More Than Scars (40 page)

             
Liam shook his head as though to clear the cobwebs. He looked to me…his eyes questioning. I was clearing cobwebs of my own. He grasped my wrists and brought them down to my sides. “Come see me…tonight,” he whispered. “I will wait up for you.” And he was gone.

Chapter 20 The night that would not end

             
When I returned from the stable I hurried up the stairs to kiss the girls good night. I smiled kindly at the nervous looking guards, but Mary let me in assuring them I was fine.

They fussed again over my dress and tried to use it as an excuse to stay up. I tucked them in with the promise that we would play dress up one day very soon.

              “Will Daddy say goodnight?” Amelia yawned, already half asleep.

             
“Daddy will,” I promised…and as I was heading down the stair…he was heading up. He paused when we meet halfway and leaned in to brush a kiss to my lips, no words, just that simple contact before he continued up the stair. My heart was done for.

The remaining night of my first masquerade was like floating on air and drowning at sea. I was floating on air with the after effects of Liam’s kiss and the promise of seeing him later. I was drowning in the worry of…would we pick up where we left off. I was so close to uncovering him…and he was not fighting me!

              “What was the emergency?” I asked Ian, as he whisked me across the dance floor.

             
He frowned. “Some creepy old man was caught trying to go up the stairs or coming down the stairs or something. He was apprehended but put up a fight. They locked him in a room and called the cops. I don’t think Liam pressed charges…but he had to be present when they got here.” His brows rose curiously. “How did you know about the emergency?”

             
I blushed. “I may or may not have been with him when he was called in.”

             
Ian’s blues danced. “Something I should know?”

             
I laughed at the mischievous grin. “A lady does not kiss and tell.”

             
“Except you just did,” he crowed with pleasure and spun me, only to pull me back into a hug. “Do I get details?”

             
I gave him my, are you crazy? look.

             
He grinned. “It was worth a try!”

             
I did not want the night to end…and yet I wanted it to end. The faster the party was over, the sooner I would have time with Liam. It felt wrong wishing away the same night I had longed for for so long.

             
I watched the party slowly dwindle. It was well past midnight when the final guest left and said good night to my Mom and Al. Liam had offered them rooms but Al was very touchy about staying in strange places. He would drive Mom home and planned on staying the night.

             
“It’s not because of the creepy dance guy?” I teased him as he hugged me.

             
Al pulled back and his green eyes held concern. “Rissa, that’s the guy they dug out of here tonight.”

             
I paled and self-consciously hugged my arms to myself.

             
“You okay?”

             
Goosebumps rose on my arms “He’s gone,” I assured him. “The police said he had too much to drink. Nothing more than that.”

             
Al ruffled my hair. “I know…but ever since that night…you know how it is for me.”

             
I nodded. I knew. Al carried his demons as I did. He would watch Mom and call me constantly for days now after this incident to be sure we were okay. It was his way.

             
I closed the door. They were the last guests and Stewart was right there to punch in the code. I patted his shoulder and joined Ian in the foyer. He had tugged off his jacket and was holding it over his shoulder like a model.

             
I gave him a smile. “I’m sorry if I chased all the ladies away tonight.”

             
He chuckled and shook his head. “If anything, they felt sorry for me…thinking I lost you to my brother.” He gave me a wink. ‘I got plenty of numbers…don’t you worry about me Rissa.” He pushed my shoulder playfully.

             
Liam approached us, and he smiled. “I would say that was a success.”

             
“It was a smash,” Ian corrected. He glanced around. “Where’s Dad?”

             
“Bed,” I offered. “He was too embarrassed to tell you guys but said he wasn’t young anymore and couldn’t hang.”

             
The brothers shared a smile.

             
Ian stretched his arms over his head and yawned. He leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Don’t stay up too late kids…I’m off to bed! I’m not so young anymore either.” He hugged his brother’s neck and set a quick kiss to his cheek. “Good job big brother…good job.”

             
Liam hugged him back, slapping his shoulder as men often do to hide their emotion.

             
Ian trotted up the stairs, whistling.

             
I lifted my eyes to Liam and felt that warmth that use to just come from his presence but was now caused by those eyes! I couldn’t go back to staring at my hands…at his hands…at his feet…at his chest! Not after tonight! “You were amazing tonight,” I said softly. “I was very proud of you.”

             
His lips parted in a heart palpitating inducing smile. “I was shaking in my boots.”

             
There were maids and servants moving about us now, beginning the clean up but I paid little attention to them. I couldn’t pay attention to anything or anyone but Liam. “You would never know. You were…a marvelous host.”

             
“Oh.” His warm eyes twinkled and he reached for my hand. “I thought you meant my performance with you.”

             
I blushed. “Liam Byrne.”

