Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
T oday had been exactly what Dani needed.
To be outdoors, to get away from the desk, out into nature on the island that was more than home to her.
The weather was finally nice enough to take her fat-tire bike off her patio and pump the tires up, and she’d asked Cody if Liam could borrow his. And now, here they stood at the top of Sunset Cove, watching as the sun descended from the sky. Bidding them farewell with the last vestiges of its rays that looked like melting lava across the lake’s surface.
“Other than the Grand, this might just be my favorite spot on the whole island.”
“I can see why.” Liam leaned forward against the stone wall built at the edge of the lookout. A blue spring jacket had replaced his fancy coat, and he wore sneakers instead of his loafers. He looked every bit the islander, his cheeks and nose red with the chill of riding into the breeze, his eyes full of wonder at the beautiful sight before them.
No doubt about it. He was the most handsome man Dani had ever known. And after the way he’d listened, held her, told her she wasn’t alone last night…well, he was the kindest too.
They’d spent the entire morning biking around as she showed off the best parts of Jonathon Island—Lovers’ Leap, Archway Boulder, Bones Cave—and he’d let her put on her tour guide hat without too much teasing.
He’d told her all about his dad and how he thought maybe he had a crush on the company secretary. They’d brainstormed silly ways to get them together if bingo hadn’t done the trick, and they laughed in the process.
That was the other thing—the laughter. He made her laugh more than anyone else.
If only he didn’t live on what might as well be the other side of the world. But she knew why he had to go back. The fact that family meant so much to him was another reason she loved him.
Well. Not loved loved. She wouldn’t be so foolish as to have fallen in love with someone who was leaving. Dani shivered at the thought.
Liam bumped her elbow with his. “It’s getting a bit colder now that the sun’s going down. Should we get back?”
Dani shook away her dreary thoughts and focused on the magnificent view in front of her. “Come on, city boy. You can last a little longer.” Her knees hit against the cold wall as she leaned forward for support. “We can’t miss the best part of the show.”
“And what’s that?” Liam’s voice had grown quiet, almost husky.
She glanced up at him, smiled. She would miss him when he left. They only needed to finish their presentation, pitch it to the council on Thursday, and then he’d be gone. But for right now, she was going to enjoy every moment she got with Liam Stone. “That moment just before the sun disappears is always the most beautiful.”
He blinked at her, opened his mouth as if to respond. But instead of saying something, he turned and slipped his arm around her shoulders, and together, in the silence, they watched the last blip of light as it dropped from the sky. Just before it was gone, it seemed to radiate out, to reach beyond its bounds, like a blinding flash of shimmering diamonds.
And then…darkness.
But oh, how gorgeous it had been before the flame had gone out.
“You were right.” Liam smiled, gave her shoulders a squeeze, and stepped away, leaving warmth in his wake. “That was beautiful. Thanks for sharing it with me.”
“Thanks for being here.”
An owl hooted somewhere in the distance. The moon took over the sky, illuminating the dark even after the sun had retreated. It cast a different light over the island, and it was beautiful in its own way.
“Where to next?”
She shrugged. “That’s the end of the tour.”
“Well, it was a fabulous tour.” He cocked his head. “But there’s one more place I’d like to visit, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind. Lead the way.” Because even though he’d only been here for just under two weeks, Liam had become one of them. He knew his way around. The townspeople accepted and loved him. She couldn’t count the number of people who had approached her after church and said they were “rooting for them.”
Wouldn’t they all be surprised when he left and never returned…
Don’t think about that now.
Dani and Liam walked a little way through the trees until they reached the path where their bikes were parked. They climbed on, and Dani followed Liam the short distance to downtown. She almost wasn’t even surprised when he turned up the large drive toward the Grand. For how often the place had been a topic of conversation lately, they hadn’t spent much time here after that initial meeting.
But Liam didn’t head for the half-burned hotel building. Instead, he bypassed it and continued on the grounds until they reached the small gazebo, which stood in a little clearing of trees whose branches were sprouting back to life.
