Chapter 4 #3
“There’s somewhere I’d like to take you. I think we can cross off one thing today. It’s a beautiful day”—he gestures with both hands to the sunny sky above us—“and I know the perfect way to spend it.”
This is how, an hour later, I’m eyeing a sign for a hiking trail.
Liam told me I’d need a swimsuit, so I went back to the apartment, unloaded all of my goodies from the market, and changed.
Right before I reached the door, I grabbed a bag of homemade granola and an apple I bought earlier and headed out.
An older model Dodge Ram sits on the shoulder of the road, not the motorcycle I expected, but when I see Liam waiting with Mutt at his side I veer off and park behind him.
A laugh sputters out of me when I spot the bumper sticker on the truck, which reads: Caution: Makes frequent stops at your mom’s house.
If I hadn’t just spotted Liam, I’d still know the truck belongs to him.
He’s scribbling something in a small notebook, an unlit cigarette dangling from the corner of his lips.
Sitting like that, the hem of his shorts has ridden up, revealing two black bands tattooed around his muscular thigh, one thick band and one much thinner.
He looks up as I approach, his face splitting into a lopsided smile, which I return and kneel to pet Mutt.
“Figured I’d see your bike,” I say, cocking my head to the truck.
“Mutt doesn’t like the bike. I’ve tried everything. A special little dog seat, a dog backpack, you name it. It scares him.”
“Aww, Mutt,” I croon. “You have such a good daddy, don’t you?”
At the word daddy, Liam clears his throat. “Daddy, huh?”
In response, I pick up a nearby pinecone and throw it at him, hitting him square in the chest.
Standing, I straighten my shorts and adjust my ponytail. “So, which item on my list will hiking complete?”
He grabs a backpack from his truck, then turns to the trail. “You’ll see. Follow me.”
And that’s what I do. I traipse after a guy I’ve known less than twenty-four hours down a trail into the woods.
What is it about him that makes me feel comfortable enough to drop any sense of self-preservation?
But if Penny says he’s a good person, I trust that.
Plus, he has an ugly three-legged dog. If that doesn’t scream nice guy, I don’t know what does.
We follow a well-worn path, suggesting people come here often, but today it’s only Liam and me, plus Mutt who manages the trail easily, marking his territory on every other tree. Every so often he looks back at me like he’s saying “Ya still with us, new friend?”
While we walk, Liam whistles a tune that’s only vaguely familiar. His whistle is clear and bright, carrying a vibrato on some notes. Even the birds go silent, as though they too are mesmerized by the song.
I’m so caught up in the sound of him whistling that I don’t spot the tree root until it’s too late.
Stumbling, I fall to the ground with a thud.
My palms and knees take the brunt of it, and I hiss through my teeth at the sting.
Embarrassment pricks hot at the back of my neck as I squeeze my eyes shut until I feel Liam kneeling beside me, along with Mutt’s warm tongue licking my hand.
Peeking through one eye, I see Liam wearing a look of concern. “You okay? Does anything hurt?”
Opening my eyes all the way, I scrunch up my nose. “Only my ego. It’s definitely bruised.”
I shift to sitting while Liam crouches, already brushing grit and dirt from my knees.
He goes to my palms next, swiping a gentle thumb across each.
His touch sends warmth climbing up my arms, settling in my chest. Reaching up, he plucks a leaf from my hair, his eyes meeting mine for just a second before looking away.
“Can you stand? Here let me help.”
Taking my hands in his, Liam helps me to my feet. Doing a quick self-assessment, I find that nothing hurts. My hands and knees are a little skinned up, my ego considerably more so. But other than that, I’m fine. Meanwhile, Liam’s eyes still roam over me, checking for damage.
“I promise, I’m fine. Nothing hurts.” I spin around and do a little hop in the air. “See?”
“Okay. Well, we’re almost there if you wanna keep going.”
“Lead the way.” I flick my hand, and we start up the path again, resuming our hike, this time with the easy back and forth of conversation flowing between us.
“What made you want to own a bar?”
Liam doesn’t answer right away. “Honestly, I bought it on a whim. The previous owner was ready to retire. Sheila is my buddy Jackson’s mom, and I knew she needed the money. I had extra on hand so I bought it.”
He explains this like buying a business so your friend’s mom can keep her job is no big deal. Once again, I’m keenly aware that there might be more to Liam than meets the eyes.
“Color me impressed.”
Liam waves a dismissive hand. “Don’t be impressed with me. Sheila runs the place. The bills are on autopay and I show up when needed.”
We crest a small hill which leads to a clearing and realization is a slow dawning thing as I take in what I’m looking at.
Setting the backpack on the ground, Liam spreads his arms wide. “Ta-da! Welcome to Whipporwill Bluff.”