“I thought I would come for a visit before deploying to the Middle East in two weeks. My family went to the coast for the weekend, which is why I bummed along with Chiara. Here we are.” Liam pulled up outside of the church, putting the car in park. “I’ll come around.”
Climbing out of the seat, he headed around the front of the car. Opening Elena’s door first, he helped her out before assisting Chiara. “I’ll just go park and then join you inside.”
“Such nice manners. So much better than the last one,” Elena said quietly as they watched him pull away from the curb.
“Mom,” Chiara growled in warning. “Don’t read anything into this. We’re just friends. He leaves in two weeks.”
“Too bad,” Elena added, looping her arm through Chi’s.
They entered the church slowly, working their way toward their seats. Of course, they had to visit with the neighbors as they headed up the aisle.
Chi could feel the minute Liam entered the building. It was as if every woman in the church had a swivel in their neck. It’s a wonder several didn’t get whiplash. Glancing behind her, she couldn’t blame them. Coming up the aisle, his deep green eyes never wavered from her face. When he reached them, he held out his arm to her mother, escorting her to their seats.
Chiara sat in a daze through the service as she went through the motions from rote, having attended since birth. How could she focus on anything when the man sitting next to her smelled so damn good? Brad had never smelled that…masculine. It was some mix of pine bark, aftershave, and a hint of cigar. She had no idea where the cigar would come from, but she had a weird love of the smell. Probably was just in her mind. Chi leaned closer, taking a deep breath and garnering a questioning look from Liam.
“Did you just sniff me?” he whispered.
“I’m trying to decide if you smell a little like a cigar.”
“Why would I smell like a cigar? I don’t smoke. Maybe it’s the dry cleaning chemicals.” Chiara took another large sniff. “Stop.” They both turned back to the priest when they were shushed from behind. Chi managed to focus for a while on the service, at least until the prayer.
“On your knees, woman,” Liam whispered to her. She couldn’t stop the bona fide snort giggle that escaped her mouth. Quickly she turned it into a cough when the row in front of her turned around to stare.
“Shh, pay attention,” she whispered to them, making a motion toward the front with her hand. As much as she wanted to punch the now kneeling Liam, his shoulders shaking in silent laughter, she couldn’t afford to draw any more attention.
Managing to make it through the rest of the service, she was only too ready to escape. Standing, she turned to shove Liam toward the door but was cut off by several of her mother’s friends. He gamely introduced himself, paying rapt attention to their comments until Elena finally wrapped her arm around his.
“Sorry ladies, can’t have the lamb dry out in the oven.” Pulling Liam with her, she walked purposely toward the door. After visiting briefly with the priest, Chi stood with her mother on the curb while Liam went for the car.
“I don’t have a lamb cooking,” Elena whispered. “We needed to get him out of there before they started measuring him for a wedding tux.” Chi barked out a laugh.
Pulling the car up, he hopped out to open the doors for them.
“I would love to take you both for lunch. As my way of thanking you for letting me tag along today. Especially since no one likes dried-out lamb,” he said with a smirk, looking in the rearview mirror at Elena.
“Thank you, Liam. We would love to have lunch with you, but you are welcome to come any time. Right, Chiara?”
“Sure,” she answered with a smile. “And just so you know, my mother has never overcooked a lamb. It’s always perfect.” Liam grinned at her when Elena started to chuckle.
He drove them to one of the nicer restaurants in town with a Sunday lunch to die for. Dropping them at the door, he parked the car before escorting her mother inside.
Once they were seated, Chi finally had a chance to study him while he was visiting with her mother. Was he working some angle she hadn’t discovered yet? He was so different from her ex-boyfriend that it was hard to compare the two men. Brad had only been around the rest of her family if he had to, but Liam had asked to spend part of the day with them.
“Chiara, you’re very quiet. What do you have going on this week?” Elena asked, dragging her out of her reverie.
“Just work mostly. Oh, Liam, here’s something you might find interesting. Do you remember where Astrid lived when she started working for Parker that summer?”
“Yeah. I never saw her apartment, but I’ve heard stories. Ronan used to sketch out scenes from some of the better ones to hang on our wall.”
“They refitted it into offices. I work as a counselor on the second floor in Karlie’s old room. To be honest,” she whispered, looking around like there was a conspiracy transpiring. Liam leaned closer, his green eyes shining with humor like he was in on it. “It’s not much better than it was then.”
“I’m surprised Parker hasn’t thrown you over his shoulder and hauled you out of there like he did Astrid. Although, when I think about it, I’m pretty sure he had an ulterior motive.” They grinned at each other for a moment before the server standing next to the table cleared his throat. “Sorry,” Liam said, his eyes still twinkling with laughter.
Chiara found herself relaxing as the meal progressed. It quickly became apparent that her mother adored Liam. And, as far as she could tell, there was no motive on his behalf, except for genuinely treating them for letting him accompany them to Mass.
After dropping Elena off at her house, he drove Chiara home. She had learned a lot more about the Donnelly family. She already knew his mother had died when he was born and that his father suffered a stroke, forcing Parker to take over the bar.
What she hadn’t heard until today was the impact Astrid had made on their lives. Not only did she help Parker with the bar, but she had been the one to get their apartment refitted with an elevator for his father.