             
He grinned. “Yes Nerissa Meadows?” He lifted my hand to his lips.

             
I smiled. “You accomplished something big tonight.”

             
“I can’t have a masquerade every time I want to see my clients,” he sighed.

             
I squeezed his hand. “I will help you for that next time.”

             
He drew me gently to his chest and held me tight, kissing the top of my head. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

             
I breathed in his scent. “I would do anything for you.”

             
He drew in a breath and ran a hand down my back. “I know the feeling.”

             
My eyes lifted to his and I rested my chin to his chest.

             
He cleared his throat, glancing at the servants, who had paused to gaze at the sweet sight. They immediately got back to work.

             
I blushed and then trembled when his finger ran down my warm cheek. “I have to shore things up with security before some leave. I shouldn’t be long. Will you wait up for me?”

             
I nodded. I didn’t care the hour.

             
He smiled and dipped his face so he could capture my lips, just a taste. It was so sweet it almost brought me to tears.

             
I suddenly felt too warm. I bit my lip and stepped back from him. “Maybe I will go take a dip in the pool?”

             
His brows rose and he cleared his throat. “Can’t say I wouldn’t love to join you!”

             
Okay, now I was too warm!

             
“There should be a suit for you in the pool room…towels. I don’t like you being alone in there…”

             
“I will go with her!”

             
Mary! She was part of the cleaning crew! Of course she would be! This was her house…she would want to be involved with getting it back in order. I gave her a smile.

             
“Janice is sitting in the room while the girls sleep. There are still guards outside the door so they will be okay in my absence! I came down here to help…but I would be more than happy to stay with Miss Meadows!”

             
Liam gave her a genuine smile and even good old Mary was flustered under its beauty.

             
“Perfect!” I smiled at him now…really not wanting to leave his presence.

             
He tipped my chin, so unashamed in his care and affection for me now. “Take your swim. I won’t be more than a half hour and I will change. Will you meet me in the music room in forty five minutes?”

             
My heart slammed hard. “Yes.”

             
His eyes softened and his lids lowered with affection. He leaned forward and kissed my forehead and then his lips moved to my ear. “It will be the longest forty five.”

             
I laughed. I couldn’t agree more!

             
He walked away, pulling his jacket from his shoulders as he did. It was very hard to look away from him and turn to Mary.

             
“I would like to wash my face first…and then we’ll go to the pool room,” I said shakily.

             
She smiled her knowing smile.

             
I entered the bathroom just under the stair. It was the same bathroom Liam had pulled me into and I smiled. I found soap and a wash cloth and a smaller towel to protect my dress. I thought better of it and just slipped out of the dress, laying it across the couch that was sitting there. I sat down next to it and undid the beautiful strappy shoes. My feet thanked me when they hit the cool tile floor.

             
I then proceeded to the sink in my undergarments, much shorter, but a lot more comfortable. I went to work on my face until it was scrubbed clean. I wouldn’t get all of the eye makeup off until I could get to my makeup remover but I felt better that I would not turn into a scary raccoon when I went swimming! The only thing that made me sad was losing my curls that Kate had worked so hard on! But that swim was going to feel so good!

             
There was a soft knock on the door and Mary called softly. She had gone to the pool room and retrieved my suit. I took it from her gratefully and changed into it quickly before wrapping a towel about myself.

             
I was right…it felt wonderful dipping under the water.

             
Mary sat on one of the chairs and leafed through a magazine as I splashed about for a while. I didn’t dally too long though, wanting to dry my hair a bit before I went to see Liam. Mary was standing in ready with my towel when I climbed out and she walked with me through the house to see me safely to the girl’s room.

             
The guards were gone now. They would have been sent home now that the guests were gone. Was Liam done with his meeting? I smiled at Mary, held my towel tight and slipped in.

             
Janice was sitting by a low light reading and she looked up with surprise at me.

             
“You may go t bed,” I said softly. “The girls are sleeping and all of the guests are gone.”

             
She seemed relieved, gathering her things and exiting quickly.

             
I peeked quickly at the girls and then slipped into the bathroom, closing their door. The smell of chlorine was all over me and I had decided a quick shower was in order. I undressed and stepped in to wash the smell from my skin and hair. The warm water put me in a sleepy mood and I almost…almost wished I could climb into bed. And then I thought of seeing Liam and all thoughts of sleeping flew away.

             
I dried myself completely and wrapped my hair in the towel…going to work on the stubborn makeup left on my face. I opened the cubbard beside the sink and pulled out a pair of comfy soft cotton pajamas…a tee shirt and long bottoms. I certainly didn’t think Liam expected me to dress up tonight. I used the towel to soak up most of the moisture in my hair and then combed it carefully. I felt less like a princess…but more myself.

             
I carefully hung the towels and flipped off the light in the bathroom.