Page 26 of Love Under Review

“Maybe you should wait a bit. I’m sure he’s probably working on his next book.” She paused a moment before saying, “Wait. How did you know the author is a guy anyway? I’ve had trouble finding anything about him.”

Liam shrugged. “I think I heard one of the ladies in your book club talking about the author as a guy, so I just assumed they knew something I didn’t.” He gave her a half-smile, and her face softened. “Why do you think I should wait? I think right now would be a great time since a lot of the town has read the three books that are out.”

She looked hesitant about something and then said, “I don’t know. It’s up to you. Who knows if he’d have time to come here?” Something about the way she broached this topic made Liam suspicious, but he wasn’t sure what it was that felt off.

“I’ll let you know when I contact him. I’ve had a lot going on here, but it will be a treat for the people in town. The trilogy has been a good seller here, and it’s been a challenge to come up with books I can stock as a supplement until the next one comes out.”

Danielle tilted her head to the side a bit. “I never really considered all that goes into a bookstore. I guess I just thought of it as a place with a lot of books. But rotating where they’re positioned, thinking about the ones that would be good for certain interests and personalities, even having the knowledge of so many books to be able to refer people to the books they need…that’s impressive.”

Liam’s chest swelled with pride. “Why, thank you. My mother loved books. I think she’d be proud that we worked to make it happen.”

“You and Kara?”

A stab of guilt filled him as he said, “Yes.”

“What happened to your parents?”

“My dad passed away eight years ago. They diagnosed him with a brain tumor, and three months later, my mother passed away. She’d had muscular sclerosis since I was young.”

Danielle’s hand flew to her mouth, and her eyes went wide. The people who knew the family’s background usually reacted the same. Two people with cancer and one with an autoimmune disease sounded like a curse. But his parents had been older and had accepted it after a longer life. Kara just needed that chance.

“I’m so sorry. I had no idea.” She shook her head.

Liam moved forward, placing a hand hesitantly on her shoulder. “They never lived here, so you wouldn’t have known. It’s fine.” After a breath, he asked, “What happened with your father? I’ve only ever heard people talk about Mrs. Holloway.”

With a quick shrug, she said, “It’s the classic story of the husband hitting a mid-life crisis and deciding he didn’t want to be married anymore. I barely remember him.”

The methodical tone of her voice and the mask she wore hid feelings that had probably built over the years. That could be the reason she was often snarky and sarcastic, trying to hide the hurt and pain from years of whatever had happened to her.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

Danielle’s face was somber, but she said, “Like you said, you couldn’t have known. Not many people talk about it here, which is surprising in a small town. It’s old news, and most people like my mother too much to speak badly about her. She’s so sweet. Sometimes I wonder if I actually am her daughter.” Again, the laugh sounded off, and Liam wondered if there was a part of her that believed it.

“Well, you’re several inches taller than her, but other than that, you could pass as siblings.”

She raised her eyebrow, and Liam felt himself backpedaling. “I mean that in a good way, you know, like you are a younger version of her if she were a really, like, a lot older sister and—”

“Liam.”

“Huh?”

“Stop. You’re fine. My mother would take that as a compliment.” Danielle turned back to the books, and Liam was caught in the middle of the bookstore, wondering whether he should go back to work or continue the conversation.

“Let me know when you’re ready to check out.”

Moving back to his shelf, he peeked over, studying her from a safe distance. There were so many facets to her personality, and he felt like each time he talked with her, another one appeared. She could be blunt and sarcastic, but she also had a more sensitive side.

Then again, there was the fact that he’d just stumbled over every word that came out of his mouth. He had been an investment banker and had to talk to people all the time. But over the last few days, he’d been doing word gymnastics when he was around Danielle.

Maybe he needed a nap and a break from town. With Kara starting her first treatment on Thursday, he planned to head to Grand Junction, taking Cari out of school on Friday and making a weekend out of it. If things went well, he hoped to have his sister back home in the next few weeks, hopefully with a better overall outlook. He could dream that she’d be cured, but sooner or later he’d have to face the facts that he was going to lose yet another family member.

The article came to mind, and he knew he’d need to work on it throughout the evening. He didn’t want to turn in a late post for his first try, and he could only imagine the smirk on Danielle’s face if he did so.

His interest in Danielle could only go that far. His heart could only take so much, and losing his sister was going to pull it to pieces already.

Chapter 18

Danielle finished up her article on Thursday with a couple of minutes to spare until the deadline. She’d always been like that, working up to the last minute, usually because she’d procrastinated it until then. The familiar rush of excitement coursed through her when she sent it off to Clyde and wondered how it would look next to Liam’s article.

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