Know Me Well

by Kait Nolan

  “I mean it, Liam. I know you have this need to fix things, and I appreciate it. God knows, I don’t know where I’d be right now without that. But this is not yours to fix. Leave it alone.”

  “Yes ma’am.” He shifted around again. “The quilt is still in the trunk. We’re alone in the woods. We could absolutely have more room.”

  “Oh no. You hear those cicadas and crickets? We are very definitely not alone in the woods. Not the kind of alone I would require for the kind of activities we both have in mind. There is nothing sexy about bugs or snakes or anything else that’s out there.”

  “So I’m hearing that you’re never going to want to go camping.”

  “I’m fine with camping. So long as there is a tent. And sleeping bags. And a gallon of mosquito repellent.”

  Liam sighed and pressed a kiss to her throat before finally just sitting on the bench seat. “Just as well. When I make love to you, I want it to be in a bed, where I can take my time about it.”

  Riley felt her body coil with need and longing. She wanted that. Oh God, how she wanted that with him. She slid into his lap to straddle him, her knees bracketing his hips. “You should know I fully support that plan at the earliest possible opportunity. In the meantime—” She shimmied against the evidence of his arousal. “—I expect we can at least manage second base to take the edge off.”

  She gripped the hem of her dress and lifted it up and off.

  “God bless America.”

  Chapter 11

  Riley watched the ServPro technicians roll the dehumidifiers and fans out the front door of the pharmacy. “Good riddance.”

  Ruby lifted her hands to God. “Amen. I ain’t gonna know what to do with myself without all that noise rumblin’ through here.”

  “Don’t get rid of your earplugs yet,” Liam told her. “I’ll be making plenty of noise fixing the damage.”

  Ruby winced.

  “I’ll be doing as much as I can after hours to keep from disrupting business any more than I have to.” He turned to Riley. “You need to be deciding on a new wall color. Once the new sheetrock is in, the whole room will need repainting.”

  “Oh can we please have something other than some shade of antique white?” Jessie begged.

  “There are flooring decisions to be made, too. These original wood floors aren’t salvageable. You and Mom need to decide ASAP if you want to go with more wood, laminate, tile, or what so we can get it ordered over at the hardware store. If there are any changes you want to make to the place, now’s the time to do it while we’re about to have it all torn up anyway.”

  “Decisions, decisions.” Riley was getting damned tired of making them. “I just want everything dealt with as quickly as humanly possible.”

  “It’ll look worse before it gets better. But it will get better. Promise.” He chucked her softly under the chin.

  “I trust you.” And she did.

  “Good.” He pulled her in for a quick and entirely unsatisfying kiss. “I’m gonna run over to see Tyler and pick up flooring samples for y’all to think about. Maybe grab a paint fan too. Then I’ve got a few other things to see about, but after work, I’m taking you out to celebrate.”

  “What are we celebrating?” Liam was not the two week-i-versary type.

  “The fact that repairs can finally proceed. And the rest is a surprise.”

  Riley lifted a brow. “A surprise, huh?”

  “So suspicious.” He grinned. “Just be ready to go by seven. And wear that little black dress. I have a particular fondness for that one.”

  She saluted him. “Yes, sir.”

  “You’re so cute when you try to be official.” Liam kissed her again, lingering this time in a way that had her way more curious about his surprise than she had been. “See you tonight.”

  He sauntered out the door, a spring in his step.

  Jessie leaned against the counter and propped her chin on her fist. “You know, I hate the reason he’s in here all the time right now, but I do love having the eye candy.”

  Riley smiled and resisted the urge to touch her lips. “He is pretty exceptional eye candy, isn’t he?”

  “I wouldn’t kick that one outta my bed for eating potato chips.”

  “Ruby!” Riley laughed.

  “What? I may have thirty years on him, but I’m not dead.”

  “You two were looking mighty cozy the Fourth of July fireworks,” Jessie noted with an eyebrow waggle.

