Chapter 18

eighteen

PAUL

The next morning, I weighed the flour and added it to the mixing bowl. I glanced at the clock and realized I'd have to move fast if I wanted to get the pancakes finished before Amy and Liam woke.

"Something smells good."

The mixing bowl tipped sideways and I grabbed it before it fell on the floor. I really needed to do something about my nerves. Or Liam. Or both.

I cleared my throat and focused on what Liam had said. "I've been awake for ages and decided to do some baking. There's a carrot and cinnamon cake in the oven for your friend. It'll freeze really well and he can always add frosting later. Do you want some pancakes for breakfast?"

I bit my bottom lip, hoping something in my garbled reply made sense. I was thirty-four years old, for goodness' sake. I shouldn't be going googly-eyed over a freshly showered man who smelled of pine and woodsmoke.

Liam stared intently at my face before pouring himself a cup of coffee. "Pancakes sound great. Do you always bake something for breakfast? "

"Not all the time. Most days, Amy likes granola and fruit. But I wasn't sure what cereal she'd want, so I thought I'd make pancakes. There's maple and blueberry syrup in the pantry."

On his way across the kitchen, Liam opened one of the pantry doors and found the syrup. "Jacob has the most amount of food I've ever seen in one house. I used to joke that he could be cut off from civilization for a year and never miss a meal."

I took some eggs out of the refrigerator. "I suppose he needs extra supplies in case the roads are blocked. Living in the mountains can't be easy."

"He likes to know there'll always be food in the house for unexpected visitors. Did you get much sleep last night?"

"Not a lot. Amy might be little, but she wiggled into the center of the bed and didn't move. It didn't help that my face is still swollen. Whenever I rolled onto my left-hand side, I woke up."

Liam placed his coffee on the counter and walked toward me. "Show me."

I sucked in a deep breath. "You saw my face when you came into the kitchen."

"But I wasn't standing right beside you."

I ignored the teasing gleam in his eyes. "It's still the same face." I lifted the skillet onto the cooktop. I didn't want to make a big deal out of my bruises. And I most definitely didn't want Liam standing close to me.

He would only be in my life for a short time. Even if I did find him attractive—in a hot, sexy kind of way—he lived in Boulder, hundreds of miles from Milwaukee. And, anyway, I was gay. Nothing about Liam screamed ‘I'm gay, too', and I wasn't leaping into a conversation that would make him feel awkward. To top everything off, it wasn't as if he was choosing to spend time with us. He was being paid to keep us safe.

He tapped me on the shoulder. "I'm waiting."

Reluctantly, I turned around. The heat of his gaze made my breath catch. If I thought seeing him in his PJs was bad, having him standing a few inches from me was worse.

"What do you think?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

He tilted his head, his eyes darkening with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.

My heart pounded. "You don't have to give me a detailed description." I lifted my chin, bracing myself for his verdict, the electric tension between us almost unbearable.

"Your black eyes are impressive," Liam murmured. "But the bruising on your cheek is still in the red and angry stage. You're right about the swelling, though. With less puffiness around your eyes, your nose doesn't look so crooked."

I sighed. "Gee, thanks. You know how to make me feel special."

"You'll feel better after your X-ray." Liam's hand moved, as if he was about to touch the side of my face.

I stepped away, needing as much distance between us as I could manage. What was wrong with me? When we went back to our normal lives, it would be hard on everyone, especially Amy. She was developing a soft spot for Liam. If I let myself feel the same way, both our hearts could be broken.

"It's just as well we're not in Milwaukee," I said quickly. "Amy was supposed to have her birthday party in a few days. I would've had to dress in a Halloween costume so I didn't scare her friends."

Liam's eyes crinkled at the corners .

I frowned. "Was that a smile?"

"It might have been."

There it was again—the slight tilt to his mouth, the warm rush of emotion lighting his eyes.

"Don't tell anyone," he whispered. "It could ruin my reputation."

Warm, fuzzy tingles settled in my stomach. "What reputation?"

Liam's gaze wandered over my face. "I take life too seriously."

"That's got to be an advantage if you're dealing with criminals and gun-waving crazy people."

"I'm not around crazy people all the time." He hesitated before continuing. "Being serious in everyday life has its downside."

I didn't think Liam had anything to worry about. From where I stood, he had qualities a lot of people would admire. "Being serious isn't a bad thing. Maybe you need an off switch."

"An off switch?"

"I meant…" I looked into his eyes and sighed. It wasn't my job to give him advice. I wasn't his friend, could never be his boyfriend. For better or worse, I was his client.

"It doesn't matter what I meant." I wiped my hands on my apron. "I'd better make the pancakes before Amy wakes up."

"Can I do anything to help?"

"You could set the table." At least, that way, he wouldn't be standing beside me. "Has the FBI given you any new information about the terrorists?"

Liam took a tablecloth out of a drawer. "All I can tell you is that they're following some new leads. "

"Does it normally take this long to find a terrorist group?"

"It can take months, but don't worry. Once Alex has finished working on the program, the terrorists should leave everyone alone."

I took the buttermilk out of the refrigerator. "I hope you're right. We can't stay here forever."

"With any luck, it won't be for much longer."

Amy was supposed to start school after Christmas, and I had a business to run. Regardless of what my biological brother was doing, I needed to go home. But I had a feeling that what I wanted and what I got would be two completely different things.