More Than Scars (12 page)

I wanted to clap a hand over his mouth, instead I just gasped.

Ian chuckled. “That came out wrong. I’m sorry! I simply meant…she admires and respects you brother. She is made of good stuff and she is one hundred percent here for the girls! One hundred percent professional. She was a good hire.”

“Thank you,” I said softly.

“You are welcome.” Ian patted my hand and then looked to his brother pointedly. “Now if you try to follow me again I swear to God I will kick your ass! Do we understand one another?”

Liam cleared his throat. “Yes.”

Ian let out a breath. “One more thing. I have been the face of this company…ever since, well, you know. Well, the natives are restless and they are wanting to see you again Liam. Some may be from morbid curiosity but…”

I should leave,” I cut in. This was none of my business.

“No, stay,” Ian argued. “I will be quick. The short is this brother. You have to think up a way to meet with them. They want to be assured you are still living. Your voice…lovely as it is…just isn’t enough anymore!”

Liam sighed in frustration. “I will think of something to appease the clients.

“I am thinking party,” Ian said with a sharp nod.

“I will think about it brother,” Liam growled.

“Then we are done here.” Ian got to his feet and offered me his elbow. “The girls are watching another dreadful children’s flick. Would you care to join?”

I drew in a breath. I guess I had done what I had wanted…I had thanked Liam. I gave him a short nod and stood.

“Wait,” Liam said softly. “Miss Meadows, I want you.”

Ian snickered.

“To stay,” he quickly added. “I want you to stay for a moment. Will you stay?”

My heart tried to escape my chest and I nodded soundlessly.

“I will be upstairs playing princess…or having a tea party or whatever else those two little angels have planned for me,” Ian said upon exit. He closed the door softly behind him.

I took my seat slowly again and felt my heart start to slow again when he didn’t jump right in to talking. He was quiet for a moment. His long fingers drummed softly and nervously on his desk.

“How are you feeling?”

His baritone warmed my nerves and I was able to pull in a breath.

“You had quite a shock,” he whispered. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. If I had known that was going to be your response…I would have warned my brother.”

I shrugged. “Or you could have told me yourself?” I kept my voice soft.

I could sense his nod. “I don’t share that part of my life with many people Miss Meadows. Especially not with those I have just met.”

My eyes lifted to his chest. He was straightening his tie. “But you knew I had been through something similar. Didn’t you think I might understand a little?” I prayed I wasn’t crossing a line. He was my employer. He was right. This was none of my business. “Do the girls know any of this?”

“Yes.” His voice was barely above a whisper.

“Suppose one of them said something and it triggered my reaction? I’m okay now. I can handle it now that I know…it was the shock that cause my melt down. Now that I know I can deal with it…but it’s just the idea. I am helping to raise your girls Mr. Byrne. I should know some of these things.”

“You should,” he agreed softly.

Relief washed over me. My words had not angered him.

“We will have to work on that.” His hands rested on the desk and his fingers thrummed gently. “There is something else we should work on.” He cleared his throat and the hands returned to his tie.

Butterflies set loose in my tummy at his nerves.

“I believe I have been a little too forward with you.”

The butterflies died.

“I have also given others…well my brother, the impression that I have an interest to pursue you in a…romantic way.” He cleared his throat. “I hope I have not given you that impression.”

What do you say to that?

“I feel that we should remain professional and I may have lost sight of that the last few days. You are a very sweet woman and attractive. I wouldn’t want to give the appearance of anything unseemly between us.”

Where was this coming from?

“I know it seems crazy…me bringing this up. You would just have to see me and look at you to know how silly this all sounds. I guess I am saying this more for myself than you. I do not want to put myself in a position where I would need to ask more of you Miss Meadows. I don’t think I could handle the rejection when you would politely say no. And I don’t want you to have to thwart off the advances of someone like me.”

My heart skipped a beat. I don’t think I could thwart off anything from Liam Byrne!
“Someone like you?”

He cleared his throat. “I know what I am.” He cleared his throat again.

I felt his eyes on me and it irritated me that I could not look him in the eye and tell him what a jackass he sounded like. “I like being around you but if you think that it is unprofessional than we will amend that. You have not given me the impression that I would have to fight you off…you have been a gentleman and I am comfortable around you.” I smiled sadly. “I like working for and with someone like you Mr. Byrne. As long as you remain honest around me about the girls than we will get together just fine!”

He straightened his tie. “Can I please ask you a favor?”

I gave a nod.

“Don’t…please don’t date Ian. We don’t have a rule about it in the household. God knows he has had many offers from the females here! I just…It would just make me feel better if you didn’t date him.”

I frowned. “May I ask why?”

He was silent for a moment. “You want to don’t you?”

I laughed softly. “Ian is very nice and he certainly is handsome but I do not have any desire to see him that way. I would like to be friends with him though. Would that be okay?”

“Yes,” the baritone was soft and sounded quite pleased.

“Then we have no problems there!”

He breathed out a breath of relief. “As for you and I…do you feel last night was proper? Was it okay to spend that time together?”

My smile widened. “We were with the girls and they loved it! So, I would have to say yes!” I twisted my fingers together. I didn’t want him to take this connection with him away. I felt selfish because I should really be worrying about the girls! “I think you are so used to keeping yourself away from people other than your staff and your family that when you actually do spend time with someone different…it feels off.”

He chuckled.

