Liam chuckled. It was a noise I was growing to like. A lot. In fact, there was a lot I was growing to like a lot. His work ethic, his creativity, the way he called shit out. His biceps and abs didn’t hurt either, neither did the way he wasn’t scared of me.
Too many men had been.
Vanessa called me a ball breaker. Jackson had told me a couple of times that he found me scary – I took this as a huge compliment. Seph had mentioned from time to time that my balls were bigger than his, which Max had then said wasn’t difficult, cue a sibling argument, but it meant that I rarely found a man who could genuinely stand up against me.
Or for me.
Every woman should be able to defend herself, but sometimes it was nice if her man could do it for her, even if she didn’t need it. Most boyfriends I’d had left it to me.
“It’ll be good if we could exchange contracts sooner and then we can start the building work.” I let his teasing go.
“Hopefully it’ll be something like that.” He turned the engine off. “Let’s get our luggage in and walk over there. You never know, you might change your mind and decide it’s all mine instead.”
I laughed, a twinge of doubt slicing through my stomach.
* * *
Ms Egalldottir was waiting outside. Whether she was waiting for us or just standing there admiring the house that she and her husband had hoped to retire in together, I wasn’t sure. She could’ve been watching fairies that only she could see for all I knew and I wouldn’t have been surprised if that was the case.
“Sophie! Liam!”
She greeted us when she saw us like her long lost children, throwing her small arms around us before stepping back and grabbing my left hand.
“You have your ring and it’s beautiful! Very dramatic. And I hear you have a date set to get married too?”
We both nodded.
“That is good. A long and happy marriage will be before you, I can tell. Just like me and my husband.” She gripped my hand in two of hers. “I need to show you something and ask if it will fit into your plans.”
We followed her around to the back of the building where a bench was now set in what would be our outside lounge area.
“This is where me and my husband sat together when we visited the site as it was being built. There was a big stone here that we could just about get our old backsides off. We sat here at night once, talking about our dream, and saw a shooting star. I wondered if you would be so kind as to keep the bench in this position as a reminder of him?” She looked at us both earnestly.
Liam glanced at me and I knew there was no way he’d say no. The big gruff rockstar was a sucker for a sob story, as I’d learned when he was watching a programme about animals that needed adoption. That had resulted in an eyewatering donation.
“Sure.”
It was one word but the old lady’s face brightened.
“That would be lovely. I hear from my lawyer that you’re going to use this place as a joint business venture as well as your holiday home?”
Shit. We’d kind of hoped she stayed unaware of that, not wanting to upset her or cause a possible blockage with the sale.
“I’m going to use it as a recording studio. Part of it will be for Sophie to use as an exclusive spa, but we’ll be here to relax as well.”
“Good, good. Do you know that the place you’re staying is up for sale? Just thought it would interest you as you’d have new neighbours.”
I froze. We’d had no idea.
“We weren’t aware. Could you show us around again? We need to decide where a few things might go?”
* * *
We were sharing a suite at the hotel, a hotel that now looked different. Liam hadn’t said much since we’d left Ms Egalldottir. He was broody. Quiet. And I was struggling with it because I wanted to fix whatever it was he was brooding over.
When we got back to our room, he stripped down to his underwear and pulled on the familiar sweats that he wore whenever he had the chance and sat down with his guitar that he’d had to bring. I hadn’t questioned it. Music was his outlet, his life, the thing which had given him structure and a purpose. I understood needing that.
He pulled up a stool from the bar area – it was a big suite – and started to strum a tune that sounded half familiar. When he started to sing I sat down and listened, hearing the words and this time understanding them.
