More Than Scars (13 page)

             
Mary frowned, walked up to me, and tilted my chin. “You will tell me if you feel ill and need me to fill in?”

             
“Yes Mary,” I assured her and took a sip of my coffee.

             
Laura entered just then, tying her apron strings and blushing furiously.

             
“And where have you been?” Mary chided. “We need to make bread today and that dough is not going to knead itself!”

             
The dark haired woman blushed.

             
“I need to start the boss’ breakfast,” Mary sighed.

             
“Don’t start yet…he’s still in the gym.”

             
I glanced up at the familiar voice and then immediately lowered my gaze from Ian and also blushed. I hadn’t looked away quickly enough. I’d gotten an eyeful of how truly sculpted Ian Byrne truly was. He was used to spending some serious time in the gym.

             
“Ian Byrne, you put your shirt on,” Mary barked.

             
Ian chuckled and flipped the tee shirt in his hands over his head. “I was cooling off Mary! It’s too hot for clothes.” He gave Laura a wink.

             
I rolled my eyes at him and questioned my irritation.

             
Ian rolled them back at me. “I was in the gym too,” he growled at me.

             
I blushed and glanced toward Laura…wondering if she had maybe been spying? Mary had said all the females were atwitter over Ian.

             
He made his way over to me, stealing my cup, taking a sip. “Like my tee shirt?”

             
Mary came up behind him, rescued my cup, handed it to me, and set a fresh cup in his own hand. “Silly boy.”

             
I laughed. “What?”

             
He grinned.

             
“Don’t try to flirt with me Ian Byrne. I got a taste of the nice guy yesterday. I like him better than the playboy.”

             
His blue eyes twinkled. He was playing with me. He leaned on the counter as if he belonged there. “Yeah Mary hold off a bit. He was running hard on that treadmill. Something has him really worked up. Or, someone.” He swung his gaze to me and lifted his brows suggestively. “He’s already been out on Zosenstein and he was in the gym before I even got there.”

             
“He works out too hard,” Mary sighed. “I’m going to have to start doubling his calories again if he keeps this up!” She shook her head.

             
Ian tilted his head at me. “Mary does a good job of it too. At Liam’s size and the way he works his body…he should be a walking skeleton with zero body fat. She makes sure he gets his three meals plus several protein shakes and snacks all through the day. She’s been doing it for years. He would never think to do it for himself.”

             
I thought of the sheer size of Liam…the width of his body, the breadth of his shoulders. He certainly wasn’t emaciated, and I felt thankful that he had Mary watching over him. “I wish he would care for himself,” I said softly.

             
Ian nodded, moving to the fridge and pulling out a gallon of milk. “He’s too busy caring about others…and his business. It’s always been that way.” He pulled open a cubbard and pulled out a container of protein drink to mix his own. He chuckled when Mary pushed him aside to do the job. He sauntered back over to me, pushing his damp hair from his eyes.

             
“So I heard you came up with an idea for meeting the clients? I absolutely love it! Where did you come from Nerissa Meadows? Smart, pretty, good with children, wild horses…my brother, and now a party planner?”

             
I blushed. “I am not a planner. I just had an idea. He can take it from there and do with it what he will!”

             
He leaned back and took the glass Mary handed him, drinking down half of it in one long gulp. He lifted the bottom of his tee to wipe his mouth, giving a very nice view of his stomach. I glanced away flushing. Mary slapped his hand and handed him a napkin. Laura stared without shame.

             
“You are meeting with him this morning?”

             
I nodded, turning back to him. “As soon as the girls are in lessons.”

             
He finished his drink and thankfully used his napkin. I was not attracted to Ian in that way but I certainly was a woman! I couldn’t take anymore peep shows. “Which lessons?”

             
“Piano today.”

             
He snorted. “Liam should be teaching them the piano. No tutor could teach as well. Have you heard him play yet?”

             
I shook my head. Sadly I had not yet had the pleasure.

             
“I would sit there for hours to learn a piece he could learn in ten minutes when we were kids! I finally gave up when I found sports were my thing! Then we found out sports were his thing too!” He grinned. “And business…Liam was born to succeed.” He shrugged. He seemed more proud than jealous of his brother. “Anyway…yeah, he wouldn’t just teach them how to play…he could teach them to love it…especially if they are half as good as he is!”

             
My smile couldn’t be helped. “Brianne is marvelous! Amelia struggles, but she is still young!”

             
He nodded and then leaned in as if to tell me a secret. “Well then my Mom lied to me.”

             
I laughed and shook my head at him.

             
“It’s not in the eyes.” He pointed to his splendidly blue eyes. “She assured me the reason Liam played better than I did was because his eyes were brown and those with brown eyes had music inside them…but those with blue had a different gift.” He gave a shrug and a grin. “Brianne’s are just as blue as mine and Amelia’s are as chocolate as Liam’s.”

             
I shook my head at him again. “She was saving your feelings Ian.”

             
He placed a hand over his heart. “I am broken.”

             
I pushed him aside and got to my feet. “I should go get the girls for breakfast! I will see you in a bit,” I called to the others.

             
Ian was quickly with me. “Let me.”

             
“You go shower…you had a hard workout,” I insisted, but he followed me out the door anyway and we started up the stairs.

             
Ian matched my steps on the stair. “So, Liam said you and I are to start doing things together?”

             
I stopped on the stair and turned to him, tilting my head. “He said that?”

