Chapter 15
15
Margot
M argot didn’t know what had gotten into her. She’d never been this forward. She’d always been the one who guys chased, not the other way around. Something in her had snapped. Was she so desperate that she was willing to make a fool of herself just because Liam had told her he liked her?
And yet, all those intrusive thoughts were falling by the wayside. Why couldn’t a girl take charge? Why couldn’t she go after a relationship she wanted? She’d done the same with her career when she was in New York. Liam had pushed her to do the same here. Perhaps that was what it was.
She wasn’t desperate. She was falling in love for the first time, and Liam was worth the risk. Margot pulled back, her eyes searching his, hoping to see what she felt mirrored there. The first emotion she could read was surprise, but it was followed quickly by a desire that trumped her own.
Liam’s gaze was on fire, fueled by a passion that made her stomach flip around and around. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her in for a second embrace, this time giving her everything she’d wanted in that moment.
They were finally kissing and it was more electrifying than she ever could have imagined.
He was the first to break their kiss off as it threatened to go further than either one of them was prepared for. Margot’s relief mingled with a degree of disappointment. Out of breath and dizzy, she took a step back to steady herself, then dragged her eyes to meet his. “I remember that going a little differently when we were younger.”
His lips quirked upward. “We’ve both changed.”
“Yeah, I suppose we have,” she said softly.
Liam reached out his hand and then jerked his head toward the lookout. “We got distracted. Do you still want to investigate?”
Her eyes widened, flying to where she’d seen the flickers of light. “The lightning bugs!” She took his hand in hers. They headed up the incline to the lookout, where trees and shrubbery offered cover for the little insects.
Margot gasped as the whole space came into view. There were bugs everywhere. They floated and darted around her like glowing specks of glitter, but they never really settled on anything. She reached out with her hand, and like a wave, the bugs moved from her reach. “This is amazing,” she whispered. “How did you find out about this place?”
Liam didn’t answer, drawing her attention. Then he shrugged. “I don’t remember when I found out about this place. Obviously, a few other people like it up here, but I don’t think many make it up this way.” He still held her hand, and he squeezed it firmly. “I’ve never brought anyone else up here before.”
Her heart dropped like she’d just gotten to the peak of a rollercoaster. There she sat at the top, hovering, anticipating the ride as she stared at him. Liam had lived here his whole life. He’d had the opportunity to bring everyone he cared about up to this place, and he’d never done it? “Why?” she found herself asking.
He didn’t hesitate, didn’t waiver when he said, “No one was special enough.”
Goosebumps rose on her arms and legs. It was a sad realization that she had never felt this special before in her life. Not with all the guys she’d dated, not with all the people that surrounded her in her career. Not even with her father. She knew she was cared for, but she had never felt like she’d meant that much to people. She’d been replaceable.
Liam squeezed her hand again, then brought it to his lips. “The first time I found this place, I knew exactly who I wanted to share it with.”
“But I was all the way across the country. You couldn’t have believed that I would come back…” Her voice had gone hoarse, and she glanced around at the scene before them. She couldn’t understand why he’d wait for her. It didn’t make sense.
“I knew I cared about you more than I cared about anyone.” Liam tugged on her hand, drawing her close to him. He hooked his finger beneath her chin and tilted it upward, and their eyes met. “I never wanted to share this place with anyone but you. Even if I had ended up with someone else, I don’t know that I would have come up here with them.”
She released a nervous chuckle. “You don’t know that. You would have fallen in love eventually.”
He shook his head. “I knew I loved you from the moment we met.”
Her sharp gaze narrowed, and then she laughed. “We met when we were in grade school.”
“I know,” he whispered. “Do you remember it?”
She frowned. Those memories were foggy. All she could remember was that he was a poor kid and others didn’t like him that much. She’d befriended him, but that was it.
“You sat with me at lunch and shared what you had. The kids who were teasing me left me alone that day and every day that you spent time with me. I think it’s because they were scared of you, to be honest.”
Margot’s memories started to piece together. She recalled that day in the lunchroom. Liam had been sitting alone, and he didn’t have anything but a carton of milk that the lunch lady had given him. A few kids teased him as they walked by. Liam had been quiet and reserved. He had looked torn down. “I think I remember,” she whispered.
“I’ve never told anyone this before…” His voice trailed off and he looked up into the starry sky. “You’ve mentioned before that I could have turned out to be something else. Well, I don’t think I would have turned out like I have if it weren’t for you.” He brought his serious gaze back to her. “You don’t know the effect you have on people. And for me, it was life changing. You made me believe there was still good in the world. You were the light I needed.”
