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WHEN KATIE HAD first looked at him, Liam had nearly turned and walked back to his truck. The expression on her face—he’d seen it before, in a clearing under a pair of fir trees. Love bound tightly with hope shone in her bright green eyes. Only this time she wasn’t an eighteen-year-old who’d just lost her virginity to a man who didn’t deserve her. She was a strong woman who knew her own mind—and this time, he was asking for so much more.
“Is this your way of trying to keep me in Independence Falls?” she asked, her open, loving expression now covered with a mask of suspicion. He had a feeling that hurt lay beneath, but she refused to let him see it.
“No,” he said, his voice firm. He needed her to understand that last night at the cabin, their trip to the nightclub—it wasn’t about closing a deal. He’d wanted to return to that moment when she trusted him with her heart. He’d wanted to prove that this time he wouldn’t run away.
“If this, us, was all about the deal, I wouldn’t be here now. I would have let you walk into that meeting tomorrow without a heads-up about Eric’s counteroffer. Hell, from the standpoint of a guy who wants to keep his job and his best friend, I shouldn’t be here, telling you. But I couldn’t let you walk in there not knowing.”
“Thank you,” she said evenly.
“I went to the cabin with you because I wanted to give you a reason to stay that had nothing to do with contracts,” he said. “I know you have bad memories of this town. I know you’re tired of living under your brothers’ watchful gaze. And believe me, honey, I get that. But would it be so bad to stay? You’d have a great job and you could afford to keep your horses. I’ll build you a new barn, more fields on the land next to yours. Think about it, Katie, your family is here. I know they’re annoying, but believe me when I tell you that you’re going to miss them, headaches and all, when you go.”
“Liam, you can’t just walk back into my life, offer me a job and a place to keep my animals, and expect me to say yes.” Her surprise had given way to anger and he could hear it mounting with every word. “It’s not that simple.”
“I know Katie. I know.” He ran his hands through his hair. “Whatever you decide Katie, it’s your call. You can say no to the offer. I’m not trying to make this choice for you. This is up to you and your brothers.”
He turned around, heading for the door. Eric would be pissed when he found out that Liam had talked to her before tomorrow’s meeting. But he didn’t care. For years, he’d chased success, but now he’d toss it aside for her.
Liam paused in the door, looking over his shoulder at Katie. He’d always thought of her as his, but he’d been wrong. Katie Summers had a hold on his heart. He belonged to her. And he’d realized it too late.
LONGING, SADNESS, REGRET—IT was all there in his brown eyes. She stared back, replaying the conversation in her head. She’d mistakenly assumed that if he asked her to stay, it would be for him. But no, he wanted her to remain in Independence Falls because she was smart and a valuable piece of Summers Family Trucking.
She hated the thought of setting aside her plans for a man who’d broken her trust once. But there was so much more to consider here. Her brothers, their future, and millions of dollars.
It was too much for tonight. Tomorrow, she would make a decision. Her choice. By coming to her tonight, Liam had made that possible.
“Liam,” she called. The one thing she knew for certain right now? She couldn’t let him walk away. “Wait.”
Liam turned in the entryway and she went to him, taking his hand in hers. “Thank you for telling me. I would have felt ambushed, walking into that meeting tomorrow, if you hadn’t come here.”
He nodded.
“I’m not making any decisions tonight,” she said. “Except for one. I’d like you to stay.”
“Katie,” he murmured, running the pad of his thumb over her cheek. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. No matter what happens, I want to spend tonight with you.” She led him out of the barn, switching off the lights, and headed for the side door leading up to the apartment.
Bending over, she found the key under the rock beside the door. Then she moved the rock to the other side of the entryway.
“Is that your signal that someone’s here?” he asked, his voice lit with humor.
“Yes, but they can’t get in without the key.” She unlocked the door, turned on the stairwell light, and led the way up. “Brody has the master, but he rarely if ever uses this place.”
At the top of the stairs, she opened the door that led to the small, clean studio apartment. A double bed stood on one side opposite a small kitchenette, which held a mini-fridge, toaster, and coffeemaker. They’d talked about renting the place for extra cash at one point, but Chad and Josh had voiced strong objections.
Setting the key beside the toaster, she faced Liam. “We started something this morning before we were so rudely interrupted.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You want another spanking?”
“No.” She shook her head. “But I’m guessing that’s not your only fantasy.”
He chuckled, crossing the small space, and gathering her in his arms. “Honey, when it comes to you, I have a long list.”
Her fingers toyed with buttons on his flannel shirt. “What’s on the top?”
“Look at me, Katie.”
She obeyed, freeing the first button and moving to the second. But watching his smile fade, her hands stilled. The weight of the emotion in his deep brown eyes nearly stole her breath away.