             
“Yes, insisted on it. Seems to think it’s a good way to keep you happy…keep you here.” He grinned. “I know better than to be flattered,” he laughed. “What happened after I left last night? Why his sudden change of heart?”

             
I shrugged. “I don’t understand.” My face must have shown my confusion.

             
“He finds his confidence in his work. He is very successful…very good at what he does. He finds confidence in making others happy…his employees…his girls. For some reason he feels like you and I would be happy doing things together. That I would make you happy. Why would he think this?”

             
I sighed. “I mentioned including you in an activity.” My hands clenched. “He seemed a little...a little…” I blushed.

             
“Jealous?”

             
I blushed. “That would be silly.”

             
“And?” A dark brow raised. “What else did he say to you?”

             
“He asked me not to date you.”

             
Ian laughed and ran a hand through his hair. “He did now? So he thinks that was your angle?”

             
My cheeks flushed. “I asked if I could be friends with you and he said that it would be okay.”

             
His head shook. “Oh brother of mine.” He set his hands on his hips and his blue eyes met mine. They softened and his mouth curved in a gentle smile. “Okay…we will be friends.” He took my hand and kissed it chastely. “What are we supposed to be doing together?”

             
“Things with the girls.”

He nodded. ”Like the sound of that. What kind of things?”

“I…I had wanted to do a bonfire…but I have an even better idea.”

             
Ian’s brows rose.

             
“You and I could join forces. We both have the same heart for them. We know what their future will be like if they are shut in!”

             
He looked uncertain and crossed his arms before him.

             
“Just lunch Ian. Let’s take them out for lunch! They will love it! They can dress up…order from the adult menu! And they would be so safe with the two of us!” I knew my voice sounded pleading, but I didn’t care.

             
Ian shook his head once. “Liam would have both of our heads Rissa. We have to respect him.” He uncrossed his arms, touched my cheek with affection, and smiled. “The bonfire will be fun. How about Saturday night?”

             
I frowned.

             
“Come on,” he sighed. “I know where you are coming from.” His hands cupped my face. “Believe me! You have known them a short time. I have known them their whole life. We will one day get through to Liam on this. Now is just not the time. Wait until after this party. Maybe being back among the living will give him a new perspective.” He smiled a heart stopping smile.

             
I turned my face, knowing I was on my own in my thoughts once more. “Okay,” I agreed.

             
Ian cleared his throat. “Don’t be angry with me…we only just became friends.”

             
I smiled and shook my head. “I’m not mad at you. I just don’t like the circumstance sometimes.” I shrugged.

             
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’ll go wake the girls and check on Liam. Why don’t you go finish your coffee? You were supposed to be resting today anyway. No worries today. Prepare yourself for your meeting.”

             
My eyes lifted to his and I saw the genuine concern there. “Thank you Ian.”

             
He winked and started a jog up the stair without another word.

             
One hour later I was summoned to Liam’s office. Stewart had already been there with his breakfast moments before. I only hoped he had time to eat enough. There had also been a protein drink on the tray so that gave me comfort. I didn’t want him passing out in the middle of our meeting.

             
Stewart let me in and my heart leapt in my chest as it always did when I passed through those doors. I moved to the middle of the room, head down. He was at his desk…I saw his silhouette. He was also on his phone. His tone full of authority. I liked the strength in his words, the confidence in his demands. He was at home here.

             
I turned slightly to the wall to browse the wall to my left. There were photos of buildings that I had to believe belonged to the Byrnes. There were sketches also…certificates…honors. And seeming out of place, leaning against the wall was a guitar case. A smile played at my lips. So, he didn’t just favor the piano? I wondered if he ever pulled it out to play.

             
For whatever reason, I forgot myself and moved to the case, touching the snaps that held it closed. There was no dust on it…so it hadn’t sat there unused.

             
“Do you play?”

             
I almost jumped out of my skin. My hand went to my heart and I laughed.

             
Liam stood behind me now. So close I could smell the shampoo he had used in his recent shower. If I were a betting woman, I would guess his hair was still damp too. That was a very nice thought for some reason. “No, do you?”

             
He laughed.

             
I felt silly. “Ridiculous question. Of course you do…why would you have a guitar?”

             
He cleared his throat, as if fighting another laugh. “Would you like to sit on the couch? I thought we could get some notes down…record a few ideas you might have? I won’t keep you long,” he promised.

             
Wouldn’t mind being kept long…but of course I did not say this out loud. I turned about, head lowered and moved to the couch, where he had set a note pad and pen. Two glasses of water awaited us as well. I was glad. My mouth was already dry.

             
He sat beside me…close enough that his scent was there again. My awareness of him was embarrassing and I prayed he didn’t know how very aware. It was little things too. He was not seducing me…I was not seducing him…I was just aware of him. His head bowed near mine as we wrote down ideas and this made me too happy. His breath brushed my cheek when we laughed over my misspelling…making me shiver. His knee touched mine as he reached over for his water and I nearly broke the pen in my hand. I was acting like a crazy person and my heart was doing funny things in my chest. It was…well, embarrassing! He had to sense it.

             
My forte is not planning, so I gave him a few suggestions. The most important aspect of the whole thing was that he could still be involved without being vulnerable to everyone’s judgment of his appearance. He could interact without worry that they were looking at his scars.

             
He seemed pleased with the information I gave him. And it seemed our time would be ending soon. I was relieved and I was pained by this!

             
“I will contact my planner and lay this out for him. I think this will be successful Miss Meadows. I am very thankful,” he said with gentle appreciation.