Liam (13 page)

“She’ll love you,” Liam said and reached across to take her hand.

She took his comfort. Pulling in a deep breath, she tried to steady herself.

“What if she doesn’t?” Meg asked.

Liam pulled her hand up to his mouth and kissed her knuckles.

“She will,” he said. “If anything, she might like you too much. I’m afraid we might leave here with a wedding date set and flowers.”

Meg giggled at him. She could only hope that it would go so well.

“I’m happy as long as I get so see baby pictures of you.” She winked.

“Oh Lord,” he groaned. “Yeah, you’ll get along just fine.”

Liam pulled the car to the curb and stopped. Meg looked out the window at the tiny house. The lawn was well managed, with pretty yellow flowers out front. It was small but loved. She smiled at the happy house.

She waited in the car as Liam came around to open the door for her. She figured this was as close to a real date as they were going to get until everything was settled, so she might as well enjoy the treatment while she could. Her vacation time would soon to be up, and she’d have to go back to being the computer geek around the office.

They made their way to the door. Her knees shook a little. Liam wrapped a warm arm around her and pulled her close. She smiled up at him and jumped when the door opened.

A short, thin woman with salt and pepper hair answered. It was clear she had been quite the beauty back in her earlier years. Nearly wrinkle free, Meg wondered how she was able to maintain such flawless skin.

“Ma, this is Meg Allen,” Liam said to his mother. “Meg, this is my mother, Eva.”

Meg held out her hand to the woman. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

The woman looked from Liam to Meg and then back to Liam.

“As in the girl you’ve been mooning over?” Eva asked.

Meg pulled her hand back and shrunk into Liam’s side. She knew this dinner was a bad idea.

“As in my girlfriend,” he said.

Meg just wanted to shrink into nothingness.

“Oh, honey.” She grabbed Meg and pulled her into a great hug. “Why didn’t you say so?”

Meg stood in shock as the woman held her in a warm hug. Her wits finally returning, Meg returned the hug.

Eva stepped back abruptly but kept her hands on Megs arms to get a closer look.

“I have to say, you weren’t wrong about how pretty she is.” Eva smiled at her, and Meg couldn’t help return the infectious gesture.

“You talked about me?” She turned to Liam and smiled at the red that colored his cheeks.

“Talked about you,” Eva laughed and ushered them inside. “He couldn’t seem to not talk about you.”

Meg turned to look him again, and he shrugged. Her heart sped up. It seemed that every time she learned something new about him, it ended up being something wonderful that he had never shared.

“When you went away to London for the summer, he was a sight to be seen,” his mother marveled. “I can’t tell you how glad I am to finally meet you.”

Eva looped arms with Meg and led her over to the couch. Liam took the chair across from her. Meg loved how young he seemed in his mother’s house.

“So tell me how things have been since you’ve been back,” his mother asked.

Meg caught his eye and the slight shake of the head.

“With the wedding and our budding relationship, there isn’t really much to tell.” She smiled at Liam and hoped that would be good enough.

“So when did you two start dating?” Eva looked happily from Meg to Liam.

Liam leaned forward. “After she came back, I confessed my love.”

Meg grinned. “More like he was forced to confess his love. With the his job offers and the chance that I might move to London, he really had no choice.”

The room fell silent. Her smile slipped as she watched the tension between Liam and his mother.

“What job offers?” Eva demanded.

Liam sighed. “It’s nothing.”

Meg watched as Eva folded her arms in front of her chest. “You work too hard,” she said.

For the first time, Meg could hear her Irish accent become thick with her worry.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said. Liam shot Meg a glare, and she shrank back.

“I have to worry about it,” Eva said sadly. “I’m your mother.” She looked between them. “You’ll understand when you have children.”

Meg leaned back further into the couch, trying to distance herself from the conversation.

“Okay,” Eva said. “Let’s leave this for later. I hope you like stew, Meg.”

Meg smiled and stood. “I do.”

She liked the way Eva lit up when she happy about something. “Good,” Eva said. She clapped her hands. “I’ll go get supper on.”

Meg stood to follow but was stopped by Liam pulling her to the side.

“What the hell was that?” He glowered at her.

