Page 78 of Trusting You
He leaned forward and grabbed my hand. I had to hold in a sigh. My body missed him, and this tiny bit of contact was already making me feel so much better.
“I was an idiot. I was afraid of my feelings for you. And I didn’t want you to leave town without knowing.” His blue eyes shone as he talked, and all I wanted was to wrap him in my arms and get lost in him.
“Okay.”
“I know I am the last person you want to see right now, but I wanted to show you this.” He slid a manilla folder across the table.
I opened it, and it was filled with official looking paperwork. I skimmed the first page. “These are incorporation papers.” I kept reading. “For Quinn Beverages.”
“I took your advice. I talked to my brothers, and we decided to start our own distribution company. To help Binnacle, but also other small brewers who are trying to get on their feet.”
“This is great,” I said, flipping through the paperwork.
“It’s all because of you. You inspired me. I was a jackass who thought I knew everything, but your ideas and perspective are fresh and creative. You have completely changed my business in just a few short months.”
This was not where I expected this conversation to go. But I was happy for him. Despite what had happened between us, I wanted him to succeed.
“And we would love to be your first client, if you are interested.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you are the local Havenport marketing guru. I hear you do great work.” He winked. “And we could use your help.”
I flushed. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
He grabbed my hand. “Cece, we both know how passionate you are about helping people grow their businesses. You did incredible things for the brewery and for me.” How did he know? How did he know what I was thinking? I hadn’t told anyone.
“Well, I am considering staying here and possibly working with some local businesses on marketing projects.” I held my head up high. I had survived this pleasant, but awkward conversation, and now it was time to gracefully exit. I stood up and he grabbed my arm.
“Please don’t go yet. I’m not finished.”
He let my hand go and started nervously running his hands through his hair. “Cece, I am in love with you. I think I’ve been in love with you since the day you showed up at the brewery. This was never casual for me. I know you have a lot to figure out, but I want you to stay here with me so we can figure it out together. The brewery is not the same without you. My apartment is not the same without you. Hell, this town would not be not the same without you.”
He continued, “I realized that I do need people. And that I need you so badly. I love the brewery, but I love you more. I don’t want to be successful if I can’t share it with you.”
His words melted my icy heart. “I am in love with you too, Liam.”
He looked up at me, surprised. “What?”
“Yes, you dumbass. I love you too. I am crazy in love with you, and the thought of leaving town makes me want to throw up. I am going to stay here, regardless of what happens between us. This place is crazy, but it’s my kind of crazy.” I took a deep breath. “And I want to be with you too. This wasn’t casual for me either. As much as I tried to fight it I fell for you.”
He stood up abruptly, spilling his coffee all over the booth. Next thing I knew he had yanked me up and was kissing me senseless.
I tried to break away. “Liam, we have a lot to talk about.”
“Yes, we do. But let’s make out first.” And his lowered his mouth to mine, giving me what I had been desperately craving for the last week.
Jackie and Joe burst out from the kitchen, overcome with nosiness. “Joe, they are kissing,” I heard Jackie squeal.
“About damn time,” Joe replied.
I smiled at Liam, who called back, “Guys, she loves me too.”
“Of course she does, sweetheart. We knew it would work out. Now get back to kissing. I gotta text all my friends about this.”
“So how did you get Jackie and Joe to close the diner?”
“I asked. Nora said they owed her favors, whatever that means.” He shivered. “And they were very happy to kick everyone out for ‘true love’ as Joe put it.”
