Chapter 67
LIAM
Nathan Walker had a way with people that was simply beyond describing. Less than three hours ago, he’d shown up unannounced, we’d introduced him to the staff, and he was leaving as everyone’s friend, role model, and greatest hero.
I chuckled as he and I walked out into the night, my hands in my pockets as I twisted to face him. “You’re sure you don’t want to stay over tonight and catch the first flight out in the morning instead? We’ve got room and I know the team would love to have you.”
“I would have loved to stay just as much, but I’ve got a big meeting with Abi and Simon in New York tomorrow,” he explained. Damp dirt squelched and crunched under our feet as our we walked. “I just wanted to put in an appearance here and let your people know how much we appreciate them.”
“Thank you for making the effort, Nate. It means a lot to us and I know it meant the world to them as well. They were already excited about getting back to the office, but I think you inspired them so much, they might all start sleeping there from now on.”
He chuckled but slowed his footsteps and glanced at me. Illuminated by the ambient light in the garden, his features seemed to change, his expression slowly turning more serious as he looked at me. “Something is different about you. Are you okay, bud?”
“Yeah.” I cleared my throat. “I’ve just got a lot going on, but I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”
“Of course.” He nudged me with his elbow and flashed me a smile. “I’m here if you want to talk about it, okay? You know I’m always all ears.”
I doubted he’d want to hear about this, but I considered taking him up on the offer anyway. For years now, I’d been closer to Nathan than to my own father and I knew I could benefit from his advice, but whether he’d want to hear about my feelings for his daughter was another matter.
Nathan chuckled again, peering at me from the corner of his eye before he started walking again. “Whatever it is, son, you know you can talk to me. Especially if it’s about your father.”
“It’s not,” I said quickly, before he got the wrong idea. “Has he said anything to you?”
“Nah, I just heard you saw your sister when you were in Texas. Did she tell you anything about your pops?”
“A little bit,” I admitted. “As much as I’d let her, anyway. She wanted me to go see him, but I didn’t get around to it.”
Understanding crossed his features and he gave me a gentle smile. “I encourage you to at least call him, Liam. Check in on him.”
“I’ll think about it,” I promised, though I’d already made the same promise to my sister and I had thought about it. I just wasn’t sure it was a good idea. “I’m not sure I trust all these apparent changes he’s making.”
Nathan dipped his chin in a soft nod. “I get where you’re coming from.
I do, but when someone hurts us, we’ve all got a tendency to ball up and shut them out.
What we often don’t realize until it’s too late is that doing that only holds us captive.
Call your father, Liam. I know that if one of my kids didn’t speak to me, it would hurt like hell. ”
“Yes, sir. I’ll take that into consideration, but with respect, your kids love you and for good reason. They’d never stop speaking to you because you’ve earned the right to be in their lives, and in turn, you’ve allowed them to earn your respect and your pride. It’s not like that with my father.”
“That’s fair, but he does love you, Liam. Deeply. I know it doesn’t always feel that way, but he does. He also respects you and he is proud of you, for what it’s worth hearing it coming from me instead of him.”
I smiled. “It’s worth everything, Nate.”
“Alright, well, if that’s not what was bothering you, then I won’t harp on about it. You know how I feel now. Whatever else is going on, I’m here for you.”
“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.” We reached the truck he’d rented and he hit unlock on the key fob, but as he turned to reach for the door handle, I suddenly realized that I couldn’t let this offer slide.
As uncomfortable as it might be to talk to him about my feelings for his daughter, I desperately needed to speak to someone who loved and supported both of us. My friends and my sister adored the girl, but not as a potential match for me.
It would take time for them to see that she wasn’t going to rip my heart out before they’d trust her in that respect, and in order to have the time it would take, I needed to hear from someone who had both of our best interests at heart.
“It’s about London,” I blurted out before he climbed into the truck. “These last few weeks, things have been changing between us. I’m starting to develop real feelings for her and I know it’s dangerous, but it happened anyway.”
Nathan stilled and my heart threatened to stop. For the longest second in history, he just stood there, half in the truck, but with one foot still on the ground, and I zeroed in on the expression on his face.
The light in the truck had come on when he’d opened the door, but as he turned slowly to face me, I was back to having to rely only on the ambient light.