“I didn’t know you hadn’t told her,” Meg whispered back.

“She doesn’t need to know that.” He glared at her.

Meg placed her hands on her hips and glared right back at him. “Well maybe you shouldn’t keep so many secrets. Then I could keep track of them.”

Liam let go of her arm and stood tall over her.

“Next time you want to tell me how to deal with my family, don’t,” he said. Anger laced his words.

Meg reeled from his cold blow.

“Don’t worry,” she said, emotion choking her as she spoke. “I won’t.”

Meg pushed hard against his chest as she swept into the kitchen.

“Eva,” Meg said with as much pep as she could fake. “Would you mind if I freshen up first?”

“Across the hall,” Eva said quietly and gave her a small smile. Their voices had clearly carried.

Meg held it together just long enough to make it into the bathroom. Door shut behind her, Meg let the tears slip down her face as she silently wept for the joy that was now lost.

Chapter Fourteen

The car ride home was far more quiet than he had hoped.

Liam had watched her carefully all throughout dinner. He was still angry she had told his mother about the jobs, but he hadn’t intended to be so harsh. When she had come out of the bathroom and joined him at the table, it hadn’t escaped either his mother or himself that Meg’s lower eyelids were slightly puffy and red. Her mother had shot him a dirty look.

All through the meal, he tried to engage Meg in hope that she’d forgive him, but she limited her responses to two- and three-word sentences. His mother didn’t seem to have near the issue. Meg talked with her just like she had before. Although he did notice that she tended to shy away from anything to do with him.

He looked over at her after driving in silence for some time.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly.

She turned her sharp eyes on him, and he could see that she was close to losing it again.

“Sorry?” She glared at him. “Well thanks for that.”

Meg turned the other direction in her seat.

“Come on, Meg,” he groaned. “I fucked up, but we can get past this.”

She turned back to him. Tears rimmed her pretty brown eyes, and he felt like shit for being the one to put them there.

“You told me to stay out of your family business,” she said coldly. “How can I even think of having a relationship with someone who hides things from his family and so easily dismisses my feelings?”

His heart tugged at her words. He had been angry with her at spilling the beans to his mom, but it had really been himself that he was mad at. Meg had nothing to do with that. And if he didn’t want his mom to know, he likely should have said something.

“I know I’m a dick,” Liam said and swiped a hand down his face. “I’m used to keeping things in and dealing with this shit on my own.”

He reached out and tried to take her hand, but she pulled away.

“You were right,” he sighed. “I shouldn’t have secrets from my mom. Hell, anymore I’m not even sure who I’m trying to protect. Her or myself.”

A glimmer of hope surfaced when she turned to look at him. Liam pulled up to her parents’ house and parked the car.

They sat quietly like that for a long moment before she spoke.

“I liked your mom,” she said quietly. “I think she can handle far more than you give her credit for.”

He nodded.

Meg opened the door and put one foot out. She stopped to look at him for a second.

“And you’re right, you are a dick.”

Meg climbed out of the car and walked up to her parents’ house. Yes, she was being childish, but he had it coming. She hadn’t waited years to be a part of his life, only to have certain parts closed off. Nope. This was an all or nothing sort of relationship. He either gave her all, or she was going to walk.

“Meg,” he said, trotting after her. “Can’t we talk about this?”

She stopped on her way up the sidewalk and turned to him. “I won’t be shut out,” she said quietly. “If you’re with me, then you can’t ever shut me out of part of your life. I don’t want half a relationship. If you can’t give me more, then let me know. I’ll make the plans for London.”

A few tears leaked from her eyes, and she cursed them.

“Hey,” he said and gathered her into his arms. “I am sorry, and you’ve got me. All of me.”

She shook her head. “You shouldn’t have to hide things from people,” she sniffed. “Especially those that love you.”

He squeezed her tight and sighed. “I know.”

Meg buried her head into his chest and breathed in the soap that still clung to his skin.

“Meg?” her mother called into the dark.

She blushed and pulled away from him. Last thing she needed was her mother to see her crying out there.

“Coming,” she called.

As they made their way to the door, she could see her mother putting together the pieces. She pressed her lips together.

“Hello, Liam,” her mother said tightly.

