‘I’m so excited.’ Kat beamed, clapping her hands together.‘I have a new project.’
Lydia laughed, and I met my brother’s eyes.
‘So you’re up for this?’ I asked Liam, whose stoic expression revealed nothing.‘You’re sure?’
Liam held my gaze, making me wait.When he finally nodded, I almost sighed with relief.He might be a pain in my arse most of the time, but I needed his backing – and his talents – to make this work.
A fizz of energy shot through me when I caught the smile tugging at his mouth.Liam wasn’t just in – he was sold.He was as excited about this as I was.He showed it in his Liam ways, of course.But all that mattered was that he was rooting for this – rooting for me.
‘Well, with Niall’s investment, we won’t have to sign the house over if it all goes tits-up.’ He clapped my shoulder.‘Don’t look so surprised.I told you the other night, at ours – I like the idea.It’s a brilliant chance to invest in a bit of Everly Heath history.’
His expression softened, and I knew he was thinking about Mum, about all the memories we’d had on this farm.My eyes stung.
‘We can’t pass on that.Especially now we’ve got an investor to spread the risk—’
‘Risk this, risk that,’ Kat cut in.‘Do you see what I have to put up with?’
Liam smirked, slipping an arm around her shoulders, ‘—and you’ve solved that issue, so consider me shut up.’
‘Lydia solved it,’ I said, glancing at her.Gratitude rolled through me.‘She’s the one who convinced Niall.’
Liam nodded.‘Well, we’re a team now – the four of us.And Niall.Although with the way Kat chewed his ear off about the design budget…’
‘Hey!’ Kat pouted.
‘It’s going to be hard work, but if this is what you want, I’m in.And I’m sorry if I ever made you feel I didn’t back you.I do.I’m just—’
‘Grumpy and cantankerous?’ Kat supplied.
Liam clamped a hand over her mouth.‘I am grumpy.And a realist.But I shouldn’t have let that bleed into our work – or our relationship.So I’m sorry.We’ll go in as business partners.Equals.’
He held out his hand.I stared at it.Really, it was all I’d wanted – his approval.Now I had it, and I didn’t know what to say.
‘You shake it,’ Lydia murmured, amusement in her tone.
I took his hand, snapping out of my daze.
‘Good.’ Liam’s smile deepened.‘Now that’s done, this one will probably start designing the second we get home.’
Kat lit up.‘Oh, you have no idea.’
They turned towards the car and we followed.My brain was still catching up, dazed.
‘I have a new hyperfocus,’ Kat went on.‘You’re not going to see me for weeks.’
Lydia nudged me.‘Is it okay?That I asked Liam too?Niall’s putting in a fair chunk, but you’ll need to go in together for the business loans—’
I pulled her in by the back of her head and kissed her hard.
‘Thank you,’ I said, my voice thick.‘You don’t know what this means.And it’swenow, Sunshine.Not you.Not me.Us.Okay?’
‘Okay,’ she breathed.
A whistle cut through the air.Kat was grinning; Liam just raised a sardonic eyebrow.
‘Took you long enough,’ he said.
‘Yes!’ Kat clapped again, practically bouncing.‘We can officially double-date now.This is fantastic.’ Kat hooked arms with Lydia.‘Right – about the gym space.Are we thinking the biggest barn for the functional training area?’