There was no surprise on his features, but his eyes had widened slightly, his nostrils flaring just the slightest bit before he suddenly broke out into a wide grin.
“Son, you’ve loved my daughter for years,” he said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “So I’m going to take this to mean she’s only just now starting to realize that maybe she loves you too? And that’s complicating things, isn’t it?”
My eyebrows shot up and I felt a relieved smile on my face. “Yes, sir. I guess that’s exactly it. I’m just not entirely sure how to handle her feelings changing without scaring her away.”
Nathan looked back at me and chuckled, then reached out to pat me on the shoulder. “You will do what’s best, Liam. I trust you. Now you just need to trust you.”
My brow furrowed. “What does that mean?”
“There’s no one better for her, and deep down, I know that she’s what’s best for you, too. All you need to do is be patient with her, son. You already have been, but you’re going to need to keep letting her figure out the next step that’s right for her in her own time.”
“That’s all?”
He shrugged. “Well, that and you’re going to have to be there for her.
Same as you always have been, but in this case, you’re going to need to let her know that she’s not in this alone.
London puts on a brave face and she’s exceptionally strong professionally, but you know how soft her heart is.
You also know how scared she is of letting people in. ”
“Yeah, we’ve been struggling with that fear of hers, but I’m not sure how much clearer I can make it that I’m not going anywhere.”
Nathan smiled. “Just keep telling her and, more importantly, keep showing her. London’s greatest fear is falling and not being caught, so catch her, Liam. You’ve never given her any reason to doubt you. Don’t do that now, either.”
“Thanks, Nate. I needed that.”
“Anytime, kiddo.” He opened his arms for a hug. “I should hit the road if I’m going to catch my flight. Take care of yourself and of our girl, and I’ll talk to you soon.”
After giving him a tight, back-smacking hug, I let go and watched him climb into the truck. He gave his horn a short, soft honk as he drove away, and when his tail lights faded, I turned and headed back inside.
To my surprise, some of our team members were in their swimming gear, dripping and towels wrapped around them. I laughed. “What on earth happened to you guys?”
Sammy nodded toward the back garden and grinned. “We finally found the hot tub. It’s damn hot, but it was worth it.”
“I guess I’ll have to take my turn in it, then. I just need to change into my trunks. You guys done for the night?”
As if to answer my question, Nina stifled a yawn and flashed me a watery-eyed smile around it. “That was all I needed to put me to sleep. I might not even make it to my bedroom, tired and lazy as I am right now. Be careful out there, boss. I almost nodded off without even climbing out.”
I chuckled. “Thanks for the warning. I’ll be careful. Sleep well, guys.”
They waved before they turned and went their separate ways to their bedrooms. Everyone else seemed to have already turned in and the lodge was quiet, most of the lights either off or dimmed to the lowest setting.
I padded to my room, quickly changing and then wondering where London had gone off to, but a soak sounded good right now. I’d catch up to her once I was done. If Sammy and Nina were to be believed, I wouldn’t last long in the hot tub anyway.
When I got outside, I was just in time to see London slowly sinking into the tub in a bikini I’d always loved on her. It was a tiny black thing that only covered the basics, but she swore it was the most comfortable one in her arsenal.
A quiet groan escaped me as I watched her from the tree line between the lodge and the canopy where the hot tub was situated.
Her golden hair was piled up high on her head and she was submerged to her knees, steam rising from the water and making her look a little like a mythical, mystical creature.
The bikini top clung to the edge of her cleavage like it was just about to give up, but I knew from hours of silently begging to get a peek that it wouldn’t happen. That top was rock solid regardless of how small it was.
As I finally broke away from the trees and headed toward her, I put my hands over my eyes and purposely separated two fingers to “sneak” a peek at her. “Girl, what are you trying to do to me?”
Her gaze snapped to mine and she giggled, pumping her eyebrows. She deliberately dragged her gaze slowly all over me. “Ditto. Are you coming in? I was just starting to wonder if my dad had kidnapped you and dragged you back to the city with him.”
“I’d only let him if he was kidnapping you too.”
Her answering smile made the line a hundred percent worth it. I guess Nathan was right after all. I just need to keep assuring her every minute of every day that I’m here, and that I’m not going anywhere.