Chapter 6
Despite her earlier misgivings about having him around, Liam had managed not to annoy Aggie too much. He’d listened as she gave him clipped instructions and followed them to the letter, so as not to piss her off. Occasionally Liam noticed her watching him with a look on her face he couldn’t decipher. Was it hope, sadness or exhaustion? He’d go with the first thought and see where that took them.
By the time her shift had finished, she’d been too tired to argue when he offered her a lift home. As he pulled up outside her house, she glanced over at him.
“You didn’t have to drop me home. I could’ve walked.” Aggie held her hand on the door handle and then pulled it away when she left flour fingerprints on it. “Sorry. Occupational hazard.”
“Don’t worry about it. And Aggie, you’re going to have to talk to me sooner or later, because you need someone. I want that someone to be me.”
She stumbled from the car and slammed the door before looking back through the open window, an eyebrow raised as she stared at him. “You don’t listen, do you?”
But the sting had gone out of her voice. Liam grinned. “You should know that by now. I mean it, Aggie. I’m here for you whether you like it or not. See you tonight.”
Aggie frowned.
“Wedding rehearsal, remember?”
She shook her head and turned away. He watched her storm up the steps and disappear inside before he headed home for a quick shower and, if he was lucky, an hour’s sleep before he had to get up and go to work.
Last night had turned out better than he thought it would. It had taken her a few hours to calm down and accept his presence, but eventually, she gave him a job. Then another. By the end of her shift, he knew how to shape a blob of dough into an acceptable bread roll, and how to make a glaze for her sticky buns and not get it everywhere but where it was intended. He’d also managed to operate the bread-slicing machine without cutting off any fingers and iced six trays of sweet finger rolls. That hadn’t ended so well. He could still see the pink icing on his good shirt.
For his efforts, she’d given him a loaf of his favorite sourdough bread and a dozen iced donuts to take to work to go with their coffee.
He’d break down her resistance sooner or later. She’d ended up speaking more to him last night than she’d done in the last two years. If he kept repeating the evening over, she’d have to buckle and admit she wanted him. At least that was what he told himself.
As he crawled into bed, Liam tried to hold onto the budding romance they’d shared years ago. There was still something there—he was sure of it.
By lunchtime, Liam found himself struggling to keep his eyes open. He poured himself a strong cup of coffee and walked outside to get some fresh sea air, hoping that would help keep him awake.
“You sick or something?” Drew walked out to join him and peered into his eyes. “You look like shit.”
The guy had a way with words even after a superb college degree. “Thanks.”
“Seriously, are you feeling okay? Do you need to take the afternoon off?”
Liam sipped his coffee. His eyes burned with the bright light. Coming outside wasn’t the smartest move after all. “Just a bit tired. Didn’t sleep well.”
“Any reason why?”
Liam glanced at his friend and business partner and debated not telling him, but they’d both been worried about Aggie and had discussed it before. Now wasn’t the time to keep secrets. “Aggie. Last night I decided to call in and say hi. Ended up scaring the crap out of her. She was so shook up I decided to stay and keep her company.”
Drew’s mouth dropped open. “No.”
“Yes.”
Drew laughed. “So you thought you’d go and play the white knight and it all fell apart on you.”
Liam saw the funny side of it now that it was all over. As he recounted his evening to Drew, he sounded pathetic and desperate, not heroic, which was how he’d seen himself when he’d offered to stay and help Aggie. Crap. Had he left her thinking he was needy?
“Yeah. She was so spooked I couldn’t leave her so I stayed, much to her horror. I think she tried to get back at me by putting me to work. Probably thought it would scare me off but it didn’t. Those donuts you wolfed down before? I helped make those.” He gave a smug grin. Who knew it would make him feel so accomplished to fry up little pillows of soft dough and dunk them in sugar?
“Seriously? Never would’ve guessed. They were pretty good. Did she say anything? Tell you why she’s been like a cranky bear for the last two years?” Worry filled Drew’s eyes.
