He bowed his head, eyes sparkling. “I promise to heed the words of my favorite healer.”
After he left, she stared at the carving until images started to fill her mind. Memories of Liam taking care of her when she was sick, or making her laugh when she was sad. Liam fixing her car and nagging her about her seatbelt. Liam protecting her from a spider in her shower. Invisible or not.
He hadn’t told her everything about himself, but he’d shown her who he was every day they’d been together. Kind. Good. Loving.
Liam hadn’t lied about what mattered.
He loved her. She knew it with a certainty that had her rocking back on her heels. She’d seen it in his eyes, felt it in every kiss, every touch he’d ever given her.
He’d fallen off the pedestal she’d placed him on, but maybe that was a good thing. No one could live up to that kind of standard. And who would want to?
If she was supposed to be listening to her heart, then she knew exactly what she needed to do next.
Liam walked out into the backyard, panic closing his throat when he didn’t see Dani where he’d left her.
Hell, he was lucky she’d stayed at all after what he’d put her through. But he wasn’t taking it for granted. He’d been fighting for her. For them. Telling her everything. She deserved that.
The idea of going back to a life that didn’t include her was unacceptable to him. He couldn’t imagine it and he didn’t want to try.
Bastard that he was, he didn’t want to be noble this time. To be the nice guy who stepped aside because it was the right thing to do. It would take time, but he would earn her trust back. He’d fight for as long as it took. Whatever he had to do. She was worth everything.
“Looking for me?”
Liam felt his shoulders relax as soon as she appeared beside him with a smile, holding something in her hand.
Wait, why was she smiling at him?
“I thought you left.”
“Nope. Still here.”
“I’m glad.” He couldn’t stop staring at her smile. She was so beautiful. “I love you, Dani.”
Her blue eyes were twinkling now. “I know.”
“You know?”
“I do.” She left his side to head toward the table. “Breakfast? Great. I’m starving.”
She set the strange wooden doll in the center of the patio table and sat down. “You coming?”
She didn’t have to ask him twice. “I brought you some sunscreen.”
“I hope that’s not in place of maple syrup.” Was she laughing at him?
He pulled out a green bottle, squeezed out a dollop of gel and gently slathered it on her nose. “You’ve been by the pool all morning. We live in the desert, you know.”
She started to laugh. A lyrical, carefree laugh so full of joy it staggered him.
“Shortbread?”
She wiped happy tears from her eyes. “Yes, Cookie?”
“Care to let me in on the joke? What happened between me going in to cook breakfast and now? Something to do with alternate realities? Any more shapeshifters or grandmother spiders?”
“Don’t worry, I’m still mad at you.” But her eyes were full of joy. “You’re going to have to promise me that you will never lie to me again, not even for a surprise party. Not just me. You’ll tell the truth from now on. To everyone. Liam the Truthteller, they’ll call you. You might lose a few friends, but that’s the deal.”
He didn’t hesitate. “I promise. And if you still want to—”
“I love you, too.”
“What?” He wasn’t sure how many surprises he could take. “What did you say?”
She placed her hand over his heart. “I said, I love you. I love everything you are. My best friend. My favorite roommate. My dirty-talking beast of a lover.”
“Are you sure?” For an instant he was terrified she was stringing him along, paying him back for all his half-truths and omissions.
She didn’t answer him, pushing her chair back and standing up instead.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m not that hungry anymore. I think I want to take a nap. Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure Bailey is in my bed.”
She took his hand and he found himself walking with her toward the house. “You look like you need to lie down, too. You’re always taking care of me. I think it’s time I took care of you for a while.”
If he was dreaming, he never wanted to wake up. “I am a little stiff.”
Not a lie.
She pursed her lips and made a cooing sound, pulling him through the kitchen and down the hall to his bedroom. “Oh, poor Cookie. Let me kiss it and make it better. Or better yet, I could get excited and, you know, jiggle for you.”
“I had a fantasy that started just like this.”
She laughed and dragged him into the bedroom, shutting the door behind them. “If you say Anna Paquin was in it, I’m leaving.”