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She gaped at him. “You can see that too? Oh, Liam. Once I get over how weird it is, I’m going to use you like a divining rod for water.”
His mouth twitched. “You can use me any which way you’d like,a stór.”
Her breath caught in her chest, and suddenly all she could see was the broad lines of his shoulders, which led to her imagining where she’d touch—
“I’ll go and make us some more tea,” he said with a rakish wink, interrupting the beginnings of her fantasy.
“Don’t think I don’t know a strategic retreat when I see it,” she called, reaching for her phone and dialing the one person she thought could help them.
Liam was right. J.T. Merriam picked up on the second ring. “Taylor! I can’t believe you called! I’ve been following your story since your live feed went viral. And Veritas painted the incident with you in it as Joan of Arc! Linc must be having a field day.”
“You know Linc?” She wanted to slap her forehead. “Of course you do. Art is a small world, right?”
He laughed. “The smallest. He’s even been up to our museum here. Plus, my dad knows him from boards and the like.”
She winced. “Jeez. All you billionaires know each other.”
“Don’t throw me in that pool. I’m one of the good guys. Not the one who might blow up the moon one day with his new space rocket.”
“Funny, J.T.”
“You sound like you need a laugh. It must be crazy on your end.”
“The craziest,” she responded. “In fact, that’s why I’m calling.”
He laughed again. “I didn’t think it was because you wanted to catch up. Although the Merriam Museum is kicking ass.”
She sank back down onto the couch. “I know! I saw my old paper picked you guys as one of the best up-and-coming museums in the world. Big praise!”
“Caroline and I have been working our asses off, and it’s finally paying dividends here in Dare Valley.”
She’d visited them there to write an article about the Merriam Museum—and had been thoroughly charmed by the quaint small town in the Colorado mountains. “How’s the baby?”
“Terrific. Raphe is ten months old and already walking fast. Being a dad is the best gig out there.”
The reporter in her had to ask. “Even better than running a museum?”
“Hell yes!”
“Wow! That’s…” She remembered when he’d been a jetsetter dashing off to art and fashion shows and the like. “I didn’t expect that. The rest of your family good?”
“Taylor, do you really want me to catch you up on all the Merriams? Although I told my two brothers who live in Cork—you’ve met Trevor and Quinn—that they need to head up your way once the arts center you work for puts that museum in. I still can’t believe they got Tom Sarkesian to do it. He passed on us and broke my heart.”
“So Trevor and Becca are still running her bed and breakfast?”
“Yeah. And Quinn and his wife are running their merged company close by. And chasing kids. We’ve all got at least one now, although my little sister Michaela and her husband had twins. Michaela was always an overachiever. So now that we’ve caught up, why are you calling? Because I’m guessing it’s not to make reservations at the Wild Irish Rose Inn.”
She smiled as Liam came back in with their tea and settled beside her on the couch, putting her cup in front of her. God, he looked good doing little honey-dos like that. “You know, maybe a little getaway would be the perfect thing right now.” Her mind wanted to fly off with fantasies of Liam naked in bed waiting for her, but she reined them in. “Where are they in Cork?”
“Kinsale. It’s beyond picturesque, but that’s Ireland for you. You’re in Mayo, right? I haven’t been up.”
“I haven’t seen much of the area yet, but the sea was ridiculous. Liam, how far is Kinsale from here?”
His brow winged up. “About five hours.”
She told J.T. before continuing. “I’ll let you know about a getaway. It’s been an age since you, me, and Trevor used to hang out in Rome. Okay, on to my favor.”
“Tell me,” he said without hesitation.
