After putting away the makeup and shower items in the guest bathroom, I smiled, wondering what Mrs. Grace might’ve thought when Liam gave her my list. I’d asked for nearly everything I thought I’d need, but not nearly as much as she’d actually bought. The one thing I forgot was razors, I realized belatedly. But I supposed I could use Liam’s.
There’d been one other small bag in the mix. There was a note on it from Liam that simply said, “For when you’rebored.” Inside, there were a few fiction books, some crossword magazines, and a journal.
I stared at the journal and wondered if that was something I used to do. The idea of writing down one’s thoughts and feelings seemed foreign to me, but I was willing to give it a try.
I took the journal and one of the books and started downstairs. Dinner for this evening was already planned, so I could relax on the sofa, or maybe go out back and read for a bit.
When I got to the bottom step, the front door opened again, and Liam rushed in.
“I forgot my—” His words cut off abruptly as he came to a stop.
“What did you forget?” I asked as I stepped off the last step.
Liam’s eyes moved slowly up my body until his gaze landed on mine. “Wow! You look gorgeous, Mallory.”
A nervous bubble of laughter slipped free as I looked down at myself. “It’s amazing what happens when you wear clothes made for you, and not oversized men’s sweats.”
When I glanced back at him, he was still gaping. The look in his eyes made me shiver, but not with fright…with need.
“Do you have makeup on?”
My cheeks felt hot as I replied, “A little bit. I had a few things written down on the list. I’m sure that woman had a million-and-one questions why I needed everything from shoes to mascara. Lost luggage or not.”
Liam smiled. “Well…um…I forgot my notebook. With all my notes in it.”
We both started for the kitchen, Piper walking right alongside me. She took her job of guarding me very seriously.
“Here it is,” he said, picking up the notebook. “I should get going. Billy’s waiting on me.”
I nodded. “Okay. Thank you for the books and journal, by the way.”
He blushed slightly. “I figured you must be bored, sitting here all day.”
Giving a half-shoulder shrug, I replied, “I like the quiet.”
When his eyes moved down to my lips, I licked them instinctively. Liam took a step toward me, then shook his head, as if he’d been in a trance. He took a few steps backward, then quickly turned.
“Have a good afternoon,” I called out as he rushed toward the door.
“You, too, Mallory. Be a good girl, Piper!”
The dog barked, and I let out a soft laugh.
Once the door shut and I heard the lock engage, I glanced down at Piper. “Let’s cut up an apple and head on outside, shall we?”
She wagged her tail in agreement and let out a bark when I opened the fridge.
“Oh, you want a piece of cheese as well? I think I can make that happen.”
I’d seen one of Liam’s Montana State hoodies in the living room and grabbed it before Piper and I headed outside. It didn’t take me long to get lost in the book I was reading. It was calledTrust the Pushby Kaylee Ryan, and I was engrossed in the story. I made a mental note to ask Liam about dirt track racing. Or I could probably just look it up on his laptop.
I wasn’t sure how long I’d been outside before realizing the air was cooling off and the breeze had picked up some. Piper walked over to me and let out the softest bark I’d ever heard as she placed her paw on my lap.
“What is it, girl? What do you need?”
She barked louder, and I laughed. “I bet it’s time for you to eat.”
I stood and stretched, along with Piper, before we both made our way back into the house.