She stopped the bike, grounding herself. “What are we doing here?”
Liam climbed from his bike and reached for her hand. “I thought we might be hungry at the end of our tour.”
Hungry? She didn’t know what the man was talking about—the nearest restaurant was several blocks away on Main—but she didn’t have to know. She just had to trust him. And she did.
So she followed him toward the gazebo, which, despite the years, still stood in the exact same spot. Sure, it could use a fresh coat of white paint, but the eight pillars set in a circle, the intricate woodwork along the top, the sweetly pointed roof—all of it had remained strong.
And when she stepped up the three stairs and entered the place that had been her haven on more than one occasion, she gasped at the black-and-white, wool blanket on the ground, the electric space heater tucked neatly away, the picnic basket, the LED lanterns illuminating the place with magic. “What’s all this? How…”
“Maybe some island fairies left this here for us.” He leaned over and flipped on the space heater, which, in moments, took the chill out of the air surrounding them.
She lowered herself to the blanket and sat cross-legged. Laughed. “More like you charmed your way into a favor.”
“I knew you thought I was charming.” He sat beside her, and they both laughed. “No, I wanted to surprise you and may have asked Mia for some ideas early this morning. And help.”
“Ah.” Dani watched Liam dig in the picnic basket, withdrawing a thermos, two mugs, and a few wrapped sandwiches. “That was really sweet of her. And you.”
“You told me when we first met that the gazebo was really special to you.” He offered her one of the sandwiches. “I hope I didn’t overstep or intrude on your special spot.”
“You didn’t.” She took the sandwich, the wax paper crinkling beneath her fingertips. “I come here a lot. To think. To get away. To remember why all of this matters in the first place. What I’m fighting so hard to save.” Dani sighed, setting the sandwich on her lap. “It’s where my parents got married. Where they first met, actually. This place is literally my origin story.”
“That’s really neat, Dani.” A pause. “I hope you don’t mind that I brought all of this stuff into your sanctuary.”
She looked around at the lantern, the heater, the blanket. “You know, it’s different. But I don’t mind. In fact, it’s actually really cozy. Usually I can’t stay out here all that long in the winter because it’s too dark and cold. Even some summer nights are too cool.”
“Hmm.” Liam unwrapped his sandwich and took a bite, chewing and looking thoughtful.
“What are you thinking about over there?”
“Nothing I’m ready to talk about. Yet.” He winked.
“So mysterious.” She smiled and reached for the thermos. Unscrewing the lid, she poured cocoa into each mug. “Do you have a place like this back home? Somewhere you can retreat to?”
His silence caught her attention. Ugh. Why had she asked that? She knew he felt like he didn’t have a real home. Maybe that meant he didn’t have a sanctuary either.
She quietly slipped a mug into his hands.
His face softened. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Dani sipped on the hot cocoa, which warmed her insides.
“Sometimes I drive out to Claremont. That’s the smaller suburb where I grew up.” His words punctuated the silence. Soft. Something aching in them. “I park near our old house. I stand across the street, lean against this old gnarled tree.”
Dani set her mug down on the wooden bench above her, turned, placing her hand on Liam’s knee. Squeezed in a show of support.
He glanced down. Setting his mug beside Dani’s, he covered her hand with his own. Then, “Some of the neighbors are the same. They say hello. Ask how I’m doing. How Dad is. It’s pleasant. They’re pleasant.” He swallowed hard. “It’s like I’m drawn there because it’s where we were happy. Just like this place for you.” Liam blinked. “But I know I don’t belong there anymore. And that’s never more apparent than when I see the new family who lives there. A mom, a dad, a sister, a brother. All together. All happy. Whole. And I can’t stay. But I can’t leave either. And then, the memories come.”
“What memories, Liam?”
He shuddered, but he didn’t shut off like she expected him to. “The night my mom…” Liam pursed his lips. “I was ten. My baby sister wasn’t due for another two months. Dad was out of town on business. I was begging Mom to hurry up and get me to my baseball practice. She was racing around, trying to finish up something around the house to make it on time.”
