Destined To Be A Dad (Welcome To Destiny Book 9) (13 page)

Taking a step back, she sipped from her wine. “So, what happened? Trying to do too many dishes at once?”

“No, I think I was distracted.”

Missy looked around the kitchen. “By what?”

“The thought of you and me. Alone. In my house.”

His words brought her gaze back to his, and the intensity of his look made her fingers tighten around her glass.

“I kept waiting for my phone to ring,” he finally said. “For you to back out on dinner.”

She closed her eyes, nibbling on her bottom lip to stop herself from confirming his suspicions.

“I’m really glad you didn’t.”

His words were soft, but she could hear them clearly, feel the warmth of them on her face, telling her he’d closed the distance between them.

She opened her eyes to find him right in front of her. “I’m glad I didn’t, too.”

He grinned and she noticed a smudge of something—mashed carrots, maybe—on one cheek. “So, I guess I should get back to figuring out what we’re going to eat tonight.”

She had a better idea. “How about we get a little teamwork going?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you have the makings for a salad? Maybe a couple of potatoes?”

He nodded. “In the fridge.”

“Why don’t you get cleaned up?” Unable to resist, she brushed the small orange blotch from his face with the tip of her finger. “And then you can concentrate on the steaks. I’ll see what I can do about side dishes.”

He grabbed her hand, brought it to his mouth and placed a kiss at her wrist. “Don’t touch anything. I clean up my own messes.”

Her breath caught, rendering her speechless. All she could do was nod and tug her hand free, oddly disappointed when he let her go.

“I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll be here.”

* * *

An hour later they sat at the dining room table, lingering over what had turned out to be a great meal. Liam was now wearing a pale blue button-down shirt hanging loose over his hips with the sleeves rolled back, but was still in jeans and barefoot.

He’d proved to be as skilled at manning a barbecue as he’d claimed; the steaks were perfect. The simple garden salad and grilled potatoes she’d whipped up while he’d filled the dishwasher with the remnants of his culinary disasters had been good complements, if she did say so herself.

Their conversation while they ate had been easy. She’d shown him the text from Casey letting her know they’d arrived at the cabin. He’d told her about getting a call from Nolan and then shared funny stories about trips to the cabin over the years with his brothers and friends.

He’d then told her about his successful meeting in Denver with a well-known political figure they were going to build a home for. She had in turn confessed her joy over a member of the royal family buying one of her designs and what it might mean to her business.

Now as they sat here after dinner, he asked about the tickets Casey had mentioned earlier, a shadow passing over his eyes when Missy told him that their return flight to London was all set for a week from Monday.

Then the subject turned to Casey and Nathan. Missy relayed why their daughter now considered the lad a jerk—apparently she’d caught him kissing someone else, a former girlfriend who’d moved back to Destiny just this week.

“And it was Abby who warned Casey to this kid’s two-timing?” Liam asked.

Missy nodded. “Apparently she pointed out the two mid-kiss to Casey during the school day, which does surprise me, as the two of them haven’t actually gotten along too well during our stay.”

“Yeah, I noticed her attitude a few times, but then again, Abby’s always been...opinionated.”

Spoiled was more like it, but Missy kept silent about that assessment. Casey had made it clear from the beginning she’d wanted to find her own way when it came to her cousin.

And now they only had ten days left in their visit.

Then what? Surely Liam would want to continue the relationship he’d forged with their daughter. Would he expect Casey to fly to Destiny for her school breaks? What about next summer? Would he want her here the whole time?

Missy had never been apart from her daughter for more than a few weeks, and knowing Casey would be here in Destiny with Liam while Missy was back in England would be a tough pill to swallow.

“Hey, where’d you go?”

She blinked, his words causing the empty plate in front of her to come back into focus. “Oh, sorry. I got lost there for a moment.” She looked at him now, hoping her smile appeared easier than it felt. “I blame the wine.”

He reached for the bottle of merlot, the second one they’d opened, and filled her almost empty glass again. “No sense in letting it go to waste.”

“It’s a good thing neither one of us has to drive home.”

His hand stilled for a moment before he emptied the remains of the bottle into his own glass. “Yes, a good thing. Just like this dinner. Thank you for rescuing me from my cooking calamity tonight.”

“I’d like to think tonight was a joint effort.”

Liam smiled and lifted his glass. “Here’s to working well together.”

Missy lifted hers and they gently clinked them before each took another sip.

“Why don’t you go and enjoy the rest of your wine in front of the fire,” Liam said, “while I clean up in here.”

“You don’t want help?”