  That wasn’t anywhere near as cozy as they’d been after the fireworks. Not content with second base, they’d ambitiously headed for third. And if they’d only had a bed…

  “Earth to Riley.”

  She jerked her attention back to Jessie to find the other girl smirking in a way that let her know she’d mentally wandered off for a while.

  “I’m just gonna assume by the dopey grin on your face that you two made your own finale.”

  An image of those broad hands on her bare skin had Riley’s face burning hot.

  Ruby’s teeth flashed white. “Good for you, sugar. You need a little loosenin’ up.”

  Riley glared at both of them. “Back to work, both of you. My love life is not up for discussion.”

  “You keep thinkin’ that, honey.” Ruby patted her arm.

  The bell jangled and Tara Honeycutt walked in with her brother and sister. She went brows up as she took in the water damage and rearranged shelving.

  “Wow. I’d heard you had a flood but this is…”

  “Yeah. It’s bad. But the good news is we’re dry enough to finally start repairs, so hopefully all will be back to normal in fairly short order,” Riley told her. Liam was a man of his word. If he said it would be so, it would be so.

  Tara spoke a few soft words to her siblings. Judging from Austin’s hunched shoulders and baleful expression, it was something along the lines of “Don’t touch anything,” but he took his sister over to the candy display.

  “What can I do for you today?”

  They both looked around as the door opened again and Autumn walked in. She waved at Riley and headed toward the haircare products.

  “How’s the tea tree oil working out for you?”

  “Really well.” Tara paused. “I’ve still got your instructions tacked to the fridge.”

  “It can sometimes be hard to remember ratios for stuff. I have to check my references all the time for different oil recipes.”

  “Your handwriting is really—”

  “Messy? Yeah, I know. Mom says I should’ve been a doctor.”

  Tara’s gaze was intense. “I was going to say distinctive.”

  Riley blinked, then realization dawned. Oops. She’d forgotten about the note she’d stuck in one of the coolers.

  No one should ever be made to feel less because of their circumstances or what they have to do to survive.

  “Thank you.” Tara’s voice was soft but firm, and Riley didn’t have to ask what she was referring to.

  She laid a hand over the younger girl’s. “You’re welcome.”

  “I wanted to bring you something. Just a token.”

  “Oh, you don’t have to…” Riley trailed off as she pulled the small white box out of her purse. Nestled inside were a pair of chandelier earrings, similar to the ones Riley had admired earlier in the summer.

  “I did them in silver. It suits your skin tone better than the copper.”

  “They’re wonderful.” Riley slipped them on and immediately felt sassier. “Thank you.”

  Jessie wandered over. “Oh my God, those are awesome. Where can I get some?”

  “Tara makes them.”

  “Well, I want to commission some,” Jessie insisted.

  “Really?”

  When Tara left a little while later, the kids in tow, Riley waved them on their way, feeling like she’d added some positive karma to the world to balance out the negative.

  Autumn stepped up. “You look like you’re having a good day.”

  Riley tapped at her da
ngles. “I very much am.”

  “Well, it’s about to get even better.”

  The door opened again.

  “Hold that thought,” Riley said.

  Sharilyn breezed up to the counter. “Hey, baby.”

  “Hey, Mom. What can I do for you?” Riley couldn’t stop the instinctive tensing.

  “Not a thing. I’m on my lunch break. I just wanted to let you know I’d be away this weekend.”

  “Oh? With who?” Please don’t say Matthew McSweeney.

  “You remember Linda Buckner?”

  “It was her wedding where you met Daddy.”

  Sharilyn beamed. “It was. She’s in Lawley now and invited me for a visit.”

  Riley relaxed. “That’ll be fun. How are you getting there? Do you need to borrow the car?” If she needed anything, Liam could probably take her.

  “Nope,” Autumn said. “Judd’s Nanna’s birthday is this weekend. He has to work, so he and Mary Alice are going for the party tomorrow and coming back late. I’m staying the weekend at the farm, so I told your mom she could hitch a ride with me.”

