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Liam pounded the wall in frustration, startling the cat. He glared down at the sulking feline. “Really? That’s what bothers you?”
The cat just twitched an ear and turned his back, unimpressed with Liam’s tantrum.
Liam began pacing his room again. Whatever disaster was going to befall Cora at Margaret’s house, he had to stop it. If Cora’s life was in danger, there was only one thing he could do. Determined, he threw open his bedroom door and barely refrained from banging on hers. “Cora.”
“I’m busy,” she called out.
He gripped the doorframe and took a deep breath to calm down. Then another. “Okay. I’ll wear the tie,” he managed. “You’re right. It’s not a big deal. I know you didn’t even want to go in the first place, but it would mean a lot to me if you did. Please.”
Silence.
Was she going to make him beg? He’d do it, if he must. Anything to keep her from heading into a fatal disaster. “Cora—”
She cracked the door open, her cerulean blue eyes staring at him with reproof.
“I know you bought me that tie as a gift,” he said quietly. “And I didn’t thank you for it. I’m thanking you now, and I’ll happily wear it if you come with me tonight. I’m sorry I reacted the way I did. It was foolish of me. I don’t know, maybe I’m just nervous about getting out there and meeting so many new people. This transition has been hard for me, too. I’ve never been more out of my element than I have since I arrived here in Providence Falls.” Truer words had never been spoken.
“Not even when you first moved to the US from Ireland?”
Liam paused. “This is much different.” Because it’s real. “Look, I know you were just trying to help me. Will you forgive me and come with me tonight?”
She studied him as if she was trying to make up her mind.
“Please?”
“Fine,” she said with a sigh. Then added, “Let me get dressed,” before closing the door.
Liam leaned his forehead against it and closed his eyes. Thank God. Now, he just had to make sure the evening went according to plan.
It was eight o’clock when Finn called to tell them he was on his way. Cora floated out of her room in a long white dress with sparkly straps that crisscrossed in back. Liam blinked at the vision before him. She was incandescent. Ethereal. She looked so beautiful, it was almost enough to eclipse the turmoil eating him up inside.
When he finally found his voice, all he could manage was, “You look...very well.”
She blushed and waved him off just as the doorbell rang.
Liam pulled on his suit jacket. He had another plan to execute, and he needed to time it just right. As usual, the angels hadn’t been forthcoming with much information about the upcoming disaster at Margaret’s house. All he knew for certain was that something horrible would happen. He’d made sure Cora was going to be safe, but what of Margaret? Liam couldn’t walk away to a party with Cora knowing he’d be leaving Margaret in danger. He still cared for Margaret, and he’d not let her walk innocently into a disaster if he could help it.
“Here.” Cora handed him the tie. “If you need help tying it—”
“I don’t.” He slid it into his pocket as she answered the door. He had no intention of wearing the damned thing, but she didn’t have to know that.
Finn walked into the house in a black tuxedo, his hair shellacked with more pomade than usual. One glimpse of Cora and he looked stunned. With his face flushed red, he kept trying—and failing—not to ogle her in the filmy white dress. She chatted away as she gathered her purse, oblivious to Finn’s reaction.
“Hey, Liam,” Finn said when he managed to find his tongue.
Liam tilted his chin up in acknowledgment. It was the most he could manage. Even if Finn was going to play a big part in saving Cora’s life tonight, Liam didn’t have to pretend to like him for it.
Cora slid a sparkling shawl over her shoulders. “Okay. Ready when you guys are.”
It was now, or never. He pulled his phone from his suit pocket and pretended to read the screen, frowning. “Damn.” He stared at his screen a little longer, just for good measure. “Something just came up. You two go ahead of me. I’ll be right behind you. Twenty minutes, at the most.” It was an outright lie, but he was willing to say whatever it took to make her leave with Finn and go to the gala. Anything to keep her out of harm’s way.
“What?” Cora gave him an incredulous look. “No! What do you mean something came up?”
Liam shook his head and pasted on his best apologetic smile, the one he used during sticky situations when he needed to soften someone up. “It’s just a small personal matter I need to attend to, but don’t worry. I won’t be long.”
Cora placed a hand on her hip and narrowed her eyes. Her instincts were razor-sharp, and even though they didn’t serve Liam’s purpose, he couldn’t help admiring her for it.
Finn, on the other hand, was all too happy to jump on Liam’s idea. He couldn’t wait to get Cora all to himself, the bastard. “Sounds great. We’ll see you there in a few minutes.” He held the door open for Cora, all starry eyes and sappy grin. “Ready, Cora?”
She glanced uncertainly at Finn, then back at Liam.
“I’ll text you when I get there,” Liam assured her. Another lie. There would be no texts because he had a mission to accomplish, and he needed Cora out of the way. When he saw the tentative trust in Cora’s eyes, he almost hated himself for it. Why did this have to be so damned hard? He was going to let her down tonight, and there was nothing he could do about it if he wanted to save her.
By the time he waved goodbye to an ecstatic Finn and an uncertain Cora, it was already eight thirty. Liam waited until they drove away, then flew to his car, gunned the engine and sped toward disaster.