He got to his feet, shaking his head. “I’m going to let the dishes soak in the sink. I’ll join you in a minute.”

Missy rose as well, automatically reaching for her plate, but Liam got there first. She returned his smile and headed for the living room, taking her glass with her.

Walking around the room, she let her fingers trail over the soft leather of the love seat before settling on the matching couch. She noticed that like the rest of the house, this room was beautifully put together. The furniture, lamps and art worked well together, masculine in style with rich earth-tone colors that fit Liam’s personality and the ruggedness of the log home. Still, the place needed a hint of something soft as well as brightening—

“Hey, you’re frowning,” Liam said, coming in from the kitchen. “What are you thinking so hard about?”

She offered another smile. “Your place. It’s lovely.”

“You can thank my mom and Katie. It was only finished this summer, and I was so busy I gave them free rein when it came to getting the main rooms done.” He joined her on the couch. “But your frown tells me your designer’s eye has found something wrong.”

“Not wrong,” she said, looking around again. “But a few things might make it more personal. More you.”

“Like what?”

“Maybe a cerulean-blue cashmere throw, some golden sandstone-colored pillows, a plant or two.” The list rolled off her tongue as she easily pictured the items in selected spots. “A favorite book or two for the tables and a few family photos...”

Her voice faded when her gaze caught on the grouping of simple black frames centered on the fireplace mantel.

Unable to stop herself, she placed her glass on the large square coffee table and rose, drawn by the photographs of her and Casey. And Liam.

One was of him and Casey, smiling, heads tucked in close, their faces filling the frame. Another was of her and Casey sitting next to each other on the dock, talking, their feet dangling in the lake.

There was Casey playing the guitar, not even aware of the picture being taken, and the smallest frame held an old black-and-white photo of Missy and Liam taken years ago. Dirty from a rodeo competition, Liam stood, grinning, a trophy held aloft in one arm while the other was wrapped around her, holding her close to his side. Her head was tipped back at she stared at him in utter adulation.

“When did you—how did you—”

The fact that he had photographs of her—of all of them—so prominently displayed threatened to take her strength. She grabbed onto the mantel. How had she missed seeing these when she’d first walked in tonight and just now, as she’d analyzed the decor of this room?

“Hey, are you okay?” He left the couch and stood in front of her, one hand touching her shoulder. “Missy?”

She shook her head, gulped in a deep breath and somehow found her voice. “I’m sorry. These—the pictures surprised me, that’s all. When did you do this?”

“Just last week.” He reached for the frame that held the image of him and Casey. “She took this one of us on Sunday morning and sent it to me. I printed it out, and later that day—I think you were in the kitchen or something—she helped me pick out the others, and we found a few frames in the main house for them.”

“And this one?”

Liam put the first frame back in its place. His mouth softened, his lips hiking at one corner as he reached for the old photograph of the two of them. “Casey spotted this when I showed her our old senior yearbook. I remembered how I snuck into the graphic arts room at the high school and
acquired
the actual photograph after you and I had...well, the September after you returned home.”

His story surprised her. “You did?”

“Took me a couple of days of searching through my old stuff to find it. I thought I’d give it to Casey. She got such a kick out of seeing us as teenagers.”

Trying desperately not to get caught up in a haze of memories from years past mixed with the moments they’d spent together over the last weeks, Missy took a step back. Then another, needing space between her and Liam before she did something stupid.

Like throw herself into his arms.

She blinked away the image, noticing for the first time the long envelope tucked in behind the picture frames, the return address for the genetic testing center in the upper corner.

“What is that?”

Liam returned the picture to the mantel and retrieved the envelope. “
This
is the reason I asked you and Casey to dinner tonight.”

“The DNA results?”

He nodded.

“But it’s not opened.”

“Nope.”

Understanding dawned. “You were planning to open it tonight, while the three of us were here together.”

This time he shook his head, his gaze on the packet as he turned it over repeatedly in his hands. “No, actually I planned to toss it into the fire.”

She gasped. “What?”

“I don’t need to see in black and white what I know in my heart—what I’ve known from the moment she told me—to be true.” He looked at Missy then, genuine certainty in his blue eyes. “She is a part of me, a part of us. Casey is my daughter.”

A warmth that had nothing to do with the fire radiated throughout Missy’s body. A sharp sting soon had her vision wavering and she had to close her eyes, but a tear escaped anyway.

“Hey, what’s this for?” Liam whispered, his hand cupping her cheek, his thumb brushing the moisture away.