Oh, Liam. She longed to scoot closer to him, to lean her head on his shoulder. But they were just friends, and she didn’t want to confuse the situation. So she pulled her knees into her chest and fixed her attention fully on him. The lantern light flickered for a blip of a moment. “What happened?”
“Thinking back, she’d had a headache and been acting tired, really stressed for a few days, since Dad had been out of town. But I was too distracted to realize something was actually wrong.” His voice had turned mechanical, as if it was all he could do to get through this. “Then, she tripped as she was going down the stairs, hit her head, which bled really bad. I was terrified. Managed to call 911. They came for her, and as they wheeled her out of there, she grabbed my hand and told me she loved me, that it was all going to be okay.” He looked up at Dani. “It wasn’t okay.”
“I’m so sorry.” Dani wasn’t surprised to find her own eyes had begun burning with tears. “Pre-eclampsia?” Her older cousin Evie had had a mild form of the condition with her youngest child, so Dani knew the basics.
“Yeah. I just wish I’d known what to watch for. Wish I’d paid more attention to her needs than my desire to get to that stupid practice.”
“You couldn’t have known. You were just a kid. And pre-eclampsia can sneak up on you. It’s not like even your mom would have known.”
“Maybe. But I was old enough for Mom to say one last thing to me as she left and my neighbor came over to take care of me.”
“What was that?”
“‘No matter what happens, you and Dad have to be there for each other. He needs you, sweet boy.’”
Wow. And Liam carried the weight of her words with him even to this day. “It’s like she knew what was coming.”
“I’ve often wondered.”
“Whatever the case, you’ve done an amazing job fulfilling her wishes. Though I don’t think your mom meant for you to carry so much.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just that she never meant for you to become responsible for your dad and his health and his choices. Do you even want to be CEO?”
“Not especially.”
“You’d rather stick with the architecture, being on site, right? I see how you come alive when you’re working on your plans. And yet, you’re planning to give that up so your dad can feel okay about retiring.”
“I don’t think he’ll retire with anyone else at the helm. It has to be me.”
“But would your dad want you to give up your dreams for his sake?” She said the words gently, because she didn’t want him to think she was judging him. Just that she wanted to help.
“That’s what you do for family.” He studied her then lifted a hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. The motion surprised her, but she welcomed his touch. “Isn’t that what you’re doing here with the hotel?”
“Regardless of my reasons, it’s literally my job to restore the hotel, to rebuild the economy.” Dani’s hands fell from her knees, and she sat cross-legged, leaning forward, intent. “And there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing.”
“You sure about that? Because, so long as we are lobbing truth bombs, you could have any job in the world. For someone who loves the Travel Channel so much, you haven’t really gone anywhere.” His words sliced, though the tone with which he said them offered a healing balm. “I know you love it here and love your job, but how much of that is wrapped up in this hope that doing that job will bring your family back?”
“To be honest? I don’t know. Maybe…maybe more than I want to admit.” Dani looked away. “Thankfully, I think with our plan, we have an amazing shot at that happening. If we can just get the proposal right. Get the council to agree.”
“We are definitely going to give it our best shot. But Dani, you’re banking everything on them coming back. Your happiness most of all. And what happens if they don’t?”
“You’re not the first person to ask me that.” Something in her heart throbbed at the thought. “And my answer hasn’t changed. I’m not sure.”
“Would you…” Liam cleared his throat, and that brought her attention back to his face. Reaching out a hand, his thumb traced her jaw all the way to her ear lobe. What was happening? This was not a friendly touch. It was more.
And she should move away for both of their sakes, but she was caught, completely derailed, with no desire to move away. “Would I what?”
“If your family didn’t come back, would you ever consider leaving the island?”
Why was he asking her? Oh. His eyes held a desire that reached inside, took hold. Oh.
