The Owner's Secret Client

by Elana Johnson

  Like a hand sandwich.

  “Let me know if I can help with your mother too,” he said. “Or you, as you deal with your mother. I—I know what that’s like, and no one should have to go through it alone.”

  Serenity’s eyes widened the slightest bit, but she didn’t look away from him. “Who helped you?”

  “My family,” he whispered. “I have a lot of siblings. Parents just down the street. Grandparents too.”

  “Kimmie mentioned a lot of aunts and uncles.” Serenity’s smile was tentative and oh-so-beautiful.

  “Do you have family in the area besides your mother?”

  “My brother and sister both live here,” she said. “They have families of their own—my sister is due with her second baby any day now. And my brother runs the law firm on Chestnut Street.”

  “So they’re busy.”

  She nodded, something storming through her expression that made Liam’s heart cinch for her. He wanted to draw her into a hug and tell her it would be all right. That life went on after a loved one died.

  “So keep me in mind,” he said. “I don’t mind being a shoulder to cry on.” He let go of her hand then, realizing that he was acting like some creepy boss who was trying to be too friendly. He fell back a step, then two, just to put more distance between them.

  Serenity ducked her head and left the office. He heard her say something to Kimmie back in the kitchen, but he remained immobile in the office.

  Liam had always been particularly good at identifying right from wrong.

  And dating his daughter’s new nanny? Oops, au pair? Not okay. Not acceptable. Completely wrong. Forbidden.

  Liam knew all of that intellectually, and yet, he could still wish the situation was different. That he’d met Serenity at the grocery store or the post office or as she picked cherries in the orchard.

  Couldn’t he?

  Chapter Four

  Darkness blanketed Forbidden Lake by the time Serenity finally made it home. And home was such a funny word, because this tiny studio apartment wasn’t anything like the suite she’d enjoyed in the chateau in France.

  It wasn’t anything close to the basement apartment at Liam’s either.

  Liam.

  She needed to get all of her ducks in row regarding Liam, because the man oozed charm and compassion, both of which had Serenity thinking things she shouldn’t. Especially for her child’s father.

  Sighing, she pressed her back into the door before locking it. She’d spent a great afternoon with Kimmie, talking about color theory and watching the girl do simple watercolors. She’d made spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, using staples from Liam’s pantry, and the meal had been warm and wonderful.

  The only thing that would’ve made it more picturesque would’ve been if it had been snowing outside with Christmas music playing in the kitchen. They’d talked. They’d laughed. There was still some tension left over from that afternoon and their meeting, but it was much more subdued.

  She’d stopped by her mother’s after that, and the paper she carried in her hand crinkled as she fisted her fingers.

  “She can’t even be trusted to answer the phone,” Serenity muttered as she flipped on a light and the entirety of her apartment burst into view. She marched over to the tiny, round table on the border between the living room and the kitchen and spread the paper flat.

  Her mother’s handwriting was shaky but legible. Whoever had called her and scammed her out of hundreds of dollars was going to get an earful from Serenity.

  She’d spent her hour-long visit trying to convince her mother not to answer her phone unless the call was from Serenity, Kyler, or Audrey.

  “What about my sister?” her mom had argued, clearly not happy Serenity was trying to take away her phone. But she’d sent money to an unknown source to take care of some supposed outstanding debt from her husband’s funeral—some twenty years ago.

  She’d bought “prescription drugs” over the phone without even looking up the name of the company that had called. That had led Serenity on a twenty-minute search to find these supposed drugs and make sure they were all out of the house.

  “You’re doing cancer treatments,” she’d almost yelled. “You can’t take anything the doctor doesn’t prescribe to you.”

  Her mother simply didn’t get it. Serenity couldn’t even begin to imagine how her mother’s mind worked, but she wouldn’t let more of her mother’s limited income go to some scammer who’d figured out that Selma Silvers of Forbidden Lake, Michigan was an easy target.

  Thankfully, her mother had written down one phone number from one of the calls. Serenity had found it in the stack on the table next to the recliner where her mom spent most of her time.

  She should’ve spent her time with her mom talking about her new job, and how great Kimmie was, how handsome Liam was. She should’ve done the dishes and picked up around the living room a little.

  She’d done none of that, and she determined she’d go back the next day and make sure her mom was ready for visitors, though hardly any ever came.

  Tears filled her eyes, and she couldn’t help sniffling as they started to weep down her face. Serenity wasn’t ashamed to cry. She’d been thrown into an impossible situation, her sister tired of dealing with their mother’s poor health and what Audrey called a poor attitude as well.

  In large part, Serenity hadn’t come back to Forbidden Lake for her mom. She’d come for Audrey.

  Images and memories from her life in Paris flowed through her mind as she got ready for bed. Life there was carefree. She had money to buy whatever she wanted. She enjoyed her three kids. The host family was generous and quick to invite her to do everything with them. She’d taken an art class from an instructor at the Lourve itself, and she’d eaten delicious French pastries every day.

  So maybe her hips were rounder because of her experience in France. Honestly, she was okay with that, because anywhere would be better than Forbidden Lake.