“It’s okay, Mom,” Meg said. “Just a stupid spat.” She took his hand and smiled.

Her mother looked between the two of them and shook her head.

“Well, I suppose you should both get used to it,” she sighed. “Neither one of you use the sense God gave you.”

“Hey.” Meg frowned. “That’s not true.”

Her mother raised a brow. “Oh, really? And how long did it take for you to get together?”

Meg closed her mouth and stepped back. She really didn’t have much to say to that.

“Well, let’s get this over with,” her mother sighed. “I can’t believe you’d take my baby like this. How’s Harley ever going to see his girlfriends? That damn Max is going to swoop in and steal his thunder.”

Meg nearly choked on her laugh as her mother continued to rage about Max and his dirty paws.

“Wait,” her father said, coming into the room with Harley. “Who’s Max?”

Her mother scowled at the name. “Mr. Healy’s boxer. I just don’t trust him not to break their hearts.”

Meg grinned when her father frown and tutted. “I never did trust that Healy.”

“Oh you.” Meg’s mom swatted his arm. “You think you’re so funny.”

Her father winked at Meg before sitting in his chair.

Meg dropped to the floor to rub the big dog. “Hey, big man,” she cooed at him. “You had enough of these crazy people?”

Harley thumped his tail.

Meg laughed.

“I’m going to need to take his food.” She stood.

Her mom nodded, and Liam followed to carry the large bag.

“They have any clue about who caused the fire?” her father asked. He kept his voice low, and Meg suspected that her mother didn’t know what had happened.

Meg shook her head. “Nothing so far. Kace and Reed and trying to sniff out clues, but it’s getting them nowhere.”

Her father shook his head. “Well, we’re real worried about you, but we trust Liam. He’ll keep you safe.” He glanced at the kitchen.

Meg nodded. Liam might be a dick sometimes, but he would keep her safe.

“So.” Her dad grinned. “Was I right?”

Meg rolled her eyes. “Yes,” she said grudgingly.

He laughed at her antics. “Well it wasn’t a hard guess. I was there when he first saw you. It was like sparks went off around him and reminded me of how I felt.”

“It’s not going to be easy though.” She sighed.

She frowned when he laughed. “Well of course it’s not. That’s lust. Love is a hell of a lot of work,” he said and placed a hand on her shoulder. “But the rewards are like nothing else.”

Meg nodded. More than anything, she longed for the kind of relationship her parents shared. Years of marriage and they still loved one another.

“You ready?” Liam said from behind her.

Startled, she turned around to him. Try as she might, Meg loved him, whether he was showing her how special he thought she was or if he was being unreasonable. She loved him in all forms because that was Liam.

“Yeah.” She smiled at him. “Let’s go.”

* * *

They drove quietly to Liam’s house. Harley panted in the back, his black nose pressed to the crack in the window. Liam watched as she reached around and scratched the dog’s fluffy black head. That dog was the biggest baby he’d ever seen. It was funny. He’d never really thought of himself as having a dog, but Liam knew they were a package deal. Not that he had anything against dogs. When he was a boy, his mother had been far too poor, and as an adult he wasn’t exactly rolling in the dough, even if though he’d done better in recent years, and it didn’t help that his apartment was about the size of a box. A dog like that would never fit in his place long term.

Liam frowned slightly. That would likely mean that as time went on, they would spend most of their time at Meg’s house. Not that he minded. He actually liked the cute little house. She had saved for as long as anyone could remember and when it came on the market, she snatched it up. Her dad had helped with many of the renovations, but Liam knew there was still quite a bit of work to do, something he wouldn’t mind helping with, especially if he was going to move in there some day.

His heart kicked up at the thought of that. Wasn’t it a little early to think that way? Of course, they had known each other for years, and her brothers hadn’t exactly gone the slow route.

He looked over at her. She was so young, but he wondered if she’d ever thought about them living together.

For now, though, he was just glad she seemed to have forgiven him for his hurtful words earlier. His mother had always been a hard spot for him. Without a father, he had been the one to take care of her. Not that she wanted him to, but no one else seemed to want to step into the roll. Sure, Mr. Hernandez would come over for dinner sometimes, but it just seemed like that was the extent of their relationship.