The Right Reason to Marry Page 8

“Mom. It was sick. That fog, it not only overflowed from the witch’s cauldron. They had it pouring out of the mouth of a giant carved pumpkin and rising from the base of a gnarly ‘hanging’ tree.”

  Coco was so happy, she pranced in a circle. Her doggy ears bounced as she pawed the air, fake-growling when her grandpa suggested it was time to call it a night.

  Otto insisted, though. “Kiss your mom good night and say thank you to Liam.”

  Ben and Coco dutifully pecked Karin on the cheek and offered up a duet of thank-yous to Liam. Then Otto herded both of them off down the hall to put on their pj’s and brush their teeth.

  That left Liam on the sofa with Riley in his arms and Karin standing by an easy chair trying to decide whether to sit down or start hinting that it was time for him to go.

  He looked up from their son with a lazy, lopsided grin. “Don’t worry. I won’t stay long.”

  She couldn’t stop herself. She grinned right back at him and then said sincerely, “Thank you. You turned a big disappointment into a memorable event.”

  “For you. Anything.” He said it quietly, kind of tenderly and yet teasingly, too, so that she could tell herself he was only kidding around.

  She almost opened her mouth to remind him—teasingly, of course—that they were coparents, not a couple.

  But why even say it, jokingly, or otherwise? He hadn’t done anything to imply there was more than coparenting going on between them. Not really.

  And he looked so relaxed and happy. He’d made her kids happy, too, and given her a precious evening all to herself. How could she keep her walls of emotional safety in place when he wouldn’t stop being so damn wonderful?

  He got up. “Walk me out?” Still holding the baby, he headed for the entry hall.

  She followed along, far too content to be going wherever Liam led her. He turned and passed her the baby when they got to the door.

  When she had Riley, though, Liam didn’t step back. Uh-uh. He leaned even closer.

  And she reminded herself to step back. But she didn’t. Anticipation flaring inside her, she stayed right where she was.

  Their lips met. Her heart lurched and then kicked into a deeper, hotter rhythm. She sighed against his parted lips.

  “Thanksgiving,” he said as he broke the tender contact.

  Puzzled, and a little annoyed at how much she’d wanted that kiss to last longer, she frowned up at him over their sleeping baby. “Um. What about it?”

  “We always have it at Daniel’s.”

  Where was he going with this? “Okay...?”

  That mouth she loved kissing way too much curled in a slow, ovulation-inducing smile. “This is an invitation, Karin. I want you and the kids and your dad to join me and the rest of the Bravos for our family Thanksgiving. Rumor has it that Sten and Madison just might be showing up, too.”

  “Do Daniel and Keely know you’re inviting the whole Killigan-Larson crew?”

  He did that thing, a lopsided grin coupled with a sexy glint in his sky blue eyes. “Say yes, and they will.”

  “That just doesn’t seem right.”

  “What do you mean it’s not right?” He had that look now, the patient one he gave her whenever she threatened to go off the rails over something he was trying to convince her to do.

  “It doesn’t seem right for you to just invite all of us without at least warning your brother and his wife first.”

  “It’s a Bravo family thing. The more the better. We love a large group and our Thanksgivings and Christmases just keep getting bigger.”

  “But think about it. Now, counting Madison, there are nine of you again.” A brother, Finn, had vanished years ago. The Bravos still had investigators looking for him.

  “Karin.” Liam spoke softly, gently, as though she were a not-too-bright child. “I know how many siblings I have.”

  “Of course you do, but I don’t think you realize how many people you could potentially be talking about.”

  “Sure, I do.”

  “No. Liam, it could be a lot of people.”

  “Didn’t I just say I know that and that it won’t be a problem?”

  “Think about it. Daniel, Matt, Aislinn and Madison are married, so you have to count their spouses.”

  “So?”

  “So some of those spouses will probably have people they want to bring. And let’s not forget your great-aunt Daffodil and great-uncle Percy. And Daniel’s got three kids.”

  “Why are you telling me all this stuff I already know? Just FYI, Karin, it’s my family.”

  She reminded herself not to raise her voice. She would wake the baby. “Well, I know that,” she whispered.

  “And guess what? Connor and Aly Santangelo got back together.”

  That gave her pause. The two had been married and then divorced years ago. “Seriously?”

  He nodded. “They’re in New York, but they hope to be back for the holidays. They remarried in Manhattan, a courthouse wedding a week and a half ago—the day after Riley was born, as a matter of fact.”

  “Which only further proves my point. Aly’s got that big family of her own here in town. Will they all be coming? Liam, do you hear what I’m saying? Maybe there isn’t room for four extra guests and a baby.”

  “It’s Daniel’s house, the family house. There’s always room. And who all is coming is not your problem. All you have to say is yes. Just tell me you would love to come and bring the kids. I’ve already talked to your dad. He’s all for it.”

  “You talked to my dad about it without even checking with me?” She spoke too loudly. Riley squirmed in her arms and let out a cry. She lifted him to her shoulder and rubbed his little back. “Shh,” she whispered to him, “it’s okay, Mommy’s sorry she scared you.” She rocked him side-to-side a little and he seemed to settle.

