The Dating Plan(8)
James sighed. “I knew it was too good to be true.”
Even if his gut hadn’t told him something was off, Liam would have turned the inventor down. Big and broad, with a thick beard and thinning hair on top, the dude looked too much like his dad, right down to the vodka bottle on the table beside him.
Liam would never have considered moving back to San Francisco when his dad was alive. The city wasn’t big enough for both of them. The birth of his nephew, Jaxon, and his grandfather’s poor health had finally brought him back, but only for brief visits when he had business in the city. It was only last year, after his father had died in a drunk driving accident, that Liam had offered to move to San Francisco to set up a West Coast office that would give Evolution access to the Silicon Valley market. Six months later, the partnership had agreed, affording Liam the opportunity to reconnect with his family in a meaningful way.
“Thank you,” Liam said at the end of the pitch. “We’ll be in touch.”
The inventor’s face morphed from hopeful to furious in a heartbeat. “You’re passing up the greatest opportunity of your life,” he spat as he stormed out the door.
“I passed up the greatest opportunity of my life a long time ago.” Memories of Daisy’s prom night twisted his gut. “Which is how I can wish you the best of luck and feel no regret.”
James checked the schedule after the door swung closed. “We’re done for the day. Do you want to go for a drink? Maybe test out the product?”
Liam shook his head. “You can take it. Let me know how it works out. My family is getting together tonight for the reading of my grandfather’s will, and one last party before some of our overseas guests head back to Ireland. A traditional Irish sendoff involves copious amounts of booze. One pill won’t be enough.”
After parting ways with James, Liam wandered past the conference rooms checking the schedules posted on the doors until he found Organicare listed on a pitch session. Pushing the door open he slipped inside and leaned against the back wall. Daisy was seated at a table beside an older, slightly rumpled man who was passionately explaining the company’s products. He introduced Daisy as one of the company’s senior software engineers and she stood to give her demonstration, pouring blue liquid on the pads set out on the table in front of her. Not a task one usually gave a software engineer, but maybe her boss had her lined up for a project manager promotion.
With one hand in his pocket, toying with the penknife his grandfather had given him when he was a boy, he watched Daisy field questions about the company website and sourcing software without even a hint of the shyness or awkwardness she’d had as a girl. Calm, competent, and quietly confident, she was clearly the star of the show.
His phone vibrated in his hand and he glanced at the screen. Brendan was texting yet again to find out what time he would be at their grandfather’s house. His older brother just couldn’t help himself. Despite the fact that Liam had found success, Brendan still acted as if he expected Liam to let him down.
He texted Brendan to let him know he was on his way. With one last, lingering look at the only woman he had ever wanted, he slipped out the door and walked away.
? 4 ?
“UNCLE Liam!” Jaxon raced down the hallway of Liam’s grandfather’s house, his small voice barely audible above the cacophony of sound coming from the living room. No matter what the occasion, when his Irish relatives got together, there was always music, laughter, whiskey, and usually a fight.
“How’s my favorite nephew?” He lifted Brendan’s son into his arms, grateful for the distraction. Still shaken by his unexpected meeting with Daisy, he had spent the drive trying to think of a way to see her again so he could try to make things right between them. Ten years was too long to leave unfinished business, especially when that business involved a woman he’d desperately wanted and couldn’t have.
“I’m Uncle Liam’s favorite nephew!” Jaxon beamed. At five years old, fair-haired Jaxon was the spitting image of his dad, right down to the blue eyes.
“You’re his only nephew.” Liam’s sister-in-law, Lauren, leaned up to kiss Liam’s cheek. “Thanks for coming.”
Tall and slim, her hair a glossy chestnut, cut in soft, long layers that flattered her tanned skin, Lauren was a corporate lawyer and the least likely person Liam would ever have expected his brother to marry. After three failed relationships with women whose physical attributes outshone their common sense, Brendan had married smart, sensible Lauren in a small ceremony at her parents’ house in Santa Cruz, and six years later they were still going strong.
“I only came because Brendan thought I wouldn’t.” He dug around in his pocket for the toy plane he had brought for Jaxon. His nephew shared his love of planes and motorcycles, and they’d had many days out at the airport, watching planes together.
“Whatever the reason, it will mean a lot to him,” she said. “Things haven’t been going well with the company. Maybe you could talk to him.”
Liam frowned. “I’ve never been involved in Murphy Motors so I’m not sure why he would tell me anything. You know how Brendan feels about me.”
“It’s about the distillery—”
“Is that for me?” Jaxon snatched the plane from Liam’s hand. “Mom, look!”