wanted somewhere to have a fresh start, and here was as good a place as any.”
He shifted beside her, almost able to feel the heat of her arm. “And what do you hope to do here?”
She sighed, gaze moving to the dark night sky. “Be independent. Watch the stars. Explore the history of a new town.”
There was something so soothing about her voice. So calming. And, fuck, he wanted to hear more of it.
She looked back at him, gave him a smile that almost sucker-punched the air from his gut. “I should get back inside.”
She started to step past him, but he slipped his fingers around her wrist, tugging her to a stop. “Tell me if I’m overstepping…but I’d love to get your number. Maybe I could show you around town.”
What he really wanted was a date, but there was no part of him that wanted to scare this woman off. Baby steps felt safer.
That bottom lip disappeared between her teeth, and it took a fucking truck load of self-restraint to not reach up and pull it out. “I’m not sure if that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?”
She paused, like she was deciding whether to give him an honest answer or not. In the end, she didn’t answer at all, just nodded. “Okay. I’ll give you my number.”
His heart thumped. The kind that told him he’d just scored a big win.
Gently, he slid her phone from her hand when she grabbed it from her pocket, not missing her small intake of breath when their fingers grazed. He typed in his number, then called himself before hanging up and passing it back. “I’ll text you.”
“I look forward to you showing me around town, Liam…?”
“Shore.”
“I’m Nylah Walker. Have a nice night, Liam Shore.”
The second she stepped through the door, he had to stop himself from tugging her back again. Because he was pretty sure he could talk to the woman out here, under the stars, all damn night.
His muscles were tense as he turned and gripped the railing, gaze moving out over the parking lot for a few quiet minutes.
He was about to turn back when something caught his attention. A white van.
He frowned. He’d seen that same van earlier today. The guys who’d been doing some electrical work in the ballroom had used it. Why were they still here?
Something in his gut told him to go check it out, and his gut had never been wrong before.
Instead of moving back inside, he climbed down the steps of the porch into the parking lot. He didn’t walk directly toward the van, instead crouching so he couldn’t be seen, then weaving through the vehicles. It could be nothing, but his gut had saved his ass so many times, he’d be an idiot to ignore it.
When he reached the van, he stilled and listened, hand moving to his concealed weapon.
At first, there was silence, bar the beating of one heart. It stretched out for so long, he was almost going to walk away. Then he heard something beneath the silence of the night. The hum of…a computer? A few computers?
“Two minutes, boys, then we’re a go.”
