Chapter Sixteen
“I’ve left a plate of lasagna aside for you,” Isabel said when she opened the screen door. She found Liam sitting on the porch just as she’d expected, sitting where he had been the previous night. He was in his rocking chair, and smoking his pipe. He looked out into the darkness, following a trail of fireflies in the distance where his horses were.
“Thank you, but I’m not hungry right now,” he said without looking at her. Isabel wiped her hands on the apron she still had tied to her waist. She stared at the back of Liam’s head silently for a few moments, then she breathed in deeply and walked over to his side.
“You should know the truth. Just like I’ve found out the truth about you,” Isabel said. Without looking at him, she sat down on the wooden floorboards of the top step. She could feel his eyes on her back, but she didn’t dare to look at him. She wouldn’t be able to and also tell him what she was about to say.
Liam remained silent and she continued.
“I left New York because I wasn’t as successful as I thought I would be,” Isabel said, and then she turned her head to look at him.
“At your work?” he asked and she nodded silently.
“I worked for a fashion magazine. You might not be aware of it, but it is a highly competitive industry,” Isabel explained and bit down on her lip. She hadn’t spoken about this at all to anybody. She had simply packed her bags and left.
“You’re still young Isabel, I’m certain you have time to achieve what you want to achieve.” She heard his voice in the dark. She could see the glitter of his blue eyes staring at her, and she shied away from looking at him directly.
“No matter how hard I work… I won’t make it big. Because of…because of my…weight.” She said it bluntly, it was like ripping off a band-aid from her skin. She closed her eyes because she was embarrassed till she heard his voice again.
“I don’t understand,” he said.
“I’m overweight,” she said exasperatedly.
“What? You can’t be serious. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on,” Liam said, and Isabel opened her eyes, trying to suppress the smile that was forming on her face.
“Not for the fashion industry. Not for my magazine,” she said and she heard him get up from his chair.
“That is bullshit,” Liam said walking up to her. He was standing above her now, looking down at her face. Isabel shrugged her shoulders.
“My father died. He was the only family I had. And then I lost my job and I knew why I was fired.” Isabel turned away from him to look at the fireflies.
“Because they think you’re too big?” he asked and she nodded her head.
“They are foolish,” she heard him say. She smiled blankly, a million images of her past life running through her head.
“I wanted to run away. I wanted to go away to a place where someone needed me for who I am,” Isabel continued, but he interrupted her.
“You were running away, hiding out here,” he said and she didn’t need to nod her head for him to know that was the truth.
“But Isabel…” he began and she looked at him again. “This isn’t the life, you know. You can’t hide out here forever.”
She narrowed her eyes and stared at him. She could see that he was struggling with the words. He was trying to say the right thing, even though it hurt him. Even though it would mean that he would lose her forever.
“When I met Sophie…when I met you… I knew that I wouldn’t be hiding here. I could be myself here,” Isabel said and she watched as he crouched down in front of her.
“The moment I saw you, I knew that you would want to change your mind about your decision. You’re too beautiful, you have too much to give, and you’re too smart for us,” Liam said.
Isabel shook her head. “I’m happy here. Even though it’s only been two days, and I got sick, and I…we argued…and Sophie was late for school,” she began and Liam smiled. “It all made me happy. I felt useful and needed.”
“And desired,” Liam added and Isabel felt her cheeks flush. Liam reached for her face. In the dark, she shut her eyes. “I didn’t want a bride. I didn’t think about it and I was so angry with Sophie for what she had done behind my back. But now I’m glad that she did,” Liam said while stroking her cheek with his large thumb.
Isabel felt shivers run down her spine. She wanted him again, she wanted his mouth on her skin, she wanted his arms around her.
“She’s a smart kid,” Isabel said and they both laughed.
“So you won’t leave tomorrow afternoon?” he asked and Isabel bit down on her lip.
“Not unless you want me to.”
“No, I want you to stay. At least for a while longer. See if you want to change your mind after that.” Liam’s voice was low and gruff. She could see that he was thinking of her body again, just like she was thinking of his. Isabel nodded. It was a good deal. The best deal that she could have asked for.
“But you have to promise to teach me a few things around here. I want to learn how to ride a horse and brush its mane, just like you,” Isabel said with a smile. Liam nodded his head.
“As long as you eat well and drink lots of water,” he said like he was talking to a child. Isabel laughed and fell into his arms; she couldn’t keep herself away from him any longer. His arms were strong and masculine around her and she breathed in his musky scent.
“And you have to promise to keep cooking up these meals. I’m starving. I was drooling from the smell of the lasagna,” he said and they both laughed again.