My tummy tumbled. How did one do that with just the sound of one’s voice?

“I did enjoy myself.
Even if I fell asleep in the middle of it.”

“You must have needed the rest,” I defended him.

“Thank you again for caring for me.”

My thoughts went immediately to the dark thick hair that had been so wonderful under my fingers. I wondered if I would ever get a chance to touch him like that again. Maybe the next time he fell asleep on movie night! Next time! I wanted next time to be now. I hated the thought of leaving this office! I would gladly sit here and listen to that voice take calls or watch those hands type memos into his laptop! My heart skittered about in my chest and I had to draw in a deep breath to get it to beat normally again. Liam straightened his tie.

“You are welcome,” I said after too long of a delay.

“So what are we going to do with the girls next?” He asked this quickly, sensing my nerves.

I tilted my head and thought for a bit. What was something we could enjoy together without Liam feeling uncomfortable? “We could do a bonfire for them? It’s perfectly chilly these fall nights! S’mores…hot dogs, scary stories! We could invite Ian to tend the fire! I know you wouldn’t want to…be in the…well, with me there…in the light.” I shrugged.

“Firelight reveals a lot,” he says softly.

“It’s not that revealing…and fire and candlelight is the most flattering,” I teased. “I think the girls would like it.”

He nodded. “They would love it…but I would not be comfortable…”

I bit my lip.

“You and Ian will do it,” he quickly cut in. “He will love it! It’s a great idea.
Just not for me.”

“I will keep my head down,” I whispered.

“And not enjoy the fire? No, I am not going to be selfish.”

“I won’t be selfish either! You can do it with the girls…I will bow out!”

“It’s your idea! And you will be a better storyteller than I will!” He cleared his throat. “We will do something else!”

I nodded, feeling disappointed.

“The outside event does sound like a good idea. What if we took them star gazing? Maybe a short ride in the wagon…drawn by a couple horses? We could take hot chocolate? Might not be as warm and cozy as a bonfire, but…”

“I like it,” I quickly agreed. “Actually I love it!”

I sensed his smile. “I will work it out with Jack.”

I hoped my smile mirrored his.

“See? We work together well!”

I nodded and then worried my lip again. I felt like it was almost time to leave and the idea was not a happy one to me. “May I be a little bold?”

Liam leaned forward. His scarred hands ran down his tie. “I suppose.”

My breath hitched when his voice dipped lower. What was he thinking I was planning on being bold about anyway? My cheeks warmed. “Ian mentioned how your clients are restless to see you face to face?”

“Yes?”

I gave a shrug. “You could do a party.”

Liam cleared his throat. “I am not up to that. I can’t even attend a bonfire with you Miss Meadows. And I very much would like to attend a bonfire with you.”

Again my cheeks warmed. I leaned forward. “But you can have a party and never show your face.”

He chuckled. “And how do I accomplish this Houdini?” His laughter made my skin tingle.

“You can have a masquerade,” I said softly. “We can get you a full mask….or half mask…I am not sure since I do not know the extent of your scars. Whatever would make you
comfortable.”

I heard him move, but did not lift my eyes. He stood beside me, and my hand was in his. He tugged so that I stood before him. My nose was mere inches from his chest…from that darn tie he had straightened a dozen times. The hand he had taken was lifted to his lips and he kissed the flesh just inside my wrist. My breath caught. I tried to keep the sound inside my throat, but I am sure he heard it. His lips brushed the same spot and the same sigh rushed out. I didn’t fight it the second time.

“You are a beautiful genius,” he whispered.

His breath teased the hair about my face. He was so close to me. And he smelled divine.

I leaned in closer and heard his breathing increase slightly. He let go of my hand but didn’t step away. He was so very close. I wanted to take the lapels of his jacket in my hands and pull him closer. All I wanted to do was kiss Liam Byrne. I instead reached out and straightened the already straight tie

“Will you help me start this?”

I nodded dumbly.

He turned me about and led me to the door. His hand on the small of my back had its same affect. I nearly protested when it lifted. “When the girls have started their lessons come here tomorrow,” his warm voice rolled over me. “We will start then.” His hand ran from my shoulder, down my arm, and squeezed my hand. I squeezed back. He tugged softly so that he could lean in. He did this often now. His lips were to my ear and I shivered. “Good night Miss Meadows,” he murmured. “Give your mother my best and apologize for my lack of farewell. I have a lot to get done tonight!”

I nodded, feeling the brush of his stubble as he pulled away.

He
close his door and I was left staring at the door and wanting the man behind it more than ever!

Chapter 7 Little incident

             
The delicious smell of coffee greeted me as I entered the kitchen. Stewart was the next greeting and then Mary with her motherly concern. I tried to waive off her worry but she quickly made me sit on a stool by the counter.

             
“When I heard what happened I wanted to come see you but I was told you were resting! You should have stayed in bed today! Mr. Byrne asked that I look after the girls until their lessons! Really Nerissa, you are too dedicated.”

             
I gave her a smile. “I am fine Mary! I would go stir crazy up there “resting”…I would!” I took the cup of coffee she handed me and reached for the cream on the counter. “It was just an episode and I am over it now. I will feel better if I just get back to normal!”

             
Stewart chuckled from his corner. He was hiding behind his newspaper as usual. He would remain there until it was time to take Liam his breakfast. “Don’t argue with her Mary. Miss Meadows has made up her mind, let her have it!”