Was he right? When they’d first met, part of the reason she’d never returned Liam’s friendly flirtations wasn’t because she hadn’t seen them. It wasn’t even because she hadn’t been interested. The truth was that Liam was clearly out of her league. Handsome, funny, smart and kind. He deserved someone who was worthy of him. Something better. She accepted that as fact and decided to be his friend.
“You took the choice out of his hands.”
She looked up, startled to find Will staring at her as though he could see inside her to what she truly was. “Did Kaya get it from you? Her gift for seeing into people like that?”
“Not from me, but I think it came from the same place. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. I can see, but even I missed what was closest to me. I’ve made mistakes that I’m impatient to fix, and I’ve decided to start with you.”
“Are you saying you know how to fix my problems, Will?”
“I know many things. But people rarely listen to an old man with too much time on his hands.”
“I’m listening.”
He winked at her roguishly. “And I knew you would. Why do you think I wanted to meet you first? If only you could think of some way to delay my daughter from coming to pick me up.”
He was watching her from beneath his lashes, waiting for her to catch up, she thought. “Well, as your healer, I think it might be a good idea for you to stick around for a few days. After that walk, you need time to recover.”
His smile was brilliant with approval. “If you think its best. I do like to be where I’m needed. At least until Nimon, when the katsinam return home.”
Her confused expression had him chuckling. “I think I must like you. I forgot that you wouldn’t know that story.”
He leaned back against the tree, whittling with a skill Dani could only marvel at. She had a feeling Liam would love everything about this. Knowing him, he’d probably try to charm the older man into giving him lessons.
Guilt gnawed at her. She really should call him, she thought, glancing back at Kaya’s cottage where she’d left her phone.
“He knows where you are, Dani. I’m certain my granddaughter has told him.”
Dani made a face. “You’re right. She always knows what to do.”
“You trust Kaya’s feelings. That’s good. You should trust mine as well. Now get comfortable, and I’ll tell you about the kachina and the last ceremony of the season.”
She stared at him doubtfully. “And this story will help me find my answers?”
Will looked at her as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “What are stories if not teachers? Guides to show us how to live and love and be? If you’re willing to listen, with your heart as well as your ears, you’ll hear all you need to know.”
He was very convincing. “Okay, Will. Tell me a story.”
Chapter Six
“This can’t wait, and you know it. I need that update now.”
Liam hung up, pacing the perimeter of the large lap pool like a caged animal. He’d never felt so on edge. And Dani still hadn’t called.
He was losing her.
If Kaya hadn’t phoned on her way to work to tell him where Dani was, he would have torn this sleepy town apart by now. It wasn’t like her not to check in. It wasn’t like her to leave without saying goodbye.
He knew it was about last night, and he cursed himself for not planting himself in front of her door to keep her from running. If she hadn’t had so much to drink, he would have followed her up the stairs and continued their conversation. But no man worth the title pressed a woman under the influence. The truth was, he should have stopped her before things had gone so far.
Liam hadn’t been able to help himself. He was a starving, desperate fool in love, and when she’d stripped and held her breasts in her hands, daring him to take what he’d wanted after all these years, he couldn’t find the will to resist her.
He was only human.
He’d always known it would be good between them, but he’d had no idea it would be that explosive. She’d ruined him, and he didn’t want to go back to what they had before. Not after waiting all this time for her to make a move.
Liam spent the night praying she wouldn’t blame it on the alcohol or pretend it never happened. When he’d finally fallen asleep, he’d been trapped in a nightmare. Sal had found her and he wasn’t able to get to her in time. The first thing he'd done after waking was to look for her, but she was gone. For a moment he’d thought…
She’s safe. Kaya wouldn’t lie.
He wanted to kill Dani’s ex. It wasn’t a feeling he was proud of, or one he thought he’d ever have for another human, but it was there all the same. The bastard had scarred her. Carved his fucking initial into her skin when his fists hadn’t given him enough satisfaction. She’d told him Sal had threatened to kill her, that he’d hit her, but he hadn’t found out about the son of a bitch’s love of sharp objects until he’d had taken her to his lawyer.