“Oh, Liam, I don’t know. I’ve honestly been holding so tightly to this dream that I haven’t allowed myself to consider another possibility. But…” Was he saying what she thought he was? “I…”
“Okay, how about this.” Bringing his face closer to hers, Liam touched the tip of his nose to her own. “What if I told you I was thinking of staying past Thursday?”
Be still her heart. “For how long?”
“Well, I have to go back to pitch the Bertram project to my dad along with my coworker, Travis. But Dad said I don’t have any other projects scheduled for the next month. So I could stay through the weekend for sure and then maybe come back after that for a bit? I’m not positive. I only know I’m not ready to leave you. Dani, I…”
“Liam,” she breathed. “Are you serious right now?”
“More serious than I’ve ever been. So. What do you think? Are you willing to try with me?”
In reply, Dani closed the gap between their lips and kissed him. And this was no ghost of a kiss. At first, it was sweet, tentative. She wound her hands up and around his neck, running her fingers along his hairline. One of his hands fell to her waist, and he tugged her closer. The other plunged into her hair as he deepened the kiss.
She sighed at the taste of cocoa on his lips, at the sweetness of Liam, at the kisses he feathered along her cheeks and jaw. How had she gone her entire life without ever feeling so cherished? Liam was…well, maybe he wasn’t as big-city as she thought. Maybe deep inside he was small-town too, and maybe he’d awakened more in her also. A bigger life. Or maybe it was just that with him she was more courageous, more willing to see a different tomorrow.
So she leaned into the kiss, and with it, awakened something in him. He seemed to groan, deep inside, and deepened his kiss and no longer was he touching her with the same care he’d give a glass ornament, but breaking her apart with his kiss.
Breaking, and remaking, and suddenly she saw herself as more.
The person free of the haunting of her past.
Finally, he pulled back, both of them out of breath. He set his forehead against Dani’s, and for a moment, neither spoke. Then, his lips lifted into a grin. “So I guess the feeling’s mutual, huh?”
“Oh, it’s more than mutual, buddy.” Because the idea of him staying—whether long enough to figure out what this was between them, or maybe even longer…“Do you really think you could stay?”
“If we get the council to approve our proposal and move forward with the project, yeah, I think so.” He paused. “For a few weeks at least. And maybe…yeah, maybe more.”
“Seriously?” She grasped his hand tight. “How? I thought you’d committed to helping Travis with the Bertram project long-term.”
“I could still help him from afar if Dad lets us move forward with it.”
“Wait. You’d do that? Stay for the length of the project?”
“Maybe. If we thought this had the potential to be something more between us.” He paused. “To be what I think it can be.”
“I think it can be something great too.” A thrill ran through her. “But I thought the rebuild was supposed to take two or three years.”
“Well, I think we can have some parts done by Christmas like you wanted. Not all of it, of course, but maybe the first phase. I could commit to that, and we could see how things go from there?”
“That would be amazing. But are you really willing to stay that long? To be away from your dad? I thought he was getting ready to retire and you had to be in Los Angeles. That you didn’t want him to be alone anymore.”
He played with a strand of her hair, rubbing it between his thumb and forefinger. “Honestly, he’s not thrilled by the idea of retiring. And as for being alone, I have a sneaking suspicion that things might change in that area.”
Dani laughed. “Well, if you did stay, I happen to know of several homes available for cheap rent at the moment.”
She didn’t expect her words to have such an effect on him. He actually stilled, then swallowed. “A real home?”
“A real home.”
“I wouldn’t hate that,” he said softly. His gaze roamed her face.
“Me either,” she said, taking a breath.
Like Mia had said, it was time for Dani to take a leap. And she might fall on her face or end up with a broken heart. Or she could fly.
Either one was possible. And wasn’t the beauty of life in the surprises, anyway?
“Okay, for any of this to happen, though, we need to finish up our presentation.” Liam gave her another soft kiss before standing and holding out his hand. “Which means you need to stop distracting me.”
“But I like distracting you.” Dani hopped up and smiled up at him.
