Page 52

Chapter 52

Fleur

L iam is here. At first, I fear I’m seeing things. That my mind has conjured him up from all the memories of him in the grocery store. Like it’s a cruel trick and this man is actually a creepy stranger that my brain has morphed into a blissfully unaware daydream.

“Liam?”

“Hi.”

Hi . One word and it takes my breath away. His voice is smooth and comforting. My body hums, immediately recognizing him as home.

He takes a few steps toward me, and the streetlight casting a bright light on the sidewalk illuminates him. He’s in his staple black jeans and a pullover sweatshirt, not nearly enough layers for the December Michigan weather.

His hair is pulled back in a bun, and I want to run my fingers through his freshly trimmed beard. He looks good. Too good …

Glancing down at my yoga pants and oversized puffy coat, I’m sure I look ridiculous.

Liam’s eyes rake over me, but it’s not disgust or anger I sense from him. It’s relief. He shivers.

“I’m sure this weather isn’t something you’re used to,” I say, bending down to pick up my bag of now cracked eggs.

A boot comes into my view, and I look up at him. His gaze snags on the cookies and cream ice cream in my bag.

“I’m not cold.”

Oh.

Liam reaches a hand down, and I take it, sparks tickling every point of touch. He’s right in front of me now and suddenly nothing else matters.

“H-how are you here?”

“Well, fortunately, my grandparents aren’t too great about keeping their employee records secure.” He laughs nervously, and I’m not sure I understand.

Seeing my face, he adds, “You listed your parents as your emergency contact on your hiring paperwork. I snuck this address off it. Wasn’t sure you’d be here, though, and then my flight was delayed, plus a thirty-minute Uber ride …”

The corner of my mouth lifts. He’s nervous. I’m not sure I’ve heard him string so many words together.

“I realized when I stood out front, I was here too late, and I’d just called for another Uber when you pulled up—what?”

I smile. “Nothing.”

We stand there, both our breaths materializing as puffs of cloudy mist. His eyes soften as he stares at me.

“Fleur, I—” A ding from Liam’s phone goes off and he glances down. “Shoot, my ride is almost here. Can we talk tomorrow? Please?”

“Wait, you’re leaving?” My heart stutters, then picks up pace.

“Yeah. I’m sorry I didn’t give much thought to the time.” He reaches out, palm delicately cradling the curve of my cheek. Longing pulses in his eyes and time seems to pause. There’s so much to say, and I don’t want to waste another minute.

“Stay,” I whisper. “Stay with me.”

He studies me, letting out a deep exhale. He grips my face a bit more fiercely. “You sure?”

“Definitely.”

Liam pulls out his phone and cancels his Uber, before following me up the steps to the house.

Quietly, we enter and pad into the kitchen, where I put my soupy ice cream away and toss the eggs. I catch Liam tracking my movements, his eyes disinterested in the foreign house and pinned on me.

“Water?” I ask, squirming under his obsessive stare.

He nods, and I tilt my head, chuckling at seeing his bulky form taking up space in my parents’ kitchen. To experience Liam outside of Ruin and the compound makes it all seem so surreal.

I grab us some water and without disturbing my parents, who are probably in bed watching TV already, we head up to my old room.

When Liam shuts the door, I turn and throw my arms out. “Well, this is it. Not much, but I’d been moved out since right after my senior year in high school.”

Liam glances around the small room with a four-poster queen bed and two matching white dressers across from it. Under the window is a bench seat with my childhood lovely, Mr. Fluffy, resting there.

“My mom kept the bed for guests, and as you can see, I’m still living out of a suitcase. Haven’t even unpacked.”

Gesturing to the small carryon with a few shirts and pants, I wince. I’m not sure why I volunteered that information. But, in a way, I want him to know this isn’t permanent for me. That I didn’t come here to live and thrive away from him. I’m not sure I ever could.

“Good. Easier to pack when I take you home.”

I still, mouth falling open. Home. He wants me home.

“Fleur, listen?—”

I hold up my hand. “Wait, Liam let me explain.”

Goodness, what must he think of me?

Liam quiets, moving to the bed to sit while I do the same.

“I’m sorry I left. After everything that happened, the very real possibility that this”— I motion between us—“could be over, terrified me. I was swept up in my parents begging me to come home and River’s suggestion it’d be a good idea.

“I thought …” I pause, because the truth is I’m not sure I was thinking about us, or about Liam. I was thinking about me, my own pain, my own needs.

“It’s what I do. I run and I’m broken.” I hang my head, disappointed it was Liam who had to be the bigger person in this. Guilt gnaws at me. He’s being more of the adult in this marriage than I am, regardless of how this came about.

I continue, “I’m in love with you, Liam. I think I fell for you the night you changed my tire, no questions asked. I knew you’d protect me. I can’t even pretend I’m afraid of getting hurt again, because there’s no doubt in my mind—you wouldn’t do that. I trust you. With my life and my heart.”

That wasn’t exactly the speech I entertained on the drive home when I wanted to book a flight back to Ruin, but it’s honest and true.

Liam slides closer to me, his hand engulfing mine over the yellow daisy comforter. He dips his head, seeking out my eyes, and I lift my gaze to meet his.

“Fleur, it’s okay that you run, because I’ll always come find you. It’s okay that you’re broken because I’ll spend each day for the rest of my life making sure we put you back together again.”

I swallow, a small sob working its way up my throat, and I cling to each word.

“Unless you tell me otherwise, I’m here. Always.”

I lean into him. “When the agent suggested the annulment, I thought back to the day at the bed-and-breakfast, and I wasn’t sure what you wanted. It was easier to run than to confront it.”

Liam grips my face between his thumb and finger. “I want it to be forever, Fleur. Screw what I said that day at the bed-and-breakfast. I knew I could love you the moment you glared at me across the lobby of the bank. And I do love you, Fleur Parker. There’s no one else for me. No one.”

I pull my lip into my teeth. “Fleur Parker? Kind of has a nice ring to it.”

“Of course it does. You’re meant to be mine.”

My mouth finds his and I sigh at the connection. Feather-light kisses trail down my neck, and he doesn’t break for air except to say, “Come home, Fleur. Be with me in Ruin. We’ll start over together.”

“Ruin?” I moan as his hands trail over my hips. “Is the DEA letting you stay there?”

“I quit.”

I break away from his lips, the loss of his touch agonizing. “You quit?”

“I wanted to stay in Ruin and with the loss of law enforcement in the town, there was an opening.”

“An opening,” I parrot.

Liam grins. “You’re looking at Ruin’s newest sheriff.”