“No. Insisted everything was fine, which is bullshit. She’s hiding something, Drew, and I intend to find out what it is despite April telling us to back off and leave her alone.” If he’d taken anything out of being with her last night, it was that Aggie needed help and he intended to be the one to give it to her. No matter how much she might protest.
“Good. I always liked you two together and still don’t understand what went wrong between you.”
“That makes two of us.”
“Look, go home and put your head down for a few hours. The workload isn’t that hectic this afternoon and I can cope with it unless we get an emergency. Just don’t forget the wedding rehearsal tonight, okay? April will kill us both if you don’t make it.”
“Thanks. And don’t worry, I’ll be there.” He drained his coffee cup and headed back to the break room to drop off his mug before going home in search of his pillow and a couple of hours of shut-eye. He didn’t know how Aggie managed it. Shiftwork had killed him as an intern, and his body sure didn’t like it any more now that he was all grown up. But if you did it long enough, you got used to it and therein lay the problem. He was used to more sociable hours.
After a few hours of restful sleep, Liam showered and chose smart-casual clothes to wear to the rehearsal. He wanted to ask Aggie to go for a drink or a meal with him afterwards. If she was going into work, that was where he’d go too. The thought of her being on her own at the bakery at night and being so scared worried him. It wasn’t right she felt that way, especially not on Hope Island where he’d always felt it was safe. All through their growing up years, they’d been left to do pretty much what they wanted. To think that wasn’t possible now was pretty sad. Perhaps that was why Ben had been asked by the women’s shelter to do the classes. Too much had changed.
He arrived at the small stone church right on time and parked next to Drew’s car. Liam noticed Atticus Hope and his sister Gigi standing outside talking and walked up to greet them. He kissed Gigi on the cheek and shook Atticus’s hand.
“Evening, folks. Lovely night.”
Atticus smiled his lazy smile that always made Liam wonder what he was thinking. “That it is. How have you been, Liam? Haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Busy as usual. And you?”
“Been good. Gigi has been keeping me busy setting up a new studio for her painting.”
Gigi laughed and batted his arm. “Oh, listen to you. I was happy painting in the front room but you insisted I have my own space. Don’t believe a word he says, Liam. He spends more time playing the stock market than building my studio. That’s the real reason it’s taking him so long.”
Liam smiled and a friendly silence settled over them as they walked to the church door together.
“Hear you’ve taken up a part-time job.” Atticus smoothed his moustache down as he spoke.
Liam stared at him, trying to get an understanding of where this was going. “Maybe.”
Atticus kept his steady gaze on him. “I trust you with my girl, Liam. She’s not been the same since she came home. Maybe you can get that sparkle back in her eyes.”
Gigi touched a hand to his arm and spoke softly. “You always had a way with her, Liam. Just be gentle, okay?”
The weight of their expectations felt heavy on his shoulders, but he was willing to try and get through to her.
Drew came out of the church. “Is everyone here?”
He glanced down the road. “Where the heck is Aggie?”
Gigi spoke up. “We offered to bring her but she wanted to walk by herself.”
Drew groaned. “She’d better not let me down. I don’t need my sister throwing April’s well-laid plans into chaos.” He looked down the path and up the road toward their house.
Liam couldn’t see her and held up his hand. “I’ll go and get her.”
“Thanks, pal.”
Liam pulled his keys out of his pocket as he hurried back to his car. He jumped in and headed back toward the Hopes’ home. There was no sign of her along the way and there was only one route to the little church, so he couldn’t have missed her. He pulled up and parked before running up the stairs. He lifted his hand to knock when Aggie walked into the kitchen, saw him and jolted.
Not again. Lately, all he did was scare her. Liam was starting to get a complex.
He slid open the sliding door. “Sorry, didn’t mean to do that again. Drew is freaking out because you’re the only one not at the church yet.” He walked over to her and noticed her damp hair, her makeup free cheeks.