  Her fingers tingled as if reminding her of how Liam had held them between both of his. She’d promised him she’d get him her schedule for the next couple of weeks, and she got up to get her paper planner from the cupboard where she’d put it.

  She should probably move into the digital age and use her phone to track her calendar appointments. But for now, she still had the orange-rimmed planner with French words across the cover that said Follow Your Dreams.

  Serenity scoffed. She didn’t even know what her dreams were. She knew she was about to age out of her job with Heartland, and unless she could get picked up by another agency, she’d need to find a new career.

  She honestly didn’t care which days and nights she had off, not at this point. She had nothing else to do in Forbidden Lake, and she thought she might throttle her mother if she had to spend much more time with her than she already had.

  No wonder Audrey needed a break, and Serenity chased her melancholy mood away. She’d had her fun in France for three long years. It was her turn to take care of their mother. And she would. She could.

  Starting with that phone number.

  She picked up the paper and carefully punched in the numbers. The line rang once before a man said “Greg.”

  Serenity had no idea what to say next. Was there a code word she needed? A line to get past the first-name-only greeting?

  “Hello?” he said, his voice rough and like a pit bull bark.

  “Yes,” she said, deciding to go with diplomacy. “Are you the man who conned my mother into buying prescriptions?”

  The line went dead, and Serenity shook with anger as she stared at the black screen, the number still shining there. The call had lasted six seconds.

  She redialed, getting “Look, lady. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Don’t hang up,” she said, her mind switching to a new direction as if someone had flipped a light switch. “I thought it was genius.” The words tasted like poison in her mouth. If she lied about this, did that make her a bad per
son? Greg was worse than her, she reasoned, and he couldn’t be allowed to continue to steal money from unsuspecting senior citizens.

  “I work at a nursing home,” she said when he remained silent, but the call didn’t disconnect. “I want in.”

  “There is no in,” he said without a moment’s hesitation. “Don’t call me again.” He hung up again, and Serenity set the phone on the table.

  “Tomorrow,” she said, going back to her schedule for Liam. In the end, she simply texted him I’m free all the time for the next couple of weeks. When do you need me?

  He’d responded almost immediately with Come in early tomorrow and we’ll talk.

  What’s early?

  Is seven-thirty too early?

  No.

  Great, see you then.

  A few minutes later, he texted again. How do you like your coffee?

  Serenity smiled at the phone, her thumbs moving like lightning over the screen. Cream and sugar. Hazelnut if you’ve got it.

  I know where a grocery store is.

  Panic hit her. You don’t have to buy it specifically for me.

  He didn’t respond after that, and she spent the first hour of her sleep time lying in bed, obsessing over him. Should she text him again? Why couldn’t she fall asleep? How did he run the orchards and raise a child by himself?

  The three families she’d worked for over the past decade had two working parents, thus their need for an au pair. They had each other to rely on. Liam had no one.

  He has family, she thought, and that comfort finally lulled her into unconsciousness.

  She arrived out at the Sunshine Shores Orchards by seven-fifteen. Everything looked peaceful and serene, as it had yesterday. The sun was already up, and the trees behind the row of houses swayed in a nice lake breeze. She decided that after she picked Kimmie up from school today, they were going to the beach.

  She sat in her car in Liam’s driveway, unsure if he’d be ready to see her yet. When her phone snapped at her—the notification sound she’d put in for Liam—she looked up to the front door. Of course she couldn’t see him.

  You don’t have to sit in the driveway. Come in.

  She unbuckled, got out of the car, and moved up the front sidewalk to the door. She knocked at the same time she entered, the scent of coffee and bacon two of the best things she’d ever smelled in her life.

  That was, until Liam stepped out of his office, clearly freshly showered and shaved. He smelled like musk, and pine, and man, and she wanted to bury her face in his chest and breathe him in.

  Startled at her thoughts, she could only stare at him.

  “I’m glad you’re not opposed to early mornings,” he said. “I like to run on the beach in the morning.”

  “In your slacks and tie?” She let her gaze drip down his body, taking in the spectacular sight of those long legs and then back up to his broad shoulders.

  He laughed, and the sound made the sun shine brighter somehow. “I didn’t go this morning. Plus, once you move in downstairs, it won’t matter. I just don’t like to leave Kimmie alone in the house. But you won’t even have to get up, I promise.” He gestured for her to come into the office with him again.

  Serenity did, careful to put the proper au pair distance between them. Her heart may be hammering out of the control, but he couldn’t know that.

  “I put this together a few minutes ago,” he said, swiping something from his messy desk. He seemed to thrive on the chaos though, and Serenity wished she didn’t find that so alluring. “It gives you some afternoons off. Some evenings.” He handed her a piece of paper, which she took.

  She glanced through it, noticing the early start time of seven a.m. every morning.

  “Since I’m confident you’ll get approval to live downstairs, you can just come up fresh from bed.” He cleared his throat. “Or whatever.”

  Serenity looked at him, and she’d probably gone crazy, but he was blushing. Or maybe he’d just gotten…hot or something.

  Oh, he was definitely hot.