“And you’re really good at it too.” He pulled her into his arms. She hadn’t realized how well she fit there until now. Leaning his head down so his lips touched the shell of her ear, Dani shivered. “You’re also providing me with some fabulous motivation to get this job done, and done well.”
“Happy to be of service.” She pulled back and tapped her forefinger against her mouth.
“Good,” he said as he leaned down and kissed her again. Too soon it ended. “Then let’s get to work.”
“Lead the way, Mr. Charming.”
* * *
This had to work.
But if the looks on Martha, Tara, Janine, Patrick, and Seb’s faces were any indication, he and Dani had their work cut out for them.
“And as you can see here”—Liam pointed to the projector screen in the conference room—“we plan to keep the current pool but add a poolside restaurant that will allow for convenient drinks and lunches.”
“But”—Dani interjected from her spot beside him, every bit his equal in this project—“it will be as small as possible, tucked away so it doesn’t ruin the view that is the main draw of the porch and pool area.” She flashed a grin his way, because that had been a point he’d conceded, and she’d won.
Her confidence and beauty took his breath away. It wasn’t as if she’d dressed much differently—maybe a little fancier because her blue, long-sleeved blouse had a ruffle around the collar. But there was something different in her shoulders, pushed back but also relaxed, as if she wasn’t worried or trying to prove something.
Her eyes radiated her passion for this project. It was something he’d seen over the weeks but especially over the last few days as they’d worked tirelessly together on the last piece of the puzzle. Their grand finale. The thing they were both sure would tip the scales in their favor. Liam really hoped it would, anyway.
Because he didn’t like the frowns on several of the faces before him. The only one whose lips weren’t turned down was Seb, and that could have merely been support for his niece.
“That’s right,” Liam continued. “And you may have noticed the balcony situation?—”
“I hate that you took away the upper community deck.” Tara Chamberlain fiddled with a pen as she studied the slide pulled up on the screen. “Not only is that a great space for guests to gather, but it provides such a wonderful view of the harbor.”
Dani nodded. “I had the same concern, but we made sure to keep the community feel alive by maintaining the long lower deck. And the view from there is plenty gorgeous.” She looked at Liam again, smiled. “We also agreed that having private balconies with a stellar view would provide the opportunity to have premium suites available for those who don’t mind paying more.”
We . Liam couldn’t help but notice Dani’s repeated use of the word. And what a fabulous we they made. All the dinners together, late nights spent perfecting their plans and this presentation. And yes, maybe snuggling and kissing too. Making plans.
He still hadn’t asked his father about being the lead on this project after the council signed off. He wanted it to be a done deal before he broached the subject. Besides, any time he’d tried to contact his dad this week, Marianne had been surreptitiously vague about his whereabouts.
Liam cleared his throat and his mind. He needed to focus, or they’d never get this pitch signed and sealed.
Turning on his inner charming businessman, he continued. “Janine, I know one of your biggest concerns was losing the historical integrity of the hotel. So we’ve done our best to keep the Colonial Revival and Queen Anne-inspired architectural elements, especially on the outside. From there, other than a few tweaks like the upper terraces, it will look like a replica of the original.”
“Well, that’s definitely an improvement.” She folded her arms over her chest. “But how can you justify that miles-high lobby?”
Liam chuckled. “Just a few stories high, and I assure you, we plan to keep the decor—even there—in the style of Dorothy Draper, just like the most recent design of the hotel before the fire. We want to combine the elegance of the past with the modern amenities—like a working elevator, a gorgeous water feature, a baby grand piano—in order to impress those looking for a little step into the past as well as those looking for luxury.”
“And what about the grounds?” Patrick asked. “The last thing we need is something overcrowded. The place needs room to breathe.”
“I’m so glad you asked that, Patrick.” Liam flipped to the next slide, showcasing the proposed grounds, including their “grand finale”—the thing they’d show them at the end of the presentation. “Dani convinced me that less is more, and that the real amenity here is the setting. So, while we will be upgrading the golf course to an eighteen-holer and putting in a small set of pickleball courts, we nixed the idea for a movie theater, basketball court, and villas. Oh, and”—he smiled at Dani—“the gazebo stays where it currently is.”