“That’s—” her voice broke and she had to swallow hard before she could continue “—the first time you’ve said that.”

“Huh?”

She opened her eyes, her smile wobbly as she took in his puzzled expression. “Tonight, right now, is the first time you’ve actually said Casey is your daughter.”

“No.”

Missy nodded. “At least to me, and you’ve never said it directly to Casey. Believe me, she’s been waiting.”

This time it was Liam who closed his eyes, dropping his hand from Missy’s face as he turned away. “Are you kidding me? Damn, could I be any more stupid?”

“Hey, you’re not—”

“I could’ve sworn I’ve told her.” He cut her off and pressed his fist with the crumbled results against his chest. “I know it in my head. I feel it in my heart. I have from the beginning.”

She believed him. She could see it on his face, hear it in his words, and her own doubts about him accepting her story as the truth released their last hold on her. “I think when you insisted on the test...”

“It was the first thing that popped into my head that night on the porch. To keep both of you here longer than a weekend.” He dropped his hand, the paperwork inches from the flames. “I’m getting rid of this—”

“No!” She grabbed his wrist, stopping him. For good measure, she tugged the envelope from his fingers, pressing it to her chest as she backed up a few steps. “No, don’t do that.”

“Missy—”

“I know you believe.” She moved back farther when he headed for her, stopping only when she felt the couch at the back of her legs. “You believe in me, believe in her, and that means everything...to both of us, but this is tangible proof. We’ll need this paperwork in order to change her birth certificate.”

“Change...” This time it was Liam’s face that registered his shock, his voice gone as he stumbled past her and sank into the cushions. “Are you serious? You would do that? For me?”

Missy joined him, setting the test results on the table, so that she could take his hand in hers. “Casey is your daughter. Our daughter. Your name deserves to be on her birth certificate.”

Chapter Twelve

H
er words froze him in place, but at the same time Liam felt as if he were flying. The last thing he’d ever thought he would hear Missy say was that his name should be on Casey’s birth certificate.

Would that change her last name, too?

He didn’t have any idea how that worked, especially in the UK, but in this day and age, a name change was probably a separate action requiring more paperwork. Was that something Casey would be interested in?

The idea of her being a Murphy by name caused his chest to swell, but that would mean her last name and her mother’s wouldn’t be the same anymore. Unless Missy would consider—

“Liam?”

The way she whispered his name sent a flash of hot need racing through his veins. Then he noticed how tightly he was squeezing her hand and realized that she was just trying to get free from his grasp.

He eased his hold but didn’t let go. Instead, he cradled her hand in both of his and gently rubbed her fingers. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“You didn’t.” Her lips curved in a gentle smile. “I surprised you.”

The back of his throat burned, a sensation that quickly made its way upward as his eyes moistened. “I’m stunned. Flabbergasted.”

She rested her free hand against his cheek. “I can see that.”

Right here, right now, he wanted nothing more than to haul her into his arms. He wouldn’t do it, of course. As astounded as he was over how this night was going—from the burned dinner to this startling conversation—he suddenly couldn’t think about anything else other than kissing her.

Kissing her and holding her and making love with her.

The last three times they’d kissed, she’d been willing, but he’d been the one to make the first move. Even when she had practically come right out and asked him to.

This time, it had to be from her.

He could see the longing in her eyes, feel it in her touch.

Swallowing hard, he stared at her.

Please, Missy, please come to me.

She leaned forward, bringing their bodies closer, hesitating when her breasts brushed against his arm.

Forcing himself to stay completely still, he kept his gaze on her as she inched closer again, her fingers tightening around his this time. But she stopped when her lips were a hairbreadth away from his.

He didn’t close his eyes as he bowed to the slight pressure of her fingers against his jaw, allowing Missy to bring his mouth to hers. Her initial kisses were cautious. As if they were kissing for the first time, both with their eyes wide-open, innocent and unsure. Her soft, sweet breath was warm against his mouth and his muscles hardened everywhere when he refused to let his body do what it wanted.

She pressed her mouth to his more firmly, and then he felt the tip of her tongue trace the edge of his bottom lip. A low growl escaped his throat. Her eyelids closed, but not before he saw the victorious flash in those blue depths.

He tunneled his fingers into her hair, tipping her head back as he claimed her, opening his mouth to welcome her in.

Releasing him, she grabbed at his shoulders as he pulled her onto his lap and sank back into the leather cushions, their kisses growing hotter, wetter and frantic.

It wasn’t enough. Wasn’t nearly enough.

Both hands at her waist now, he lifted her while stretching out completely on the oversize couch, fitting her perfectly against his body as she blanketed him.

