Page 118 of The Science of Attraction

“Wow,” Liam exclaimed, leaning forward in his seat, his hazel eyes bright with wonder. “It looks so tiny from here, especially against the backdrop of the lake. Damn, it’s beautiful.”

And it was.

The old Miller homestead sat cradled at the north end of a steep U-shaped valley carved from a glacier. Lines of shelter belts protected its back, breaking the worst of the winter gales, while out front, a gently sloping lawn gave way to the stony shoreline of a sparkling crystalline lake cold enough to send your balls rocketing into your brain lowering both their IQs.

I reached for Liam’s hand and kissed his palm. “I told you it was worth the trip.”

His eyes glistened as he looked out over the vista. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to these views.”

I leaned across the console and tilted his face toward me for a kiss, his soft lips framed by that short goatee that had enthralled me from the first time I’d seen him. “I hope you don’t. I’ll always love seeing that wonder on your face. I love you.”

He smiled almost shyly. “I love you too.”

Ten minutes later, with both of us grinning from ear to ear after the speedy trip down, I parked my ute behind Zach’s and we unloaded the chilly bin and a duffel carrying the birthday presents from the back seat.

Em made her way from the kitchen to greet us, but her smile slipped when she saw we were alone. “So, they didn’t come?”

I shrugged. “You know Dad. He said he was tired, but I think he isn’t quite ready for the full-immersion experience yet.”

She nodded. “I guess he made a start when he invited us over for Christmas drinks and to thank us. We can be patient, right?”

I agreed. That social gathering, awkward as it was, had been on Paddy’s turf, whereas the invitation to Zach’s birthday party was on Miller land, which involved some serious crow-eating on his part. It had always been a long shot.

“What about Connor?”

“He’s still with Spencer at the Nolan place, checking one of their bulls that’s gone down,” Liam answered. “They’ll be about an hour or so.”

Em nodded. “Good. I like that boy. How’s he finding things in the big adult world?”

Liam grinned. “So far so good. I thought he’d miss his mates in Dunedin a lot more, but he seems to love being part of the team. And the mix of five days shepherding and one day working alongside Spencer gives Connor a chance to see which direction he prefers. It was a brilliant suggestion of Ten’s.”

“And your sister?” Em smiled knowingly. The idea of Connor as a shepherd or working with animals in any way, shape, or form, had come as somewhat of a surprise to his city-loving mother. It had needed all Liam’s wiles and support to get her to agree.

“She’s getting used to the idea,” he answered. “I think at the start, she didn’t take him seriously, but now she can see how much he loves it. The fact I’m around to keep an eye on him was what sold it in the end.”

“He’s a smart kid and he’ll do well at whatever he chooses. Here, give me that.” She took the chilly bin from my hands and waved us toward the back yard. “You boys head on around. I’ll join you shortly.”

We did as she said, following the sounds of laughter and loud conversation along the veranda and down into the backyard where a couple of dozen people were gathered. I didn’t immediately spot Zach, and so Liam grabbed a couple of beers and we found ourselves a seat in front of the firepit—a blatantly unnecessary addition on a baking-hot summer’s evening.

I grabbed Liam’s hand and set it on my lap and we clinked bottles. “Here’s to you, baby.”

He leaned in and kissed me. “Here’s tous.”

We locked eyes for a moment and I returned his kiss.

“Oh my god,” Zach groaned as he and Luke appeared from the mudroom, carrying a couple of dozen beers between them. “It’smyfucking birthday and I hereby rule that the only kissy faces allowed tonight are mine and Luke’s.”

“Fuck off,” said a chorus of about a half dozen voices, including that of Charlie who was curled up on Ten’s lap.

Zach laughed, disposed of his beer, and then hurried over to greet us.

“Happy birthday, little bro.” I pulled him into a hug.

“I see Dad didn’t come.” There was no hiding the disappointment in his eyes, and Luke appeared at Zach’s side to slide an arm around my brother’s waist.

I shrugged. “Baby steps, remember?”

Zach forced a smile. “Right.”

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