The brilliant grin she flashed him was a shot of confidence right to his veins.
Together, they really had created something great.
By the end of the presentation, he had Patrick and Seb nodding. Tara drummed her fingers along the tabletop but was no longer frowning, which was progress. Janine still sat back in her chair, arms still over her chest. Maybe she really was a lost cause. But Liam couldn’t charm them all—and he was okay with that.
So long as Dani still found him charming.
He smiled at the thought.
And then there was Martha, who had been uncharacteristically quiet for the duration of the presentation but finally spoke up. “I like where you’re going with this, but I’m having a hard time picturing this supposed marriage of the true-to-history and modern approaches.”
“I’m glad you asked, Martha.” Dani clapped her hands. “Might we propose a little field trip?”
Martha opened her mouth to protest, but Liam swooped in and offered her a hand up. “Would you accompany me in my fine chariot, milady?”
The older woman rolled her eyes, but a good-natured smile filtered through. “If you mean Seb’s golf cart, then fine.”
His lips twitched. Behind him, Seb bellowed with laughter.
They all walked out of the Tourism Bureau onto Main Street and divided between Seb’s six-passenger cart and Patrick’s four-seater, which were both parked in back.
Liam got behind the wheel of Seb’s, and Martha climbed in beside him. “Don’t drive too quickly now.”
“Yes, ma’am. Everyone good?” He pulled his sunglasses off the dash and set them on his face. The sun shimmered bright, and Liam prayed it was a foreshadowing of their success today.
Martha gripped the grab handle with white knuckles—did the woman ever give up control without protest?—and the rest of the passengers called their readiness, so Liam started up the cart and headed west on Main toward the Grand, Patrick and his passengers following behind, toward the gazebo.
Their grand finale.
When they arrived, Liam parked and rounded the cart to help Martha while the others got out. The moment of truth had arrived.
Dani met him at the front of the vehicle. “Ready?”
Her bright eyes chased away any doubts he had. He wished he could drop his head and kiss her like he’d gotten used to doing, but right now was time for professionalism. “Ready.” Then he turned to the group, who looked at them both with interest, and nodded toward the gazebo. “We obviously couldn’t show you what the hotel would look like with our two visions blended together.”
“But we could show you a small example with the gazebo,” Dani said.
Murmurs went through the group as Liam pointed toward the octagonal structure, with its shingled dome roof, its white pillared columns, and its turned spindle railing encircling all but the front, where three steps led to its elevated spot off the ground.
“Dani told me how meaningful the gazebo is to the community. How long it’s been around, how it’s been a favorite spot for weddings and gatherings. And we didn’t want to do anything to change that.”
“Only to enhance people’s ability to make use of it.” She waved her hand in invitation. “Let us show you.”
They all walked the brick-laid pathway toward the steps, where Liam and Dani stood at the top.
“As you can see, we got an electrician out here and made sure the wiring on the gazebo worked,” Liam said. “Thankfully, it only took a bit of work to get things up to snuff.”
“And that’s when we hung the lights.” Dani pointed to the tasteful bulbs now hanging from the ceiling. When they’d tested them last night, they’d provided a warm, romantic glow that had only added to the clearing’s natural beauty. “Because as anyone who has ever been out here at night knows, it’s pitch-black, and you have to use your phones as flashlights.”
Tara tapped her chin, nodded. The hint of a smile danced around her mouth.
Arms crossed over his burly chest, Patrick walked closer, peering up at the lights. Inspecting. Martha and Janine did the same. Meanwhile, Seb smiled as he watched Liam and Dani.