“Oh!” she cried out as their mouths broke free and her hands landed on either side of his head.

“It’s okay. I’ve got you,” he whispered against her neck, before she drew back to look down at him. “I mean...is this okay?”

Her smile was like a liquid arrow straight to the part of him nestled against her. “It’s very okay.”

Two soft thuds caught his attention for a moment, but then the cool touch of her toes tangling with his bare feet felt as intimate as if they were lying here totally naked.

Which wasn’t a bad idea. But for now, he wanted her like this.

Lifting his head, he placed his lips just below her collarbone, nipping soft, wet bites as he moved south to the swell of her breasts. She rose up on her arms, scooting forward so that he could lie back down and still have her right where he needed her to be.

Her low moans filled the air as his hands reached beneath the edge of her top and traveled to the lacy cups of her bra.

He nosed the neckline off one shoulder at the same moment his hand peeled away the delicate material covering her. As he sucked her nipple into his mouth, she arched against him, rotating her pelvis as instinct took over. The heat of her melted through her skirt and his shirt, reminding him how long it’d been since he’d made love to a woman.

This woman.

No one else mattered except her.

No one ever would.

He released the tiny nub and started toward the other, but she slid down his body, crushing her mouth to him again in a rush of wild kisses. Her fingers were just as busy at the buttons on his shirt and soon she had it opened almost to his waist.

Pushing the material to one side, she released his mouth and pressed hot, openmouthed kisses down his throat and across his chest. Over his heart. She traced the outer edge of his tattoo with the tip of her tongue, leaving behind wet heat as she neared his left shoulder.

“Missy...”

“Am I hurting you?”

Yeah, she was killing him, but that’s not what she was asking. “No, but you don’t have to—”

“I want to.”

Her words were whispered against his skin, but still, he reached for her. She grabbed his hand and pushed it up and back until it was shackled beside his head by her fingers. Breaking free of her hold would have been easy, but he let her keep him there as her mouth danced lightly over the puckered scar tissue.

He groaned, loving the feel of her lips on him there and wanting her to do the same to him everywhere. But the way she was moving against him, hip to hip now, was going to end things before they even began.

He broke free and rose up on one elbow, opening his legs wide. Capturing her between them, he squeezed. “Missy, wait.”

Her kisses continued as she scooted farther down his chest. “Don’t want to.”

Hell, he loved hearing her say that. “I’m not going to...last. And I’d rather we continued this in a bed. My bed.”

She looked up at him, her chin resting high on his stomach. Bright pink highlighted her already flushed features. “Do you remember the last time we did it in a bed?”

He chuckled at the memory and flopped back down to the couch. “You mean the only time? You lied to your host family, I lied to my folks and we snuck off to that shabby motel on the outskirts of Cheyenne the weekend before graduation.”

She crawled back up his body until they were face-to-face again. “We were so nervous about getting caught.”

“Yeah, until we weren’t.”

Nodding, she looked away, her eyes taking on a faraway expression. “You know... I was going to tell you that night. About the plans I’d made to stay in Wyoming. Go to school here.”

His smile faded as he looked up at her, wanting nothing more than to tighten his arms around her. Instead, he kept his hands loose at her waist. “Why didn’t you?”

“I was still waiting on the final word about getting money out of my trust. Without that, there was no way I could afford it, but I think now that was just an excuse.” She hitched her shoulders in a tiny shrug and looked back at him. “You were so excited about high school being over in a few days. The entire summer was already planned when it came to your rodeo competitions.”

The hurt in her voice, even after all these years, tugged at him. He brushed a strand of her hair from her cheek. “Plans for us. Plans to be together.”

“Plans for your future.” She looked at him again. “I should have known something was up when I couldn’t get you to talk about going to college in the fall.”

“I can’t say that rodeoing full-time hadn’t crossed my mind. Heck, it’d been a dream since I was a kid, but I didn’t want to think about packing off to college mainly because you were going to be gone by then.”

Missy nodded and he could almost see her turning over his words in her head. He couldn’t believe how fast they’d gone from being on the brink of making love to talking about the past.

It was the future that he was interested in, especially when it came to where they were headed tonight.

“I want you to stay,” he said, “but if you’d rather not...”

Her breath hitched. “Stay?”

“Here, tonight.” Didn’t she understand what he was saying? “With me.”

Silence stretched between them for a long moment. So long, he was convinced she was going to turn him down. But then she said, “I want that, too.”

His heart raced again at her words. He wanted nothing more than to grab her and head upstairs, but first things first.

