* * *
Liam arrived at work early, keen to catch up with Drew before their patients arrived. He’d just put the coffee pot on when his newly married friend waltzed in, a spring in his step. Liam looked up and grinned. “Good morning.”
They shared a quick and manly hug, slapping each other on the back.
“How was the honeymoon?” Liam got two cups out and put them on the counter.
“Fantastic. Neither of us wanted to come home. If it wasn’t for the kids being here, we would’ve stayed put.” He rubbed his chin and stared at Liam. “I got your emails. You okay?”
Liam had sent off an email about the untimely death of his patient and then another one when the report came through clearing him. “Yeah. It was very sad but at least I can stop beating myself up over it. There was nothing I could’ve done.”
“No, there wasn’t. It’s never easy losing a patient, especially in those circumstances.” He held out his hand as Liam poured a cup of coffee and handed it over. “So, I hear from a little bird that you and Aggie are getting cozy, and like, real cozy.”
Liam bit his lip. Of course someone had to tell Drew. “Maybe.”
Drew sipped his coffee and let out a satisfied sigh. “About time. What happened? I thought she was going to skin you at the wedding. Some of the looks you got when you belted out that love song had me worried. It was funny to watch her face, but I did have a moment of panic when she approached you on the dance floor afterwards. And when you pushed her into the line to catch April’s flowers, I had serious doubts about how you’d end up. I was half expecting Dad to call and tell me they’d found you dead in a gutter the next day.”
“Same here. I don’t know what happened but we connected, and let’s say, it’s been a challenge. She isn’t one to wear her heart on her sleeve. I’m taking it one day at a time.”
“But she stayed the night with you, from what I gather. You’d better want more than a quick roll in the hay, Liam. I don’t want to see her hurt any more than she already is.
He put his cup down and faced Drew. “There’s nothing I want more than to have your sister look at me the way April looks at you. But the relationship’s not anywhere close to that yet. Maybe one day it will be, but for now, I’m happy if she gives me a smile and a hello. I’m working on breaking down her resistance.”
“Good. That’s good to hear.” He patted Liam on the shoulder and headed out. “Better catch up on my patients. Pretty sure they’ve missed me.”
Chapter 20
Liam had been dogged in his pursuit of her, and as much as she tried to keep him at arm’s length, Aggie was starting to feel more at ease around him, as if things would work between them if she didn’t overthink them. As if it had never happened. She smiled to herself as she lay in bed late, her first day off this week. It felt good to relax.
During the past week, Liam had sent her another bunch of flowers, a box of chocolates, and a written invitation to dinner at a quaint little seafood restaurant around the bay. He was treating her with kid gloves, being the same sweet person he was when they were growing up. If anything, he was being even more gentle with her since he’d found out about the assault.
It was sweet, but unnecessary. It wouldn’t work. She couldn’t let it happen. But as more time passed, she was finding it harder to say no. He was getting under her defenses.
Her father had commented on her newfound confidence, and when she explained how Ben had started a self-defense class, he’d looked at her strangely. Aggie had hurried in with an explanation she hoped would make him stop digging. “Liam talked me into it. Seems the women’s shelter wanted Ben to run one, and Liam said that if I signed up for it, it would encourage other women on the island to join in. It’s fun. I like it.”
“Good. Never hurts to know how to protect yourself anyway. I never thought of that when you were younger. Maybe I should’ve.”
“You were too focused on getting us through each day, Dad. Besides, I seriously doubt they had those classes back then.”
“Maybe.”
Aggie lay in bed now and wondered what to do. A whole day off and nothing planned. Now that was a novel way to start the morning.
Her phone pinged and she reached for it. April.
April: Meet me for lunch at our place?
Aggie: You’re not working today?
April: No. Took the rest of the week off.
Aggie: Okay, sounds good. What can I bring?
April: Surprise me.
Aggie: Xoxo
Aggie had missed her best friend while she’d been away. She threw back the blankets and headed to the bathroom. Time for a lazy shower and a walk down to the shop to choose a loaf of bread to take up to April’s.
They sat out on the front deck, watching the ocean as April described her honeymoon. “It was divine. Three whole weeks on our own, but we did miss the children.”
“Glad you enjoyed it. It’s nice to have you back. So much has happened since you’ve been gone.”
“So I hear. Fill me in and don’t leave out any details.” April sat back with a twinkle in her eye as Aggie brought her up to speed on the island gossip.
“So you’re finally giving in to your feelings for Liam.”
Aggie shook her head. “I don’t know. One minute I think so and then I freak out and decide it’s not going to happen. I feel mean leading him on, but he won’t take no for an answer.”
“Liam’s a big boy. He can look after
