“I don’t think she’s working tonight. I was going to try and get her to open up a bit over a drink or supper.”
April and Aggie stopped in front of them and April slid her arm though Drews. “That went well.”
Aggie nudged her brother. “Apart from Drew looking as though he was going to vomit. How are you going to be on the day, brother, if you can’t even hold it together for the rehearsal?”
“I’ll be fine. I want this to be over, okay. It makes me nervous not having control.”
April rubbed his back and cooed to him like a mother to her baby. “There, there, darling. You’ll be fine. It’s the bride who’s supposed to be the nervous one, not the groom.”
“Aggie, supper or a nightcap?” Liam wasn’t going to give her a chance to slip away when she was in such a good mood. Drew hadn’t noticed the change in her but Liam had, and he was prepared to take full advantage of it.
“Um.” Aggie glanced at April but didn’t get anything other than a smile. “I don’t know.”
“Go on, honey.” Atticus glanced at Liam before kissing Aggie on the forehead. “You deserve a night out.”
Help from anyone was a bonus in his quest to woo Aggie.
“Come on, let’s go. I promise not to keep you out late. See you Monday, April, Drew, Atticus.” He held out his arm, and she was left with no choice but to take it.
* * *
Aggie blew out a breath. Talk about being put on the spot—and in front of the family. Knowing the way they felt about Liam, they’d never forgive her if she turned him down. Too many questions about why would surface.
Having him working beside her in the bakery turned out to be fun once her panic had subsided, and Liam had made it clear he wasn’t leaving her alone. It was kind of him even if he was the one who’d set her nerves on edge. Tonight he’d had the same effect on her.
“You don’t have to do this, Liam. You can drop me at home or I can go with Dad.”
He snorted. “Are you crazy? You know how much I want to spend time with you. If you think you’re getting out of it after saying yes, you’re more delusional than I thought.”
“Ha! Thanks, pal. That’s not the way you make a girl feel good about herself.”
Liam reached over and took her hand, winding his fingers through hers. It felt good and brought to mind all her daydreams about the two of them together. Aggie let herself believe for a moment they could come true, lulled by the romance they’d just witnessed at the church. If only she was brave enough to follow her heart instead of her brain.
“You know I was only joking. I want to be with you. I’ve told you that over and over, but for some reason, you keep avoiding me. I’ll take any chance I can get.”
Yes, she did avoid him. But in her mind, she had good reason. Liam was too nice a guy to be saddled with her. He deserved better. But one supper for old times’ sake couldn’t hurt, could it?
Over a glass of white wine for her and red for Liam, Aggie let her defenses down more than she thought was possible. He brought out the person she used to be, carefree and happy. If only for tonight, Aggie wanted to hang onto that girl.
She laughed along with him, touched his arm without fear, a feat she didn’t think possible. She teased him about his cooking skills or lack thereof.
“Ah, I might burn steaks, but have I told you how great I am at breadmaking?” He rested his head back on the chair and gazed at her, a smile playing on his lips.
“You’re lucky you have a good teacher, someone patient enough to talk you through it.”
He reached out a hand and she wound her fingers with his. Her heart skipped a beat, and it took a couple of breaths before she got herself under control. He had that effect on her.
“I know.”
She had to acknowledge how much she appreciated his company. “I need to thank you too. I know I said I didn’t need anyone to keep me company but it does feel nice to know you’re there for me.”
“I’ll always be there for you. I told you that, Aggie.”
But not in the way you want. I don’t think we can make that work. “It’s been nice, but I don’t want you to think it’s going to be an ongoing thing. I’m not in the market for a relationship, Liam.”
He gave her a dazzling smile that stole her breath away. She’d forgotten how appealing he could be when he put his mind to it.
“How about this then? Let’s enjoy each other’s company without putting boundaries on it? Pretend there are no rules, no expectations from either of us. When you want to walk away, you can.”
His words gave her a hint of hope, a joy she hadn’t let herself think about since she’d been home. Oh, she knew he was on the island when she ran from Seattle. He’d joined Drew’s medical practice the year before. But she’d managed to stay out of his reach knowing he would only draw her back into the type of friendship they’d once shared. As much as Aggie wanted to experience that, it wasn’t possible. Not with the way she felt about herself.
But perhaps this was. With rules in place that wouldn’t bind her to a relationship or explanation, could she let herself enjoy his company again until he wanted what she couldn’t give him?
His voice broke into her train of thought. “Don’t overthink it, Aggie. This is about being free and friendly, nothing more.”
“But what if you decide
