Chapter 11 #2
Travis’s brow furrowed with concern. “He’s been burned a couple of times, which has turned him into a bit of a love ’em and leave ’em type. She seems so fragile.”
“I don’t know her very well, but I have a feeling she’s tougher than she looks.”
“I had lunch with them. He could hardly take his eyes off her.”
“Very interesting.”
“Pardon me, Mr. North,” the maitre d’ said. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but the rest of your party has arrived. Shall I show them in?”
Travis gave Liana’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “Yes, Stuart. Thank you.”
They stood to greet Agnes and David, who was tall and distinguished looking with gray hair and bright blue eyes. He wore a dark suit and kept an arm around Agnes as they followed Stuart to the table.
Travis greeted Agnes with a kiss to her cheek. “It’s nice to see you again, Agnes.” He reached out to shake hands with David. “Travis North.”
“David Leary. Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.” Travis kept his arm around Liana. “I’m glad you were able to join us tonight.”
“Honey, this is David. David, my daughter, Liana.”
“It’s a great pleasure to finally meet you, Liana.” David held the hand she extended between both of his. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
“I wish I could say the same,” she said with an amused glance at her mother, who was suffering through the introductions.
“Well,” Travis said, “I think we could all use a drink.” He signaled the waiter and gestured for David and Agnes to be seated across from him and Liana.
“I know I could,” Agnes said, and they all laughed.
They were enjoying a glass of port after dessert when Stuart returned to the table.
“I’m so sorry to disturb you, Mr. North, but you have an urgent phone call in the office.”
“Will you please excuse me?” Travis asked.
“I hope everything’s all right,” Liana said.
“I’m sure it’s nothing.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ll be right back.”
Liana watched him cross the room and then shifted her eyes to find her mother and David watching her. “What?”
Agnes smiled. “You seem quite smitten, honey.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Mother. We’re just friends.”
“Me thinks she doth protesteth too much,” David said with an amused glance at Agnes.
“Me thinks she doesn’t like you as much as she thought she did,” Liana teased him.
David laughed. “He’s an impressive young man.”
“Yes.” Liana trailed a finger over her wine glass. “He is that.”
“You make such a striking couple,” Agnes observed. “Your children would be gorgeous.”
“Mom!”
Agnes chuckled and held up her hands to quiet her daughter. “Relax, honey. I’m just saying—”
“What?”
“He’s perfect for you. That’s all.”
Amused, Liana said, “Don’t hold back. Tell me how you really feel.”
“All right. I will. You’ve become imprisoned by your career and the unwanted attention that comes with it.
You’ve got reporters following you everywhere you go, and I think it’s been a long time since you’ve enjoyed the work.
That glamorous life doesn’t suit you, honey.
You don’t fit into the crazy world you live in—you never have, and you never will. ”
When Liana began to object, her mother reached for her hand.
“You’re too decent, too kind, too generous. It’s time for you to settle down and have a family, and I can’t think of a more ideal candidate for a husband than the man who’s hardly taken his eyes off you all evening.”
“Anything else?” Liana asked in a small voice.
“Yes, one more thing.”
“I can’t wait to hear this,” Liana murmured.
“Since you’re already in love with him, don’t be a fool and pretend otherwise.”
Before Liana could reply to that astounding statement, Travis returned to the table with a troubled look on his face. He slid in next to Liana.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Remember Niki, who you met the other night when we were trying to track down your mother?”
“She’s the one who remembered Mom calling the cab,” Liana said with a pointed look at her mother, who shrugged with chagrin.
“That’s right. She’s been in a pretty serious car accident.”
“Oh, no, Travis! Is she all right?”
“She will be, but she broke her leg and a couple of ribs. She’s in the hospital.”
“That’s terrible.”
“She’ll be out of commission for a couple of weeks,” he said grimly. “I hate to think about work at a time like this, but she’s overseeing weddings this weekend and next. I was so focused on Enid and Brady’s wedding that I’ve had nothing to do with either of the next two.”
“Can I help?” Liana asked.
He kissed the hand she had wrapped around his. “No, sweetheart. You’re on vacation. Thank you, though.”
“I want to,” Liana insisted. “Surely there’s something I can do to help. It’d be fun.”
Travis studied her. “Do you really want to? It’s a lot of work.”
She nodded, surprised to realize just how much she wanted to help him if she could. That, coupled with her mother’s observations, caused Liana’s stomach to contract with nerves. Am I in love with him?
“Then I gratefully accept but only for a couple of hours a day. You need some down time while you’re home.”
Liana clapped her hands together. “When can I start?” She glanced over to find her mother and David looking smug and shot them a dirty look.
“Tomorrow,” Travis said.