  “Karin.” Liam reached out.

  “Don’t.” She stepped back to keep him from touching her. She wasn’t sure why, exactly, she was so upset about this invitation. It just felt like...a big step. A step she wasn’t in any way ready to take. A step she kept telling herself she would never take. “See, Liam. You have your family traditions and we have ours. So, doesn’t it just make more sense for you to go ahead and go to your brother’s the way you always do for Thanksgiving and we’ll just have our family dinner here the way we always do.”

  “No.” A muscle twitched in his square jaw. “That makes no sense to me at all. I asked you to come to Daniel’s because that’s what makes sense to me. I want you there, Karin. I want our baby there and your dad and Ben and Coco, too. And Madison and Sten, if they can make it up from LA. I want us all together. That’s what Thanksgiving is, all the people you care about the most, together, if at all possible. And it is possible, completely possible, if you’ll just say yes.”

  Riley started fussing again. She rubbed his little back, pressed her lips to his warm, silky forehead and said to Liam, “You’re being purposely thickheaded.”

  “You’re being pointlessly negative and obstinate.”

  “No, I’m just—”

  “Enough.” His voice was carefully bland. “Think about it, okay? Let me know what you decide.” He pulled open the door and went through, shutting it behind him before she could say another word.

  Chapter Six

  A week went by during which Karin and Liam hardly spoke.

  Early most mornings, she heard him laughing with her father out on the deck at the cottage. More than once, she saw him jogging along the sand in a hoodie and track pants, his shoulders so broad, his hips so lean and tight, his long strides carrying him quickly along the shoreline toward the rocks and shallow caves way down the beach. It caused an ache inside her just to watch him, to take in the sheer perfection of him.

  Every evening when he returned from Bravo Trucking, he came to the house to visit his son. She would han
d the baby over and walk away.

  From the kitchen area or down the hall in her room or in the baby’s room, she could hear him joking around with Coco and talking to Ben. He would give the baby to her dad when he was ready to leave.

  One time, he was still in the great room with Riley in his arms when she wandered back out from her room to check on them. Her dad was nowhere in sight and the kids must’ve been in their rooms.

  “Here’s your mama,” he said to his son and handed him over. “See you tomorrow, Karin.” And he left her standing there by the slider. Turning toward the glass, she stared out at the dark sky. A moment later, she heard the front door open and then close.

  Every time she saw Liam, she expected him to ask her if she’d made up her mind about Thanksgiving. She was waiting for him to ask, actually. And when he did, she would reply, Thank you, but no. She would say that she really had given his invitation serious thought and she appreciated it very much. However, thinking it over hadn’t changed her answer; he should go to his family for Thanksgiving and she and her family would have their usual holiday dinner right here at Sweetheart Cove.

  But the days went by and Liam didn’t ask her, which made her feel edgy and uncomfortable inside her own skin. After all, she knew very well that he didn’t need to ask again. The ball was in her court. She only had to give him her answer—and that was something she felt ridiculously reluctant to do until he brought it up.

  Stalling much? Oh, yes, she was.

  * * *

  On Friday evening, Karin had Riley in the baby sling and had just finished cleaning up the kitchen after dinner when Liam tapped on the slider. She went over and let him in.

  He glanced past her shoulder. “Otto okay?” Her dad was conked out, snoring in his favorite chair in front of the TV.

  “Just tired. He had a long day rush-retrofitting a fishing boat. As usual, the owner wants the boat back in the water yesterday—sooner if possible.”

  Liam looked strangely wistful. “The kids?”

  “Coco’s got a birthday party sleepover. Ben’s at a friend’s, home at eight.”

  He came inside, bringing the scent of leather, moist night air and a hint of diesel fuel. “Kind of quiet without them.”

  “Except for the snoring and the WWE reruns, you mean.” She shut the slider, extricated the baby from the sling and handed him over. “Here you go.”

  He got Riley settled on one arm and then held out a check.

  She took it and saw it was made out to her. “Five hundred dollars? What for?”

  “To help out with Riley. Since he’s mostly with you at this point, I figure five hundred a month, for now. You need more?”

  “Of course not.” She had a terrible, hollow feeling in her belly as she realized he must be leaving, moving out of the cottage. Just as she’d expected, he was missing his big house and his no-strings lifestyle, so he was going to throw her some monthly child support and go back to his own life.

  He spotted the cloth diaper she’d left on the back of a chair and grabbed it, laying it on one broad shoulder and lifting Riley against his chest. “Okay, Karin. Tell me what’s the matter.”

  “Nothing,” she lied.

  “Then how come your face is red and your mouth’s all pinched up?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “You’re pissed off.”

  “No, I’m not.” She folded her arms across her middle, realized how defensive the posture must look and made herself drop her hands to her sides. “So. When are you leaving?”

  He whispered something to the baby and then frowned down at her. “Leaving?”

  “Uh, well, I assume you’re going back to your own place?”

  “No. I live at the cottage now.” He studied her, still frowning. “What gave you the idea I was moving out?”

  She held up the check. “Well, I mean. I thought...” What had she thought? Now, she just felt foolish. “I don’t know. I thought you were, um...”