  She lowered the paper, their eyes locking again. She felt as if she were going mad, her synapses firing so quickly. Too quickly. She couldn’t make a thought form in her head, and she feared she’d blurt something inappropriate—like how good-looking she found him.

  “Is this—?” He stepped closer, his navy eyes threatening to drown her. Slowly—so slowly she could’ve slapped his hand away—he reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear. It was a kind gesture. Careful. Tender. And yet so explosive that she sucked in a breath.

  “I realize you can’t have feelings for me,” he said, his words obviously not dammed up behind the lump in his throat. “Because of the job.”

  She couldn’t move. Couldn’t nod. Couldn’t shake her head no. She just searched his face, surprised he had feelings for her.

  Her.

  A woman without nearly the power and status he clearly enjoyed.

  He fell back a few steps, his face so serious she wanted to tell a joke to get him to lighten up. “I understand.” He ducked his head and walked out. “Let me know about the schedule.” A moment later, the front door opened and closed, and Liam was gone.

  Serenity dashed over to the huge window and watched him walk down the sidewalk in a confident stride.

  Don’t let him go! Her brain screamed at her. Not like this.

  Dropping the paper, she hurried after him, wrenching open the front door and running down the steps. “Liam,” she called.

  He turned toward her, making her progress toward him slower. She kept her car between them, her eyes locked on his.

  She had no idea what to say. She exhaled and looked away, the summer sun already warm. Bringing her gaze back to his, she decided to be brave, something she’d been doing a lot more of lately.

  “What if I didn’t have the job?” she asked.

  “What?”

  She took a step toward him, sure she was about to crash and burn. “What if I didn’t have the job? Would you ask me out then?”

  Chapter Five

  Liam’s first instinct was to lie. But he needed Serenity to trust him, and he wanted to trust her. Besides, he was the one who’d started everything, what with all those things he’d said. He felt like he’d blacked out there for a moment, and when he’d come to, she was staring at him like he’d just grown three extra arms.

  “Yes,” he said.

  A smile bloomed on Serenity’s face. “I’d say yes.”

  So the attraction pulling through him, tugging him toward her, wasn’t one-sided. Good to know. Useless, but still nice.

  “I haven’t dated since my wife died,” he said, unsure about why he’d chosen to tell her that.

  “I haven’t dated since high school.” Serenity laughed, and that lightened the whole situation. She tucked her hair again, the same lock he’d touched. His fingers still tingled from the silky feel of it.

  She nodded, her eyes on the ground, her smile in place. “All right, Liam. Have a good day.” She turned to go back inside, like that was it. Everything between them was okay. She called over her shoulder, “The schedule is fine. As soon as I get approval to move in downstairs, we’ll be set.”

  He watched her go up the steps and into his house, his heart racing like it had just won a championship trophy. “What just happened?” he asked himself, but he couldn’t quite come up with an answer. And he was needed in the agricultural center anyway.

  On the short drive through the orchards, his mind spun around what she’d said. I’d say yes.

  He wasn’t asking. He couldn’t. But maybe, just maybe, if she lived downstairs, they could—he had no idea.

  “Have a secret relationship?” He scoffed louder than he’d spoken to himself. But the more he entertained the idea, the more it grew roots in his mind. The more it sounded logical. The more it thrilled him, sending shivers down his spine and a smile to his face. His phone dinged, a very practical sound for the very practical owner of the orchards.

  Serenity’s
name flashed across the screen before it darkened again, and a very impractical reaction ran through Liam. He fumbled to pick up the phone and read her text.

  Kimmie and I are going to the beach after school. That’s okay, right?

  He tapped the microphone and lifted his device to his lips. “Yes, that’s fine. Have fun.” After sending the message, he decided to silence his phone. After all, he didn’t need to have heart palpitations every time it went off. He got a lot of texts each day, and he couldn’t be lunging for his phone to see if one was from Serenity.

  Two other cars waited in front of the big red barn that was part office building and part storage facility and all country. He had the key, and he nodded to Charles in one car and glanced at McKenna in the other.

  Of course they hadn’t gotten out to talk to one another, and dread filled Liam from head to toe. He closed his car door and started for the barn. He’d chosen it as the location for this intervention meeting, because there would be no customers interrupting them, and everyone would be on neutral ground.

  “Morning,” he said in a far chipper voice than he actually felt as McKenna approached. “I did talk to Charles last night.” He nodded as the bald man got out of his Jeep. No one spoke, and Liam gestured for them to go ahead of him with the words, “McKenna, grab the lights. Charles, make sure the air conditioning is on.”

  It was hot already, and about to get hotter.

  “I can see it,” Liam said, peering at the leaves the insecticide inspector had pulled down. “Black cherry aphids.” He tossed the leaves to the ground and glanced at McKenna. “Schedule the whole treatment.”

  She began talking to the other man, and she pulled out her tablet to make appointments and take notes. Liam simply trailed in their wake as they moved from tree to tree. McKenna would keep track of which ones were infected. She’d take the path of least resistance to get rid of them, as they kept part of their cherries completely free of insecticides and sprays.