“Ah, can you give me a few minutes?” he asked.

Confusion filled her eyes. “For...”

“I wasn’t expecting this. I mean, I’d hoped—okay, fantasized about you and me being together, but I didn’t want to...”

“Jinx anything?” she said when his voice faded.

“Exactly. And I didn’t want to presume.”

He returned her smile, and gently easing her off his body, moved to the edge of the couch. “So I need to check the upstairs. Light a few candles. Make sure I don’t have any dirty socks thrown around. That kind of thing. I’ll be right back.”

“That’s what you said earlier.”

He remembered. “And you said you’d be here.”

“Do I have to say it again?”

Yes, she did. He wanted her promise that she wasn’t going to change her mind. But deep inside, he knew if at any point she decided that being with him wasn’t what she wanted, he’d let her go.

It might kill him, but he’d do it.

She cupped his face, pressing her lips to his in a quick kiss. “I’ll be here.”

As much as he hated to, he turned away.

Straightening took a bit of effort, considering his condition, but he headed for the kitchen. There were emergency pillar candles in the pantry. Not purchased for an occasion like this, but it was the best he could do on short notice. He grabbed a few, a couple of drinking glasses to use as holders and a box of matches.

Then he remembered the trio of vintage Old West–style oil lamps on the fireplace mantel in his room. Katie had teased him about how he’d be all set if the power ever went out or he had a lady friend stay the night.

“Not just a friend,” he whispered to himself. “More like the love of your life.”

He started to leave, but then turned back and grabbed the vase filled with roses off the table. Heading down the side hall by his office, he paused when he got back to the foyer, glanced into the living room and found Missy sitting up, facing the fire, wineglass in hand.

Taking the stairs two at a time, he prayed she wasn’t having second thoughts.

* * *

Was she doing the right thing?

This evening had already been so amazing. Finding Liam fretting over his attempts at cooking had eased her nervousness, and just the two of them sharing a meal and talking about everyday things had felt...familiar, comfortable, with a hint of something simmering between them at the edges.

Something that exploded once she’d made it clear to him what she wanted this time. She wanted Liam. Wanted the two of them to have this night together.

Not that she would have deliberately tried to create a chance like this, despite her feelings for the man. Their lives were too different; they lived on two different continents, for goodness’ sake.

But for whatever reason, events had conspired to bring them to this moment. No strings, no plans. No thoughts about anything or anyone outside the warm timbered walls of his spectacular home.

How could she walk away from this?

A single yellow rose appeared before her and she jumped when it brushed her cheek. Then she tipped her head back and found Liam standing behind her, leaning over the back of the sofa.

“I called your name. You must’ve been lost in thought.”

“I was.”

“Good thoughts, I hope.” He held out his hand.

She stood up, set her empty glass on the table and walked to him, lacing her fingers with his. “Very good thoughts.”

He smiled and stepped backward into the foyer. She followed, her breath catching at the sight of rose petals scattered on the stairs. “Oh, Liam. How sweet. You didn’t have to do that.”

“Yeah, I did.”

He pulled her into his arms and drew her close. The kiss was soft and gentle, but only for a moment. Then that hunger returned as she became aware of him, his strength and the urgency in his hold when the most intimate part of him pressed against her.

He released her but kept one of her hands in his. He started up the stairs. She kept pace, the petals cool beneath her feet. At the top, she smiled at the trail continuing down the hall and into his bedroom, where more surprises waited. A wash of candlelight filled the space. On his dresser, the bedside tables, the rough-hewn beam that served as the fireplace mantel, sat glowing lanterns and candles. Soft instrumental music came from an unseen source and rose petals decorated his king-size bed.

She flattened her hand to her chest; the wild beating of her heart matched the speed with which she blinked, fighting back tears. “Liam, this is so beautiful.”

“You’re beautiful.” He turned her to him, taking her face in his hands, and gently kissed her lips, her cheeks, along her jaw and just below her ear. “
You
are so beautiful,” he repeated, the lightest whisper into her hair. “And I’m so happy you and I are finally here, together, like this.”

She reached for him, popping the last button on his shirt. Desperate to feel the heat of his skin against hers, she pushed the soft material from his shoulders, forcing him to let her go so that she could rid him of the clothing entirely. After his shirt fell to the floor, her fingers lightly danced over his skin, over the beautiful tattoo that represented the heart of this man.

Strong, determined, courageous.

She laid a hand there, barely covering the intricate tattoo, loving that his heart was pounding out a cadence that matched hers.