  “I just wanted you to know I’d be gone until Sunday. You know, so you don’t worry.” This last was said with a pointed look that had Riley frowning.

  You’re welcome, Autumn mouthed.

  Translation: I’m making sure your mom will be gone all weekend, so she won’t be around to barge in on you and your sexy new boyfriend.

  Oh God.

  “That’s…very considerate,” Riley choked out, knowing her face was flaming ten shades of crimson.

  “Are you all packed, Sharilyn?” Autumn asked.

  “Just need to swing by the house and grab my bag.”

  “Why don’t we do that, and then I can drop you back by work for the rest of your shift.”

  “Sounds great. I’m off at six.” Sharilyn popped her over-sized sunglasses back on and headed for the door “Have a good weekend, baby!”

  With a final wave and a wink, Autumn followed her out.

  Looked like Riley wasn’t the only one getting a surprise tonight.

  ~*~

  “It really shouldn’t be too bad.” Liam could already see how the place could look with some TLC. “There’s no need to knock out walls or alter the floor plan. Updated fixtures, refinished cabinetry and trim. It can all be done very reasonably.”

  Babette Wofford crossed her arms and nodded. “What kind of timeline are we looking at?”

  “Well, I need to knock out the pharmacy first thing, and that’s going to take some time. And then finish up the apartment above it. Maybe a month or six weeks before I could start. But the job itself…a week. Maybe two.”

  “That’s fine,” Babette said. “You just let me know.”

  “I’ll work up that estimate and get it to you in the next few days. You can get some other quotes in the meantime to make an educated decision.”

  Babette waved her hand. “I don’t need other bids. You were a good, honest boy and you’re a good, honest man. I’ll wait until you’re available to do the job.”

  Mildly exasperated and more than a little amused, Liam said, “I appreciate that Mrs. Wofford. But if you change your mind in the meantime, no hard feelings.”

  They headed down the stairs.

  “I’m just happy to finally be doing something with it. Meanwhile, I’ll be looking for a new tenant for the studio apartment down on Sutton. My last one up and skipped out on his lease last month. Moved his stuff out and didn’t tell a soul. We didn’t realize anything was wrong until he was late with his rent.”

  Liam’s interest piqued. “What’s the rent?”

  Babette named a figure. “After this latest fiasco, first and last month’s rent will be required up front. And a security deposit. Are you interested? Not to talk you out of it, but it’s a real crackerbox of a place. I can’t imagine a man your size fitting comfortably there.”

  He thought of Riley’s insistence that he stay out of things with her mother. But giving Sharilyn information about a place that would suit her needs hardly qualified as actual interference. “I’m not, but I know somebody else who might be. Do you have time to show it to me?”

  It really was a crackerbox, but it was clean and functional. More to the point, it was within walking distance of everything downtown, which made it affordable, even on an hourly wage, if she wasn’t having to pay for a car. Sharilyn could probably swing it, and it would do her good to have a taste of the independence that her daughter prized above all else.

  Because it was on his mind, he headed straight to McSweeney’s Market. The after work, pre-weekend rush was starting. Since he didn’t want to take up Sharilyn’s time without even buying something, he swung through the floral department to grab one of the ready-made bouquets. By the time he’d picked between sunflowers, Gerbera daisies, and something hot pink and tropical looking, the crowds had thinned, and he caught Riley’s mom alone at her register.

  She gave him a broad smile when he approached. “Well, aren’t those just the prettiest things? For Riley?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Sunflowers are a good choice. They’re a favorite. She’ll just love those. It’s the kind of little thing she’d never buy for herself but absolutely appreciates.”

  He was doubly glad he’d decided to stop. “I’d say she deserves a little spoiling.”

  “She absolutely does.” Sharilyn rang him up. “Would you like to make a contribution to our Good Food for Good Neighbors program?”

  “And what is that, exactly?”

