He stepped closer. Her emotional turmoil only mounted when he cradled her jaw, his fingers caressing her cheek softly. She hadn’t known him that long, but already she’d grown accustomed to this particular tender, prizing gesture. He used his other hand to remove her glasses and then he leaned in, pressing his forehead against hers.
“I just wish you could see yourself like I see you. You’re beautiful, and not despite this.” Her lungs ached in her chest, but she still couldn’t draw breath as he gently traced her scar. He pressed a kiss at the corner of her eyelid, like a period at the end of a poignant sentence. “Because of it, Natalie. In part, at least. It’s one of the many things that make you unique…and yes, beautiful.”
A depthless font of uncertainty welled up in her chest at that moment. Several teardrops spilled from her eyes, spattering on Liam’s skin.
“Let me go,” she said, her throat too tight for anything but a whispered plea.
His fingers loosened reluctantly around her glasses when she tugged on them. Slipping them on, she turned and hurried down the street.
Natalie wasn’t necessarily surprised when she saw Liam standing at her door later that evening, but she was extremely glad. She knew she’d behaved like a child earlier. She’d been regretting her insecurities so much that it’d been hard for her to concentrate at work, and she’d left early.
“Hi,” she greeted Liam as she opened the screen door.
“I came to beg forgiveness, but I realize it might be a challenge for you,” he told her wryly, his mouth quirked in a small half grin. “Do you think if I gave you a license to call me a tactless idiot as many times as you wanted all evening and made you dinner to boot, you could eventually get there?”
“You don’t have to make me dinner.” She studied her welcome mat like it held the mysteries of the universe. She shifted on her bare feet. “I’m the one who should say I was sorry. I overreacted.”
A heavy silence followed her apology. Surely it would be a mistake to allow herself to spend time with him…to allow herself to fall for him. She couldn’t begin to count the number of reasons why it would never work, the least of which was his vast experience with dating compared to her novice status. She would just end up making a fool of herself and getting hurt. Then, there was the fact that his association with her was causing major waves with his mother. He’d probably end up resenting her for creating so much drama in his personal life—
Liam gently pushed a stray curl off her forehead, interrupting her flow of catastrophic thinking. Since he stood a step below her on the stoop, her eyes were level with his mouth. His thumb skimmed over her cheek, and then across her lower lip.
“So what about dinner at my place? It’d be a great evening for a swim, too,” he murmured distractedly, his gaze following the trail of his fingertip.
Natalie just stared for a few seconds, temporarily overwhelmed by his sudden nearness and stroking finger. He must have misunderstood the reason for her hesitation, because he added quickly, “I had a conversation with Jack Andreason earlier.”
“The bartender?” Natalie asked breathlessly.
“Yeah. I’ll tell you about it. Is it okay if I step into the AC while you get your suit? It’s sweltering out here.”
“Oh, of course. Please, come in,” Natalie said quickly, mortified to realize she’d left him standing outside the entire time.
“If you have a pair of swim shoes or rubber flip-flops or something, bring those, too,” Liam called as she started down the hallway a moment later. “I haven’t gotten around to having any sand poured at the beach, and it’s rocky.”
It wasn’t until she’d hurriedly packed a canvas beach bag that Natalie realized how easily he’d smooth-talked her into accompanying him.
She was already regretting the decision by the time she followed Liam out to the driveway, her feet faltering when she saw his motorcycle. She recalled how she’d said she was disappointed because he hadn’t driven it last night and mentally damned her bravado.
“Is this the first time you’ve been on a bike?” Liam asked her as he stored her bag and handed her a helmet. Natalie suspected from his overly casual tone he’d noticed her apprehension.
He mounted the bike, all sinuous long limbs and effortless male grace. The motorcycle roared to life. “No worries. You’ll be safe with me.” His flashing grin faded as he examined her. “I promise, Natalie.”
Natalie seriously doubted about her safety when it came to Liam Kavanaugh, but she took the plunge anyway and got on the leather seat behind him, feeling every bit as awkward and foolish as Liam appeared comfortable and confident.
He turned his head so that she could see his profile.
“The only thing you’ve got to do is hold on. Tighter,” he added when she looped her arms around his waist in an uncertain gesture.
He exited her driveway at a tame pace, but when he turned down Travertine Road, the bike took off like a rocket. Natalie felt her heart plummet to the vicinity of her navel, and she hung on to Liam for dear life.
Chapter Eight
It took a few seconds for the full experience of being on the motorcycle to penetrate her consciousness. When she pried open her eyes after a moment, she saw the houses and trees along Travertine zooming by in a colorful, blurred landscape. The machine felt alive beneath her, as if they were riding some wild animal while it gave off a mixture of a growl and a vibrating purr.
By the time they passed the old, handcrafted mailbox at the cottage, Natalie had abandoned herself to the experience. Her upper body pressed flush against Liam’s back. Her cheek rested between his shoulder blades. She inhaled his scent—a subtle, fresh, spicy smell mixing with the clean fragrance of his laundered shirt. His body felt hard and supple in her encircling arms.
She was genuinely disappointed when Liam planted his feet on the gravel drive and the steel beast went silent.
Natalie clambered off the seat, removed the helmet and idly began to smooth back her hair. She noticed Liam’s quizzical look.