“I’m not late, am I?” She glanced at the kitchen clock over the stove and cursed. “Damn it. Sorry. I was enjoying a long soak in the shower and time got away from me.”
“Not to worry. I’ll give you a lift.”
She gave him a wary glance. “Thanks.” She smoothed a hand over her hair and sighed. “No time to change I guess?”
Liam shook his head and looked at the faded jeans and knit sweater. “You look fine.” She’d never look anything other than spectacular as far as he was concerned.
Aggie walked out and waited for him to follow so she could shut the door. Then she followed him down the steps to his car. When they were on their way to the church, she glanced over at him. “Thanks for last night.”
Liam laughed. “For barging in without an invitation? Any time.”
Aggie blushed. “No, silly. For not leaving me alone when I was freaking out.” She lifted her arm and leaned it against the door, resting her chin in her palm.
“I don’t want you to feel alone, Aggie. I told you that and I mean it. I’m here for you.” Liam pulled into the church parking lot and stopped the car. “Listen, can I take you for a drink or something to eat when we finish here?”
Aggie dropped her head, staring into her lap. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
Before Liam could reply, Drew ran down the path, opened the door and gestured for them to get out. “Sheesh, talk about making an entrance. That’s supposed to be the bride’s job.”
“Sorry. I was enjoying a hot shower and completely forgot the time.” Aggie slid out of the car and waited for Liam to lock the doors.
“Hurry up, you two. Pastor Richards is getting anxious and April is fit to be tied.” Drew walked up ahead of them, beckoning with rapid movements.
“We’ll discuss this later.” Liam grabbed her hand and pulled her up the path where the rest of the family was milling around the door.
“Is everyone here now?” Father Richards clasped his hands in front of his stomach, a pinched look on his face.
“Yes. Sorry, Father. Didn’t mean to hold you up.” Drew did his best to placate the perpetually nervous man and Liam grinned behind his back. He was going to be a wreck on the day of the wedding.
“No problem. Right, let’s have you and your best man down at the front of the church please, Drew. April, you wait here with Mr. Hope and your bridesmaid. When Mrs. Beetson starts the music, I’ll give the signal and away we go. Everyone understand?”
Heads nodded.
“You have the vows already written I hope, Drew? It might seem rushed but there’s only two weeks to go.”
Drew patted his pocket. “Yes, sir.”
“Right, let’s get going then.” Father Richards walked briskly down to the pulpit of his church and took his position.
Forty minutes later, they could all relax.
“That looked stressful.” Liam found it hard to keep a straight face as he stood with Drew outside the church after the rehearsal was over.
“You think it was stressful? You should be in my shoes.” Drew shuddered, not realizing he was being teased. “I keep having this nightmare that April will say no and I wake up in a cold sweat.”
“As if. You two have been headed this way for years. Sure there was a little bump in the road when she married someone else, but you got there in the end.” He watched the bride-to-be talking with Aggie and Gigi.
“I guess. I won’t be satisfied until she’s legally my wife though.” He tipped his chin as his fiancée and sister walked toward them arm in arm. “Another late night planned for you?”
“I don’t think she’s working tonight. I was going to try and get her to open up a bit over a drink or supper.”
April and Aggie stopped in front of them and April slid her arm though Drews. “That went well.”
Aggie nudged her brother. “Apart from Drew looking as though he was going to vomit. How are you going to be on the day, brother, if you can’t even hold it together for the rehearsal?”
“I’ll be fine. I want this to be over, okay. It makes me nervous not having control.”
April rubbed his back and cooed to him like a mother to her baby. “There, there, darling. You’ll be fine. It’s the bride who’s supposed to be the nervous one, not the groom.”
“Aggie, supper or a nightcap?” Liam wasn’t going to give her a chance to slip away when she was in such a good mood. Drew hadn’t noticed the change in her but Liam had, and he was prepared to take full advantage of it.
