A natural lull in conversation ensued as they sat beside one another, watching the tiny blonde do her best impression of a magical mermaid. To anyone else, they probably looked like a typical family enjoying each other on a relaxing afternoon.
It would be so easy to imagine that to be true. That he was a loving husband and father. The exact opposite of his own.
Keep dreamin’, dumbass. You know you’re not destined for that kind of life.
“Thank you for this.” Allison’s soft voice broke through the much-needed reminder.
“For what?”
She tore her gorgeous eyes from the water only long enough to offer him a smile. “Everything. The hotel, the clothes…” Her gaze fell to the simple black swimsuit she wore before returning to a splashing Maddie. “Mostly, I’m grateful for the way you’ve treated my daughter.”
“You sound surprised by that.”
“Because I am.”
Liam waited for more, but after several seconds later, he realized it wasn’t going to come.
“Why does my being nice to Maddie surprise you?”
“I don’t know.” Allison’s bare shoulder lifted and fell with a shrug. “I guess when I pictured a professional bodyguard, I envisioned a stoic man in a black suit and tie standing guard somewhere in the background.”
Glancing down, Liam took in the loud, Hawaiian print swim trunks he’d purchased online the day before. Thanks to same-day delivery, he’d been able to get a few new outfits for the girls, along with the other necessities they’d been lacking.
“The background, huh?” His breathy huff of a laugh escaped into the humid air as he used a thumb to point to the room’s interior glass door. “I mean, I can go stand over there if you’d rather not have me?—”
“No!” Allison’s blurted interruption appeared to take her off-guard. “Uh…I mean, that’s okay. You’re good here. Unless you don’t really want to do all of this.” She waved her hands around as if referring to the lounge chairs and hanging with her by the pool.
There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
Nearly choking on the unexpected thought, he swung an incredulous stare her way. “Are you kidding? This is great.”
“You don’t have to say that.”
“No, really.” Liam shifted his body to look at her more directly. “Trust me, this is much more my style than a suit and tie. And I’ve never really been one to stand alone in a corner.”
The dimple on this side of her profile deepened as the corner of her kissable lips curved upward with a smile. “No, I don’t suppose you would. But for the record”—Her blue eyes landed on his—“I think you’re rocking the flowered look.”
Liam’s heart kicked against his ribs, unable to break whatever spell had just been cast. He tried like hell to name what he found sparkling behind her gorgeous gaze, but a second later, Allison blinked it away.
“Five more minutes, Maddie,” she called out to the little girl, effectively ending the awkward interaction they’d just shared.
The sudden change in her demeanor was initially confusing. But then he noticed a new, pinkish hue settling into her cheeks, and realized?—
She’s embarrassed.
But of what? A silly, off-handed compliment she probably didn’t even mean? That didn’t make any sense.
Doesn’t it?
Liam considered her reasons for coming to his team’s office the day before, and all he’d learned about her dick of a husband. When he did, her skittish behavior made total sense.
He’d seen it before and should’ve recognized it for what it was. Assholes like Tommy Gallo tended to gaslight their women into always thinking they were wrong. Wrong clothes. Wrong hair. Wrong friends.
And when another man is involved—even one as unfamiliar and platonic as Liam—everythingthe woman did was shoved beneath a microscopic lens. Something as simple as an innocent compliment was automatically deemed to be flirting…or worse.
“Got it.” Maddie raised a tiny thumbs-up just above the water’s surface.
“Wow.” It was Liam’s turn to blink. “That was easy.”
