Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“How is it that you make me feel so much calmer?”
“I’m not sure, but I’m just glad I don’t make you nervous.”
Smiling, I broke our stare and focused on his chest. “I want to be strong, but at the same time…I’m so scared he’s going to find me again, Liam.”
He placed his finger on my chin and lifted until our eyes met once more. “I promise you, Mallory, I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
Drawing in a breath, I slowly exhaled. “I believe you.”
He leaned in and gently kissed my forehead. The air between us instantly changed. My eyes landed on his mouth, and for a moment I desperately wanted to kiss him, or have him kiss me.
We both jumped apart when the doorbell rang. Liam looked toward the front door, drew in a deep breath and released it as he looked back at me. “That should be Randy. Are you okay?”
I nodded and cleared my throat as I looked around the kitchen.
“Wait here.”
“I will,” I said softly, as I watched Piper jumping up at the door. She stopped once Liam gave her a command, and she patiently sat.
After checking who was at the door, Liam opened it.
“Randy,” he said as he motioned for him to enter. “Thank you for coming over tonight.”
The other man was slightly taller than Liam, but not by much. He had brown hair and a similar build. He wasn’t dressed in a police officer uniform, but wore a dark suit instead. The tie was undone and hanging around his neck.
“You’ve got me curious after that cryptic phone call.” When he turned and saw me, he paused. With a slight frown, he looked back at Liam.
“She’s the reason why I asked you to come over.”
Randy focused back on me and made his way into the kitchen. As he got closer, I could see he didn’t have the same blue eyes as Liam…instead, his were hazel. He was handsome. Not as handsome as Liam, but still very good-looking.
“Hi,” he said as he approached. “Randy Sanders. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
I took his offered hand and shook it. “Hi. Mallory.”
He smiled and looked between me and Liam, then laughed. “I didn’t realize you were dating anyone.”
Liam coughed. “No, we’re not dating.”
The timer on the stove went off and Liam made his way over to it. Grabbing an oven mitt, he took the lasagna out and set it on the stove.
“I’ll get the salad and everything out and put it on the table,” I quickly said, making my way to the refrigerator and taking out the bowl and dressing. I walked them over to the table and placed both in the middle. I took the moment alone to draw in a deep breath and slowly let it out. The dining room was the only space that wasn’t part of the open floorplan, which I currently appreciated. The double French doors were open, so I could hear the men talking.
“Is that your mom’s recipe?” Randy asked.
“Sure is,” Liam replied, reaching into the other oven and taking out the garlic rolls. “Why don’t you go sit down at the table.”
With a curious expression on his face, Randy did, but not before he reached down and gave Piper some love. He washed his hands and made his way into the dining room. I chewed nervously on my lower lip and tried not to stare as I passed him on my way back to the kitchen.
“What else can I do?”
Liam handed me a basket with the rolls and a butter dish, and he gestured toward the dining room. He was right behind me with the lasagna. I placed the rolls off to the side, and Liam set the hot dish on a pad in the middle of the table. He’d already cut a few slices and there was a spatula pushed into the lasagna.
“Smells delicious,” Randy said as he inhaled deeply and rubbed his hands together.
Liam pulled out my seat for me.
“Thank you,” I said, as I looked everywhere but at Randy.
“Mallory made the salad and the dressing,” Liam stated as he sat down and handed Randy the salad bowl.
“It all looks amazing. I’ve had a long day and no lunch, so don’t mind me if I dig in.”
Liam chuckled. “Please, dig away.”
Randy filled up his bowl with salad, then took a piece of the pasta. I handed him the basket of garlic rolls, and he grabbed two.
“Thank you,” he said with a smile as he placed them onto his plate.
After I made myself a bowl of salad, I handed it to Liam. My mouth was watering at the sight of the lasagna, and I couldn’t wait to taste it. It was obvious that if I’d been a vegetarian, I couldn’t have cared less at this point.
“It smells so good, Liam,” I said, as I placed a piece on my plate. “So good!”