“What is it, cailín?” Liam pressed.
I jumped, not having realized how close he’d come.
Storm tried to nip at his suit jacket.
“Nothing,” I said quickly.
“Gabriella.” Liam cupped my cheek with his bare hand, forcing me to look at him. “Your whole face changed. I can see the wheels in your smart little mind racing.”
Letting out a short sigh, I gave him the truth. “You would think that with nine younger sisters, I would know a thing or two about babies.” I lifted Storm slightly in explanation. “But our housekeeper always did the brunt of the work with the infants. Toddlers, I understand. Kids, I know. But babies? What if I break him, Liam?”
That strong thumb stroked under my eye. “He might seem like a wee pup, but he’s resilient. You’ll do just fine.”
That slight, lilting accent did things to my insides. Not just the rush of arousal. But a dangerous warmth that spread through my chest. He truly believed what he said. Those words dared me to hope.
This man was dangerous.
I could feel myself falling.
The moment was broken when one of the baristas called out my name. I broke from Liam’s spell, moved to the counter, and took his drink.
“Here.” I handed it over. “Let’s have some fun.”
***
“Do you…want a new book?” Liam hedged, jerking his chin to the aisles teeming with paperbacks. “You’ve almost finished the one you brought.”
My stupid heart did a little flip. He’d noticed. He paid attention to everything.
It’s how he stays alive.
Brushing aside that gloomy thought, I nodded. “Sure, we can look.”
Liam turned the cart, brimming with random items, into the book section. He hadn’t protested once about the things I put into the cart. He didn’t look at the price tag, didn’t ask me why we needed them. He just pushed the cart and watched.
“This is the author you like.” He held up a book. “Have you read this one?”
I pulled the corner of my lip across my teeth. “Actually, I’m in the mood for something else.”
This was it. The ultimate test.
Liam set the book back and waited.
I took a deep breath. “I’ve heard interesting things aboutthisstory.”
My fingers shook as I plucked the think paperback with a crowned skull, butterflies, and red roses. Red roses that supposedly didn’t have thorns because the stalker removed them.
Liam picked up another copy and read the back. His brow lifted slightly. But that was his only reaction.
“I don’t have to read it though,” I hurried to say and set my copy on the shelf.
“We’ll get it.” He plucked a second copy and set them both in the cart. “Anything that has to do with a game of cat and mouse sounds like a grand time.”
My jaw dropped.
Liam’s hand shot out and he snatched my coffee before it fell from my fingers.
“Why two copies?” I gasped.
