Liam suddenly had an urge to hustle her back in the car and take her back to the cottage, where they could resume their idyllic weekend. He still had about a million things he wanted to discover about her, and he was sure he’d have another million by the time the weekend was through. Every new discovery was magic—like that she loved John Wayne movies, and cheese curls, and that she made the sweetest sigh when he kissed the side of her left knee. When he’d asked her half teasingly, half in total earnest what her best dance move was, she’d laughed and rolled her eyes. When he’d persisted in getting an answer, she’d told him an arabesque, which meant absolutely nothing to him. Upon more wheedling, she’d shown him the position—her body supported on one leg, the other extended behind her as if she did a split in midair.
The woman was amazing.
He was about to suggest they ditch the fundraiser when Mari Kavanaugh approached, looking beautiful in a pink dress and sandals.
“Liam! There you are. I was just telling Tony Tejada you’d be here. He said next year the citizens of Harbor Town could line up and act out their aggression on the new police chief instead of the mayor. He was a bit tetchy when he said it,” Mari said.
“A bit wet, you mean,” Liam replied with a grin.
Mari stopped dead in her tracks, her brandy-colored eyes going wide when she saw who stood next to him. “Natalie. Oh my God!” Mari rushed her for a hug. “I can’t believe you came. Oh, I’m so glad.”
It both pleased him and made fee
l a little sad to see how surprised Mari was that Natalie had attended the public event. He realized Natalie hadn’t been at the opening ceremony for the Family Center last year. If she had, he would have noticed her.
Simple as that.
Mari backed out of the hug and glanced dubiously between Natalie and Liam.
“What is going on here?” she asked, half mock-stern and half pleased as punch.
“Come on, Mari. I’ve never known you to be so slow on the uptake,” Liam said as he gave his sister-in-law a kiss on the cheek. He noticed Eric Reyes next to the dunking booth, talking to his seven-year-old niece, Jenny, of all people. Eric had noticed Liam and Natalie’s arrival. Liam hoped at the very least that he kept his expression as neutral as Eric’s. He didn’t want to ruin this for Natalie, especially when she was so nervous about making a public appearance.
“Where’s that husband of yours? Already campaigning to be senator?” Liam asked Mari.
Mari looked surprised. “Did Marc tell you about that?”
“No. I have my sources of information,” Liam said mysteriously. He noticed Mari’s bemused expression, and admitted, “I actually read about the party showing interest in making Marc their candidate for senator in the Chicago Tribune.”
“Really? Is Marc going to run for senator, Mari?” Natalie asked in surprise.
Mari shook her head. “No…I don’t think so. The party interest came out of nowhere. It’s flattering, but he loves his job as a state prosecutor too much. Marc’s not going to be at all pleased when you tell him there was mention made of it in the newspaper, Liam. You should tell him about the story going public. He took Rylee into the Center. She was getting fussy in the heat and started squalling so loud she sent a whole flock of sparrows flying out of a tree in terror.”
Liam grinned. “That’s my girl.”
“Oh—hi, Eric! Look who’s here,” Mari greeted Eric Reyes brightly.
“Is Mom here, Mari?” Liam asked quietly while Natalie and Eric hugged and talked. “I need to have a word with her.”
“She’s inside with Marc and Rylee. I’m going to take Natalie to show her the fountain,” Mari added in a confidential undertone.
He gave her an amused look. “Don’t you be harassing Natalie. If you want to interrogate someone about us showing up here together, you can ask me.”
“You make it sound like there’s something significant to ask about in regard to you two,” Mari said.
“Maybe there is.”
Something indefinable flickered across Mari’s features. He recognized it as concern when she gave Natalie a furtive glance. She grabbed his arm and pulled him several feet away for privacy.
“I hadn’t expected this,” she said.
“Why?” Liam asked bluntly. He was getting sort of sick of people acting like the idea of Natalie and he together was so bizarre. He recalled his uncertainties on the night before he’d made love to Natalie for the first time, however, and he had to admit…maybe the people who cared for Natalie did have some reason for concern.
Mari bit her lower lip and spoke in a low voice. “You’ve never been much of a one-woman man, Liam. I’m not criticizing,” she said quickly when he opened his mouth to protest. “How you run your love life is your business. It’s just… Natalie is very vulnerable…”
“Do you think I don’t realize that? Don’t worry, Mari,” Liam said quietly. “Please.”
She studied his face with sharp eyes and smiled. “All right. I won’t, if you’re sure, and I can see that you are.” Turning, she walked back toward Natalie. “I want to show you the fountain,” Mari said, taking Natalie’s hand in a sisterly gesture. “You haven’t seen it yet.”