They were hooking them. Now to reel them in. Liam continued. “Anyone who’s been out here also knows how cold it can get. We wanted guests to be able to enjoy the gazebo at all times of the year, so we installed an infrared heater. It’s nonintrusive but will provide consistent heat during certain hours of the day and evening.” He nudged Dani, and she hurried to flip the small switch. The heat was immediate, and the group oohed and aahed at the difference.
“And Dani here even had the thought that the hotel could place a basket with blankets under the bench. Maybe even place a firepit and chairs over there”—he pointed to a spot in the clearing—“and hold evening gatherings out here for guests with complementary beverages and appetizers.”
“Speaking of that…” Dani turned to the back of the gazebo, where she’d had Aunt Elise leave two thermoses of hot chocolate, some cups, and fresh-baked cookies. She grabbed up a cup and one thermos. “Who wants refreshments?”
Everyone said yes—even Janine—and Liam helped distribute the treats while Dani prepped them. They really did make a good team, didn’t they?
“You’ve outdone yourself here.” Patrick took a giant bite of his cookie and munched while his eyes roved the gazebo once again.
“Agreed. I love it.” Tara shook her head. “You really have managed to enhance the convenience without destroying the historical integrity of it. If this is what you’re going to do with the hotel, well, then I’m offering my full support.”
“Thank you, Tara.” Liam squeezed Dani’s hand, determined not to let his excitement show. “And what about the rest of you?”
“What about the added cost of the heat and lighting?” Seb asked. “The added cost of all the extra amenities, in fact.”
“I can show you the numbers when we get back to the conference room, but it will be minimal, especially when you consider how much more we can charge for rooms and services than in the past because we can bill this as a luxury resort.”
Seb put out his hand for a shake. “If that’s a fact, then you’ve got my vote.”
“Mine too,” Patrick said. “I like the feel of this. Seems it’ll attract tourists with deep pockets, which will be good for all of us. But it won’t be some modernized resort that isn’t fully Jonathon Island.” He turned to his sister-in-law. “Come on, Martha. Say you agree so we can grab something to eat. I’m starving.”
Martha scoffed. A breeze blew through her gray curls. “You’re always starving.” Then she wiggled her fingers in the air toward the gazebo. “I suppose you’ve done a nice enough job compromising so we are all happy.”
Liam nearly chuckled. The woman couldn’t give a compliment to save her life. “So does that mean…”
“Yes, yes.” Martha huffed. “You’ve got my vote too.”
“And what about me?” Janine asked. “I know you’ve got your majority, but does my vote mean nothing?”
“On the contrary, Janine.” Liam approached her, hands folded. He glanced at Dani, whose eyes had widened. “We would covet your vote, though I’ve heard how averse you are to the addition of technology.”
Janine harrumphed. “I am that. But…” She pursed her lips, looking at the gazebo. Then something softened in her eyes. “I suppose I can also appreciate innovation when I see it. And while I am not wild about the changes you’ve made, I recognize that most developers wouldn’t do as much as you have to immerse themselves in our town and become one of us in order to understand what’s important here.”
Whoa. “That is high praise coming from you.” Liam pressed a hand over his chest, which ached just a little. “Thank you.”
“It doesn’t mean I won’t be carefully watching the construction to ensure things remain as historically accurate as possible.” She pointed a finger at Liam. “But I suppose you’ve got my vote anyway.”
The group cheered and Seb held up his cup of cocoa. “Here’s to the revival of our home. And to Liam and Dani, who worked so hard to make this happen. I’m very proud of you both. And thankful.”
“Hear, hear!” Tara said with a smile as she tapped her cup against Seb’s and then Martha’s cups.
“Thank you, Seb. Everyone.” Liam’s voice had grown thick, and when he looked at Dani, she offered a wink and a sly smile. “It’s been an honor to work with you on this.”
The group finished drinking their cocoa and ate their cookies, talking about life as they headed back toward the golf carts.
Dani slipped closer to Liam. “We did it,” she whispered into his ear.
“We did.” And he didn’t care who was watching. Liam leaned down and kissed her. Just a peck—but a peck in front of prying eyes meant the whole town would see them as good as engaged by sundown.