  “The program enables you to tack on a donation to your bill, either by automatically rounding up to the nearest dollar or by adding an amount of your choosing. The money then goes into a fund managed here at the store that can be distributed via gift cards for store credit so those in need can buy groceries. It’s a way for people in our community to help those who need it without having to go out of their way or do anything complicated.”

  “And since the money is on gift cards, there’s no stigma attached.”

  “Exactly,” Sharilyn said.

  “This was your idea.” It wasn’t a question.

  A shadow of pain flit across her face. “If something like this had been around fifteen or twenty years ago, maybe Riley wouldn’t have been harassed.”

  “This is a brilliant idea.”

  Sharilyn’s cheeks pinked. “It’s just experimental for now, but if it works out, Matthew’s going to make it a permanent thing.”

  Matthew McSweeney strode over. “I can’t imagine it not being a rousing success. So far the response has been really positive. People like the idea of their donations staying local.”

  “I certainly do. Put me down for twenty,” Liam said.

  “Cents?”

  “Dollars.”

  “Oh you are the sweetest thing.”

  Matthew beamed at her. “Innovators deserve reward. I think we need to discuss a raise. Why don’t you close out your till and come see me in my office before you head out.”

  Wide-eyed, Sharilyn just nodded and watched him walk away.

  “Congratulations,” Liam told her.

  “It’s so unexpected.”

  “Why? You’ve been working hard, clearly doing a good job. And in light of that, there’s something I wanted to mention to you.”

  “Oh?”

  Liam told her about the apartment. “I wasn’t sure if you were to a point you could be thinking about that, but it seemed pretty ideal, and since they lost their last tenant unexpectedly, they’re eager to fill it.”

  Sharilyn gnawed on her lip. “I’ll have to do some number crunching, see if I can swing it.”

  “You just let me know, and I’ll go look over it with you.” He didn’t know why he said it other than she was the kind of woman who seemed like she’d be more comfortable making a decision with a man around to approve. And he could make sure she didn’t get herself into trouble.

  “I’ll do that.”

  He pick
ed up the flowers.

  “And Liam? Thank you for wanting to take care of Riley.”

  His lips curved as he imagined Riley’s reaction to such a statement. “I’m not sure she’d say the same.”

  “Probably not,” Sharilyn acknowledged. “But whether she’ll admit it or not, she wants someone to care. And you’re headstrong enough to do it for her own good.”

  That was the absolute truth. He just hoped she ultimately thanked him for it.

  Chapter 12

  It was seven fifteen by the time Liam rolled up at Riley’s place, face freshly-shaved and hair still damp from his shower. He grabbed the envelope from the seat and stuffed it into his back pocket, then scooped up the flowers. He’d planned to wait until dinner to tell her, but as it was too damned hot for a coat, he had nowhere to put the thing and didn’t want to get distracted and leave it on the table at Tosca. If Riley was wearing The Dress, that was a distinct possibility.

  She opened the door as he was climbing the steps. “Hey, Boy Scout.” The sultry smile softened as she took in the bouquet he carried. “You brought me flowers.”

  “I did.” He passed them over, and she buried her face in the blooms with a distinctly feminine purr.

  She was wearing The Dress. And those shoes that made her legs look long and luxurious. He got a good view of what those heels did for her backside as he followed her into the kitchen and waited while she put the flowers into water. Her makeup was a bit more subdued than the first time he’d seen her in this outfit and her hair was a bit less vintage, but she was no less a knockout. And this time he had the right to touch her. It was too damned bad they didn’t have the privacy for that.

  “You’re stunning.” He lifted her hand to his lips, shifting at the last moment to press a kiss to her palm.

  “You’re a charmer. I like it.” A faint blush streaked across Riley’s cheeks and down the column of her throat.

  Liam wanted to follow that trail into the bodice of her dress to see if the rest of her flushed that gorgeous rosy color. “I aim to please.” And he really had to stop thinking about pleasuring her. They were about to be out in public and her mom could get home any minute. “You ready?”