He flipped on the light, causing her to momentarily look away with a squint.
“Sorry.” He immediately turned the light back off.
The sound of soft, barefooted steps reached her ears as he walked over to where she stood. He reached over her shoulder to an under-the-counter switch, turning on the soft glow of the canned light above the sink.
“Better?”
Allison dipped her head slowly. “I’m sorry I woke you.”
“You didn’t.”
The response gave her pause, and it was only then that she realized Liam was still fully dressed.
“You haven’t been to bed yet?” Her surprised brows rose into two twin peaks.
“Been doing more research, trying to pinpoint how Tommy knew where to send his men.”
“Any luck?”
He shook his head with regret. “Not yet. But don’t worry…I’m not giving up.”
No, she didn’t suppose he would. Men like Liam Cutler weren’t quitters.
“What about you?” Liam spoke up again after a short stretch of silene. “Why are you up at such an ungodly hour?”
Rather than lie, she told him, “I had a bad dream.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“No.”
She really, really didn’t.
“What do you want?”
You.
Allison didn’t say that, of course. Not that it wasn’t true. But rather than open up that particular can of worms, she began listing all the other things on her imaginary list.
“I want the nightmares to stop,” she whispered softly. “I want to be able to take my daughter to the park or go for a walk without fear. I want to be able to walk down the sidewalk or sit in a restaurant without feeling as though Tommy is there. Watching me. Waiting. Ready to attack the first chance he gets.”
“He’ll never get the chance.”
“I know you think that’s true, but come on, Liam.” Allison’s shoulders shook with a humorless laugh. “Maddie and I can’t stay locked up inside your house forever. And as sweet as your teammate’s wives are, they can’t drop everything to come be our personal babysitters whenever you have to leave.”
Determination filled Liam’s dark gaze as he took a broad step in her direction, not stopping until he was standing inches from her. “We’re going to stop him,” He vowed.
“What if you can’t?”
He released a slow breath, his expression softening beneath the light’s warm glow. Eyes on hers, Liam returned to the previous conversation by asking, “What else do you want?”
“For my daughter to be happy.” She swallowed. “And safe.”
“What about you?” He inched his way closer. “What dreams do you have foryou?”
Her dreams? Allison nearly laughed at the notion. She’d given up on her own dreams a long damn time ago.
“I always wanted to open a bookstore,” she revealed. “Something small and quaint where people could sit for hours getting lost in a story they love.”
