Until There Was You(44)

Leaving the two females in the bedroom, Liam headed to the kitchen closet, where he kept his toolbox. But he just stood there for a moment, the memories of Emma pulling at him like quicksand. God, he had loved her back then. The idea that a girl like that would choose a guy like him…it was staggering.

“Liam?”

Cordelia again. “Hey,” he said, reaching for the toolbox.

“I’m sorry.”

He glanced at her. Her hands were jammed in the front pockets of her jeans. “What for?”

“The clock. It… I should’ve given you some warning. I just… I didn’t…”

“Well, you asked me if I wanted to see it, and I said no.” He paused. “It’s great, Cordelia. It’s perfect.”

Her eyes widened a little. “It is?”

“Yeah. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

He yanked the toolbox from where it was wedged on the bottom shelf. “How much do I owe you?”

“Nothing. It’s a gift.”

“Yes. A gift for my daughter, which I’ll pay for. How much, Cordelia?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Nothing.”

“I can afford to pay for a gift for my own child, Cordelia.”

“Well, too bad, biker boy,” she snapped. “Your wife was always nice to me, and I was sorry—I was always sorry she and I didn’t stay in touch,” she finished, and he suspected she was about to say something else. “The clock’s not worth a heck of a lot, anyway.” Her gaze wandered to the refrigerator, which was covered with photos. Nicole had taken a picture of their fridge in San Diego, then recreated the exact order when they moved in here. Mostly photos of Nic herself…dressed as a pumpkin for Halloween when she was four, riding her bike, missing her front teeth. But a few of him and Emma, too.

“Anyway. Sorry if it brought stuff up,” Cordelia said in a gentler voice.

“It’s okay. It really is perfect.” He looked at her for a long minute. Her blush began underneath the flannel and crept up her neck, into her jaw and cheeks. She looked away, and Liam’s mood suddenly lightened. Cordelia was a woman, a straight woman (he thought, anyway), and it was nice to see she wasn’t immune to him. Made things feel more even somehow.

“Dad! Can you hang up my clock or what?” Nic called from down the hall.

“Coming, Master,” he said. He grinned at Cordelia. “Stay here a sec. I want to ask you something. But duty calls.”

ALONE IN LIAM MURPHY’S kitchen.

Posey supposed she’d have to stop thinking of him as Liam Murphy, just trim it down to Liam, but still. He had that celebrity feel. Too hot for regular life.

As if on cue, Posey’s phone buzzed. She pulled it out—a text from Jon. Holy Justin Bieber, did I hear u say ur going 2 Nicole Murphy’s? The father is totally hot. 2 young 4 me?

I’m standing in his kitchen, Posey texted back. Will try to steal you something.

How about a lock of hair?

Posey grinned. I was thinking of a sock. Gotta go. xox

From down the hall came the sound of a drill. Drill me, Liam. Posey rolled her eyes at herself. Some hammering. Nail me, pal. “Okay, down, you ho,” she muttered, wandering to the fridge for a better look at the photos there. Nicole had been a wicked cute baby. No surprise there, not with her DNA. There was a nice shot of Emma and Nicole, when Nicole was about ten. Posey’s throat tightened again. So hard to believe the gorgeous woman with the bright smile was just gone.

Well. Here was another picture—Liam in scrubs, holding a tiny pink package. Now that was the money shot, wasn’t it? Dopey dad-love shone in his face as he gazed at his red-faced daughter. He looked so young. So happy, too, and so sure. How was it that Liam Murphy had found the way to make a family at age…what? Twenty, twenty-one? Posey had grown up in the stable, unwavering embrace of Max and Stacia and had never even come close to marriage, let alone a family. Liam and Emma had met as teenagers and made something special. Those pictures didn’t lie. Posey was scanning websites for a spouse as if ordering a coat from L.L. Bean. Liam and Emma had made a family before they were old enough to buy a six-pack.

“Hey, Posey, come see it!” Nicole called, and obediently Posey trotted down the hall.

“It looks great,” she said.

“I love it.” Nicole gave her a look. “So, Posey, if you knew my mom, did you also know my father back then?”

Posey glanced at Liam, who narrowed his eyes slightly in warning. “I sure did,” she said, feeling the start of a smile warm her chest.

“What was he like?” Nicole asked.

“What was he like? Or what did he think he was like?” Posey asked, her grin spreading.

“Watch it,” Liam muttered.

“Both! Why? Was he a jerk?” Nicole asked, clapping her hands in delight.

“It was like having Heath Ledger wander the halls of our little high school, Nicole,” Posey said. “Leather jacket, ripped jeans, crappy grades, the whole cliché.”

“Not all my grades were bad,” he countered.

“Girls wanted to, uh, date him, men wanted to be him. He was so intense,” Posey said, getting a laugh from Nicole.

“Dad! You always make it sound like you were perfect!”