Her breath caught, and she fought the emotion that threatened to break free. All she could do was squeeze his hand in response. Her eyes turned to the dancing lightning bugs. These little creatures brought her lots of joy, but as she sat there, she realized it wasn’t near as much joy as thoughts of being with Liam brought her.
The relationship that Margot had with Liam continued to grow stronger, but there were a few issues with going public. Between Caleb’s judgment and her father’s unwavering assumptions that Liam was a bad influence, Margot had thought it was best for them to keep it quiet.
Liam didn’t seem to mind, for which she was extremely grateful.
Everything was finally falling into place. Margot had her college classes that kept her busy. She was welcomed into the performing arts program that had caught her eye, and she was learning more and more about caring for Prada than she’d thought she would.
She found herself enjoying every second she could spend at the ranch with Liam, and her day brightened just by seeing him. His acceptance of her had a healing effect. Margot wasn’t nearly as down on herself, and she was starting to take better care of herself when it came to her eating habits.
Margot grinned as she marched up to the barn to do her work. Still, no one knew that her father had offered to let her board her horse. Not the Callahans, and not the Keagans. She wasn’t even sure her father realized she was doing work around the Keagans’ property to keep Prada there.
It wasn’t the secrets that made this arrangement work for her. It was the independence and control she felt by taking over the decisions in her life. She wasn’t being told what to do by anyone. She’d made her choices, and she was happy with how they were turning out.
Liam was home early today. Margot had parked her car by his truck. He was probably already in the barn with Prada. The closer she got, the more her stomach knotted and churned. Liam had that effect on her these days, and she couldn’t say she was unhappy about it. She picked up her pace and hurried into the barn.
It was empty except for the one man she was looking forward to seeing. He lifted his head when she entered, and that smile could have melted her heart if it wasn’t already all over the place. She hurried up to him and stole a quick kiss. He pulled back first and let his gaze sweep through the barn before wrapping his arm around her waist and stealing a second.
When she stepped back and met his gaze, her stomach did that pleasant jump she was growing accustomed to. He reached out and grazed her jawline with his knuckle. “How were classes today?”
“Good,” she drawled. “How was your day?”
“I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
She ducked into Prada’s stall. It was hard to meet his gaze when he said stuff like that. “I know the feeling,” she said quietly.
“Do you want to go out again tonight? We could see the lightning bugs again.”
“I’d love to,” she said.
Margot rested her cheek against Liam’s chest as they laid back on the blanket Liam had brought. Her eyes drooped, growing heavy after the long day she’d had.
“Do you want to go home?” Liam said. His fingertips trailed up and down her bare arm, setting off fresh waves of goosebumps.
“No, I want to stay here with you.”
“Don’t you have a curfew?” he asked sleepily.
“Yeah, but it’s not for another hour. I just want to stay here a little longer with you. Then we can go.” Her hand rested on his chest, her fingers opening and closing. This was the experience she’d never known she’d wanted in her life. Despite all the failures during her time in New York, she couldn’t help but feel that this moment in her life couldn’t have been more perfect.
“You can’t fall asleep,” he mumbled.
“Speak for yourself.” She smiled, her eyes growing heavy. “I’m just going to rest my eyes. Then we can go.”
The lull of his heartbeat and the calming breeze that danced across her skin had a soothing effect. She felt safe here, lying with him—something she’d never had before. If it weren’t for her curfew, she could have fallen asleep in his arms and not worried about what would happen to her.
Margot snuggled deeper into his shoulder and exhaled. It felt like she’d closed her eyes for only a second when Liam jerked out from under her.
“You have to get up,” he said in a panic.
She stared at him blearily. “I told you, it’s fine. We don’t have to be back for?—”
“It’s six in the morning.” He snatched up his hat and pulled on his boots. “Your dad?—”
“My dad’s gonna kill me!” Margot jumped to her feet and gathered her things. Her heart raced wildly, and not in the way she’d grown to love. If her father caught her coming in at six in the morning, he could very likely kick her out.
She’d lose everything.
Margot didn’t have a job or a way to pay for living arrangements. The work she did at the Keagans’ ranch was solely to give Prada a home. Her thoughts raced with excuses she might be able to tell her father. Would he believe she’d fallen asleep in the library at the school? Not likely. Shoot! She should have left when Liam mentioned it last night.
They ran for his truck, and she waited for him to unlock the door, but he’d paused. Her eyes lifted to meet his expectantly, finding him staring. She nearly barked at him to get going, but it was what he said next that seemed to put everything in perspective.
“I love you,” he said, not a trace of doubt in his voice.
Her whole body went numb, then cold, then flashed hot. “I love you, too.”