“Um.” Aggie glanced at April but didn’t get anything other than a smile. “I don’t know.”
“Go on, honey.” Atticus glanced at Liam before kissing Aggie on the forehead. “You deserve a night out.”
Help from anyone was a bonus in his quest to woo Aggie.
“Come on, let’s go. I promise not to keep you out late. See you Monday, April, Drew, Atticus.” He held out his arm, and she was left with no choice but to take it.
* * *
Aggie blew out a breath. Talk about being put on the spot—and in front of the family. Knowing the way they felt about Liam, they’d never forgive her if she turned him down. Too many questions about why would surface.
Having him working beside her in the bakery turned out to be fun once her panic had subsided, and Liam had made it clear he wasn’t leaving her alone. It was kind of him even if he was the one who’d set her nerves on edge. Tonight he’d had the same effect on her.
“You don’t have to do this, Liam. You can drop me at home or I can go with Dad.”
He snorted. “Are you crazy? You know how much I want to spend time with you. If you think you’re getting out of it after saying yes, you’re more delusional than I thought.”
“Ha! Thanks, pal. That’s not the way you make a girl feel good about herself.”
Liam reached over and took her hand, winding his fingers through hers. It felt good and brought to mind all her daydreams about the two of them together. Aggie let herself believe for a moment they could come true, lulled by the romance they’d just witnessed at the church. If only she was brave enough to follow her heart instead of her brain.
“You know I was only joking. I want to be with you. I’ve told you that over and over, but for some reason, you keep avoiding me. I’ll take any chance I can get.”
Yes, she did avoid him. But in her mind, she had good reason. Liam was too nice a guy to be saddled with her. He deserved better. But one supper for old times’ sake couldn’t hurt, could it?
Over a glass of white wine for her and red for Liam, Aggie let her defenses down more than she thought was possible. He brought out the person she used to be, carefree and happy. If only for tonight, Aggie wanted to hang onto that girl.
She laughed along with him, touched his arm without fear, a feat she didn’t think possible. She teased him about his cooking skills or lack thereof.
&
nbsp; “Ah, I might burn steaks, but have I told you how great I am at breadmaking?” He rested his head back on the chair and gazed at her, a smile playing on his lips.
“You’re lucky you have a good teacher, someone patient enough to talk you through it.”
He reached out a hand and she wound her fingers with his. Her heart skipped a beat, and it took a couple of breaths before she got herself under control. He had that effect on her.
“I know.”
She had to acknowledge how much she appreciated his company. “I need to thank you too. I know I said I didn’t need anyone to keep me company but it does feel nice to know you’re there for me.”
“I’ll always be there for you. I told you that, Aggie.”
But not in the way you want. I don’t think we can make that work. “It’s been nice, but I don’t want you to think it’s going to be an ongoing thing. I’m not in the market for a relationship, Liam.”
He gave her a dazzling smile that stole her breath away. She’d forgotten how appealing he could be when he put his mind to it.
“How about this then? Let’s enjoy each other’s company without putting boundaries on it? Pretend there are no rules, no expectations from either of us. When you want to walk away, you can.”
His words gave her a hint of hope, a joy she hadn’t let herself think about since she’d been home. Oh, she knew he was on the island when she ran from Seattle. He’d joined Drew’s medical practice the year before. But she’d managed to stay out of his reach knowing he would only draw her back into the type of friendship they’d once shared. As much as Aggie wanted to experience that, it wasn’t possible. Not with the way she felt about herself.
But perhaps this was. With rules in place that wouldn’t bind her to a relationship or explanation, could she let herself enjoy his company again until he wanted what she couldn’t give him?
His voice broke into her train of thought. “Don’t overthink it, Aggie. This is about being free and friendly, nothing more.”
Don't Let Go (Hope Harbor Book 3) Page 5