“Do you return the feelings?”
Her mouth opened, but not a single word came out. Liam didn’t give her a chance to answer. He threw his head back and belly laughed until his entire body was shaking.
When he recovered, he gave her a wink and said, “Don’t pay me no mind. I’m just a nosy old man.”
He ate the last of the roll, licking his fingers clean before scraping up what icing was on the plate. “Best thing I’ve eaten since…well, breakfast. You should open your own restaurant.”
Open a restaurant? Did she read his lips right? It was her turn to laugh then. “How in the world would I accomplish that? I’m only a woman. One, I might add, who can’t hear a single word people say to me.”
He waved a hand in the air, dismissing the words. “There’s nothing to it,” he said. “You provide a service, and people pay you for your time.” He gave her a pointed look. "And you're not being able to hear has nothing to do with it. That’s just an excuse to keep from living.”
She smiled. “Now you sound like my sisters.”
“Well, they’re right. Besides, it's easy to start your own business. When me and my business partner, Lewis, started the livery stable, all we had were two old horses and a wagon. I didn’t even have a barn to put them in, but it didn’t take long to earn enough money to build one. All you need is a kitchen and a few tables for people to sit down and enjoy their meal.”
She thought of the dressmaker in Silver Falls. It couldn’t be too hard to own a business as a woman. Mrs. Hiatt did it. She and Vanessa ran their little store, and even though she herself had never been in there, she’d seen quite a few ladies go inside.
Liam tapped her hand to get her attention and said, “The stagecoach station has a full kitchen and dining room. Several years ago, it was the only place in town to get a hot meal. When the old man who cooked there died, Clement over at the hotel had his restaurant built. I bet Everette, that’s the stagecoach station owner, would be more than happy to let you cook in there for a portion of the profits. His travelers could get a hot meal without having to go into that fancy restaurant in town, and he’d make some extra money on the side.”
Daisy didn’t catch half of what he said, but gleaned enough to understand what he was telling her. Would a total stranger let her set up a restaurant in his establishment? If what Liam said was to be believed, then yes, he would.
He nodded, rubbing his chin as he thought. “I can see it now,” he said. “We could make you a big sign to hang out front. ‘Daisy’s Diner’— home-cooked vittles so good they’ll make your tongue slap your brains out.”
She laughed at his words, shaking her head before standing to take his empty plate. “It's a pleasant dream, Liam, but I don’t plan on staying in Butte long enough to do all that. I have a family in Silver Falls I need to get back to.”
With the sidewalks cleared of snow and the street nothing but a muddy mess of slush, there were people everywhere. The man who owned the barbershop was shoveling off his stoop and threw his hand up to him as Clay passed by. He nodded in return and kept on walking.
Clay liked Butte. For such a large town, the people here were warm and friendly. He’d been through more towns than he could count, and none of them had given off the same feel as Butte did. It was as if the town was alive, with a laid-back heartbeat that made you feel welcome.
Stomping the snow and mud off his boots when he reached Liam’s door, he headed inside. As usual, Daisy was cleaning the kitchen, and the air smelled of cinnamon. She’d not seen him yet, so he took his time removing his coat and hat and admired her while he did it.
He could get used to this. Coming home from work to find her waiting for him. She turned and saw him, smiling as if just seeing him made her happy, and his heart thumped. Hard.
She plated something up for him and set it on the table. “I wasn’t sure if you’d be home for lunch or not, so I didn’t fix a big meal, but I do have some cinnamon rolls hot out of the oven.”
“Is that what I smell?”
“It is.” She placed a fork on the table as he crossed the room. “Liam gave them his seal of approval.”
“I can see why.” The roll was huge and had some sort of glaze dripping off of it. He made quick work of eating it, licking his fingers when finished, and took his plate to the sink, where Daisy was busy scrubbing something.
She turned just as he stepped behind her and walked right into him. He grabbed her, one arm wrapping around her waist to steady her, before setting the plate down on the counter.
“Sorry,” she said. “I didn’t realize you were right behind me.”
“It’s all right.”
She was staring up at him, and he realized just how close they were. It would take no more than a dip of his head to kiss her, and he wondered what she’d say if he did. Neither of them had mentioned the kiss they’d shared that night in the barn, and he wasn’t sure how to bring it up.
“What’s wrong?” she finally asked.
“Nothing.” He realized he’d not let her go. His arm was still around her waist, her body flush with his own, and she wasn’t making any attempt to back away.
“Then why are you staring at me like that?” she asked.
Because I love you. He didn’t say the words out loud, but they were on the tip of his tongue. He glanced at her mouth, his mind going back to that kiss, and he wanted to taste her all over again. Would she let him if he asked? There was only one way to find out, so he took a chance and prayed she wouldn’t shoot him down. “I was just wondering what you’d say if I kissed you.”
Her cheeks turned a blistering shade of red before she looked at his mouth. Neither moved for long minutes, and when she raised her eyes and said, “There’s only one way to find out,” he could barely contain the rush of need that ran through his limbs.