  “Paying you off because I won’t be around?”

  When he put it that way, it sounded awful—even though that was exactly what she’d thought. She waved the check again. “If you’re next door, there’s no need for this right now, is there?”

  “What’s my being next door got to do with paying my share of my son’s living expenses?”

  Nothing, she realized, and felt even more foolish.

  He stroked the baby’s head with his big hand. “I get it. The Larson-Killigan family is doing just fine. You’re not hurting for cash and all the bills are getting paid.”

  “You’d best believe it.”

  “So open an account for him. Get going on his college fund. It’s RG’s money so save it for when he needs it.”

  Karin cast an uncomfortable glance at her snoring father. “Let’s go talk in Riley’s room.”

  “Sure.” He followed her across the great room and down the hall.

  She ushered him into the baby’s room ahead of her. “Well,” she said, after shutting the door. “I just thought we would get a parenting plan—you know, a legal, binding agreement. Whatever support arrangement we would make would happen then.”

  “Why go to court if we can come to an agreement without dragging the state of Oregon into it?”

  It was a valid question. Damn it. “I don’t know, I...” She blew out a hard breath and busted herself. “Okay, I’m sorry. I jumped to the conclusion that there was no need to start writing me checks unless you were moving out.”

  He seemed to relax, a ghost of a smile pulling at the edges of his too-tempting mouth. “Apology accepted—and I’m staying right here at the Cove. Get used to it.”

  The room was too small and he was too big and solid and masculine, standing there holding their baby in his strong arms, not quite smiling as he gazed down at her.

  “Okay, then,” she said, her voice aggressively cheerful, totally fake. “I’ll leave you with Riley and, um, I’m right down the hall if you need me.”

  “That’s good to know.” He said it too softly, but with a slight edge of roughness that played a sexy, hungry tune on every nerve ending she had.

  She pulled open the door and got out of there, fast.

  * * *

  That following Monday Karin went back to work on a part-time basis. Her plan was to go in for a few hours a day and take Riley with her.

  But then when Liam showed up at the door Monday night and she mentioned that she was trying to catch up at the Boatworks, he offered to help out. “I can take Riley for you, at least a couple of times a week,” he said.

  “But what about Bravo Trucking?”

  “It’s great being the boss. I can pretty much set my own hours.”

  There was so much to catch up on. She could get a lot more done without the baby there to interrupt her. “You sure?”

  “Yeah. We should try it. See how it goes. How ’bout Wednesday, nine to noon, to start?”

  It was too good an offer to pass up. “All right, then. You’re on.”

  Two days later, she dropped Riley off at the cottage. Liam had everything he needed right there, all the baby paraphernalia a newborn could ever require. All she had to provide was enough pumped breast milk to keep Riley fed until noon.

  She passed Liam the baby and set the bottles on the counter. “The milk can be out of the fridge for four hours. If you put it in the fridge, you want to bring it just to body temperature by running warm water over the bottle or letting it sit in warm water.”

  He kissed Riley’s plump cheek and gave her a smug grin. “I’ve read all the books, Karin.”

  She bopped her forehead with the heel of her hand. “That’s right. You’re an expert.”

  “Yes, I am. Don’t you worry. RG and me, we got it all figured out.”

  When she returned at noon, Liam handed her the slee
ping baby.

  “How was he?” she whispered.

  “Perfect. I can take him Friday, same time?”

  “You’re on. Thank you.” She started to turn for the stairs.

  “Karin.” Something in his voice sent a lovely shiver racing down her spine. She stopped and met his eyes again. “You don’t have to thank me. I hope you know that.”

  She cradled Riley closer. It was cold out that day. “I, um, well, I appreciate all you do to help out.”

  “It’s my job,” he said and she knew he was going to say more. Stuff she probably didn’t want to hear. Maybe he was finally going to ask her for her decision on Thanksgiving...

  But then he only gave a slight shake of his golden head. “Go on back to the other house. It’s cold out.”

  Relief and guilt swirling through her in equal measure, she turned and hurried down the stairs.

  * * *

  That Saturday night after the kids were in bed, Karin curled up in her room with a fast-paced thriller on her e-reader.

  Her dad appeared and tapped on her open door. “Got a minute?”

  “Sure.” She set the device aside.

  Otto just stood there in the doorway, looking at her.

  “Dad. What?”

  He stuck his hands in the pockets of his ancient Carhartt work pants. He wore a plain white T-shirt and she found herself staring at his arms. They were strong arms from a lifetime of hard work, strong and scarred, freckled and dusted with reddish hair now gone mostly gray. Otto Larson was a good man, a man who had dedicated his life to taking care of his family.

  “I’m just gonna say it, Kary. You need to give Liam Thanksgiving. He wants it, a lot. He’s gotten himself all invested in this one simple thing, for our family and his family to celebrate Thanksgiving together.”

  “Dad—”

  “I’m not finished. Liam’s been nothing but here for you in every way that you’ll let him be. Even if you can’t give him all that he wants from you, you can say yes to Thanksgiving, you know you can.”

  “All that he wants from me? What does that even mean?”