“I’m not sure of the schedule either—sometimes they change things last minute. But you’re all welcome to come out to my rental. It’s on the beach so I should have a nice view, and it has a huge deck and a top-notch grill.”
Millie beamed. “Well, aren’t you just so sweet. We’d love that, wouldn’t we, Sean?”
“Love it,” he deadpanned.
“It’s settled then. But we’ll bring all the food.” Millie patted his arm. “You won’t have to worry about a thing.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Chapter28
The Fourth of July dawned warm and sunny. Chloe and Liam arrived downtown bright and early to set up their chairs on Main Street along the parade route. She couldn’t believe he’d never seen a parade in person. But then, he wasn’t from a small town and she didn’t reckon Hollywood folk had much appreciation for the simple things.
It was fun watching him take in the fanfare. The local bands marching past, blaring out “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” Ellie’s Dance Academy sashaying by, starting with the adorable preschoolers in their tutus and transitioning to their older, more skilled counterparts. When he caught a piece of taffy thrown from the fire engine, his eyes lit up like a child’s.
They’d gotten coffee early on, then stopped by Henry’s Hardware to pick up their free flags, which they waved as the parade passed by. Throughout the morning they’d run into just about everyone Chloe knew, and she introduced Liam to each of them. Most of the townies knew exactly who Liam was, but no one begged for a photo or singled him out. She was so proud of her town for letting him enjoy the holiday like an ordinary citizen.
Chloe didn’t mind the arm he kept around her chair throughout the parade. Or the hand that settled at the small of her back as they milled around the crowded sidewalks.
When they reached the clothing boutique where he’d first spotted her, he leaned down and whispered in her ear, “If you feel the need to hide, there’s a clothing rack right over there.”
Her cheeks went warm at the memory. “I wasn’t hiding.”
“Oh, you were definitely hiding.”
“I was shopping.”
“You wouldn’t be caught dead in that bathing suit.”
She aimed her index finger at his ribs. “I know your ticklish spot, Liam Hamilton.”
“And I know yours, Chloe Anderson.”
She considered. “Good point.”
She’d felt closer to him since their illnesses. There was something about seeing a person at his weakest—and being seen at your most vulnerable—that lowered a person’s walls. She thought he might feel the same. There was a new easiness to their relationship. When they were in public, the affection, the physical touch felt more natural somehow.
So natural that when they were alone Chloe had to remind herself:No touching.
That thought gave her pause later that evening as she searched Liam’s kitchen for salad tongs. Liam and her dad were on the deck grilling steaks, and Sean and Meghan were helping Mom set the outdoor table. Chloe had insisted her friend join them. The bookshop was closed for the holiday and her family lived in Florida. She didn’t want Meghan home alone, ruminating about her ex-husband and playing mind games with her remote thermostat for entertainment.
Once Chloe located the tongs, she grabbed the salad makings from the fridge. Liam’s boisterous laughter carried through the screen door. There was no doubt she enjoyed his company. He was kind and thoughtful and funny. He enjoyed teasing her and making her blush, but he never pushed too far. He’d taken such great care of her when she was sick, and she was pretty sure Buttercup now preferred his company to her own.
He was not at all who she’d expected him to be. He wasn’t entitledor standoffish or arrogant. There were times she thought he might even be a little wounded—but he had yet to open up about anything personal.
Sometimes running lines with him was a moving experience. He got so into the character, sometimes she felt she was actually with the man she’d created. If she was maybe developing a little crush on Liam, that was the reason why. He was playing the part of her ideal man—and doing it quite convincingly.
The patio door opened and Liam slipped inside, looking like a swimwear model in a snug gray tee and board shorts. “Everything all right in here?”
She afforded him a wry grin. “Even I can toss a salad.”
“I didn’t doubt it for a minute. You didn’t warn me about Jerry—he takes his grilling pretty seriously.”
“It might be best to just hand over the spatula.”
“Yeah, I kinda figured that out.”
“And you should know he’s never satisfied with the outcome, no matter how delicious it is or how much we rave over it.”
