“Lots of things. I just remembered some cute things we used to do as kids.”
“It must have been difficult for your mom, moving with so many kids to New York.”
I nodded, feeling a small knot tighten in my chest.
“Her sister got her a job as a teacher here, so she didn’t have much choice. It was a tough time for the family. We were all disoriented for a while. Mom was trying to be strong, but I could hear her cry sometimes at night. It was just such a huge change from our life in Boston. We lived in a huge house and never had to think about money, and then overnight we were worrying about every penny. I tried to make everything fun for my siblings, to distract them by painting our rooms and sort of making toys and games out of everything.”
“And you? How were you coping?” he asked.
I shrugged, pressing my palm to my chest again. “I was foolishly optimistic. I actually thought my parents would reconcile. I really believed it. Then we found out that he married someone else.”
“Oh shit.”
“Yeah. Luckily, I didn’t have too much time to dwell on that between school, looking after my siblings, and doing odd jobs on the side.”
“I have a hard time believing that.”
“Why?” I asked, startled.
“Because you’re a very sensitive person, very caring. When you came to my office without Skye, you had a million things on your mind and still worried if her son had something serious.”
Okay, so I’d been downplaying that...but how could he tell?
Dad had been the first man who broke my heart, and I wasn’t sure I’d actually given it to anyone ever since. But Liam was getting under my skin in a way no one else had. I felt safe with him.
“I’m a weirdo, I know,” I said.
“No, you’re very caring and sensitive, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
I narrowed my eyes, elbowing him slightly. “What happened to being tough and strict? Thought that was on the list of qualities you looked for in business owners.”
“You’re all that too. No one’s roasted my ass like you did.” He grinned, covering my hand with his on the blanket before skimming two fingers up my forearm. I hadn’t even known that was a sweet spot. I was certain that Liam could turn any inch on my body into a sweet spot.
I scooted a little to the right, putting a few inches between us.
He cocked a brow. “You think these two and a half inches are enough to keep me from kissing you? Touching you?”
Could he read my mind?
“Well, no, but it was worth a try. You’re looking at me like you’re having devilish intentions.”
“Of course I do. But I’m keeping those for later.”
He skimmed his fingers up my forearm again. Heat shot through me as I caught my breath. He did it one more time, slowly trailing them down to my wrist.
“So what are you doing right now?” I whispered.
“I can’t be next to you and not touch you. I’m barely keeping from kissing you, and that’s just because I know I’d make a spectacle in front of everyone.”
Laughing, I moved even farther away, placing the basket between us. I wanted to point out that the rows of pampas grass protected us, but who knew what he might do.
“There, that should do it,” I said playfully. “Don’t you dare seduce me before I’ve tasted everything in this basket.”
“Or what?” he asked as I reached inside.
“I’m not sure. I’ll think about a particularly cruel revenge.”
I picked out a small jar of chili jam and immediately spread it on a slice of bread.