But Liam didn’t care.
The measure had passed. Their plan had worked.
And as long as Dad approved, Liam was staying. At least until the project was done, which could be two years. And by then, well, who knew. Maybe he’d come to love this island as much as Dani did.
Maybe he already did.
When he pulled away from Dani, her cheeks were pink—maybe from embarrassment or maybe from the breeze that had kicked up. But when she headed down the steps and joined Tara, who took her by the arm and off a way, a huge grin on her face and head bent in to speak to Dani in low whispers, all Liam could think was how lucky he was.
Seb found his way to the steps, eyebrows lifted. “So, you and my niece, eh?”
Liam chuckled and leaned back against a post. “She’s an amazing woman.”
“That she is.”
The man glanced at where Dani stood beside the golf cart, now surrounded by both Tara and Martha. Probably fending off questions. Liam would rescue her, but she was smiling, so maybe she didn’t mind.
Then Seb faced him again. His expression sobered. “But how is this going to work, with you returning to California?”
“Well, that’s the thing.” Liam shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’d like to maybe stay, oversee the project. Or the first phase of it, anyway.”
“Would you now.” It wasn’t a question. But a smile tugged at the corners of Seb’s lips. “Elise was right then.”
“Isn’t she always?” Liam chuckled. “I still need to check in with my dad, make sure it’s all right. But yeah. I’d like to see what happens.”
“Just don’t break my niece’s heart. She’s had a rough go of it.”
“I know she has. And I won’t.” Liam swallowed hard, praying he could keep that promise. After all, he wasn’t anything special. But Dani was, and she was worth holding on to. Worth the effort. And now that it had worked out for him to stay here, he didn’t have to worry about long distance.
He could just focus on them .
Only two things stood in his way: talking with Travis about being more behind the scenes on the Bertram project and putting in his official request with Dad.
“Speaking of that, I should make that phone call. Would you mind driving everyone back? I’ll walk myself over later.”
“Sure, sure.” Seb called to the group, told them to pile in. Then he turned back to Liam. “You’ve done great work here, Liam, and I know your dad will be proud.”
Before Liam could thank him, Seb was bounding down the steps, every bit as spry as a man twenty years his junior.
Dani joined him on the steps. “You’re not coming back?”
“I need to call my dad, let him know what’s going on.” He gave her another kiss, this time on the cheek. “But let’s celebrate tonight, yeah?”
“Okay. I can cook something.” When he raised an eyebrow, she smacked him, laughing. “Hey! I can cook. I just usually choose not to.”
“All right, I’ll give you a chance to prove it then. Your place? Six?”
“Sounds perfect.” She lifted up on her tiptoes and kissed him, this time long and sweet, a promise of so many good things to come. Then she was flitting off, waving. “See you then.”
Even from his perch on the gazebo, he could hear the group’s good-natured teasing as they pulled back down the drive, leaving him alone. A few birds called as they passed overhead, and a boat horn blew in the distance. Liam turned his face toward the sun and relished this feeling.
He’d felt accomplished before, after a good pitch, but there was nothing like this. Because the success of this pitch meant he was finally coming home, maybe for the first time since Claremont.
Coming home to Jonathon Island.
To Dani.
And beyond that? Who knew? Maybe he’d spend the next two years here, and Dani’s family would return. Maybe they wouldn’t. But by the time the Grand project was wrapped up, he and Dani would know where they stood and whether their future would be together. And then that’s how they’d make decisions.
Together.
Liam pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed Dad’s cell, fully expecting to get his voicemail and having to try Marianne at the front desk.
But then, Dad answered. “Hi, Liam.” There was something in his voice. A tremble?
“Hey, Dad. Everything okay?”
“Oh, yes. Nothing that can’t wait until you get home tomorrow. We can talk then.”
Talk then? “About what?” He swallowed. “Dad, what’s going on?”
“Liam, you were right. I’m not immortal.” Dad sighed. “And I think it’s time for me to retire after all.”