Raising The Stakes (Heartwarming Romance) (15 page)

The man’s eyes crinkled at the corners, his open, friendly expression disarming. “Guilty. Aiden Walsh, Liam’s oldest brother.”

Aiden’s eyebrows lifted when Liam wrapped an arm around Vivie’s shoulders. She peered up at him in surprise. Why was he sending his brother mixed signals? Acting possessive. Proprietary. He’d said he didn’t grow attached to people or things. Didn’t want to be tied down, but he’d latched himself on to her, anyway... Not that she was complaining. Still. They seemed like a couple when she’d just called them friends.

“Liam!” A young girl, who looked around nine or ten, flew down the stairs behind the bar. Her fine blond hair streamed behind her.

“Ella!” He caught her in his arms and swung her until she squealed and thumped his back. He set her on her ballet flats.

“Knock-knock.”

Her bright eyes gleamed and dimples appeared in each cheek, giving her an impish look.

Liam ran a hand over her crown. “You know I can’t resist a good knock-knock joke. Not too old for it yet, Ella?” Tenderness tugged at Vivie’s heart at the twinkle in his eyes.

Ella shook her head. “Never! And you haven’t heard this one before. Promise.”

Liam arched a brow, an indulgent smile twisting his lips. “Who’s there?”

“Cowsgo.” Her cheeks puffed out as she tried and failed to hold in a giggle.

When Liam’s eyes lifted to Vivie’s, his amused expression stole her breath. There was no other word for it. He was gorgeous—a gentle warrior.

“Cowsgo who?”

“No. Cows go
moooooooooo
.” Ella cupped her hands around her mouth, drawing out the vowel before flinging herself into Liam’s arms and burying her head in the crook of his neck. “Why don’t you come home more? I miss you.”

“I miss you, too, Elly-Belly.” He tickled her ribs and she giggled, squirming in his arms until he let her go. She sprinted back to the stairs screeching, “Liam’s here! He’s here!”

“Coming up,” he called after her and linked his fingers with Vivie’s. “Are you ready for this?”

She smiled, remembering how much she’d always wished for this kind of a family.

“Yes. It’s nice to meet you, Aiden.”

A customer at the bar waved at him and he turned. “Better get back. Great to meet a—a—friend of Liam’s.” Aiden observed Liam for a long moment until he shifted beside her. “Sure we’ll be seeing lots of each other over the next couple of days.”

Liam tugged her toward the staircase. Halfway up he turned and gazed down at her. “Thank you for coming. My family has some crazy idea that I’ll never settle down because of all of my moving. You’ll stop a lot of nagging from Mary Ann.”

Stung, Vivie snatched her hand away. So that’s what she was doing here. Fooling his family into thinking he was all right. Why had she imagined he wanted her for himself? She shouldn’t have let herself believe the impossible.

His brows crashed together. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing we can talk about now.” She remembered her wild-eyed mother and that restless driving need to find someone or someplace better. How much was her parent like Liam?

A muscle in his jaw leaped. “If you didn’t want to come you should have told me.”

She’d climbed a few stairs when he caught her wrist, stopping her.

“Why are you pushing me away, Vivie?”

His vulnerable expression softened her. “Why would I need to? You’re already leaving. Remember?”

His pained eyes searched hers. He opened his mouth when a voice boomed from the top of the stairs.

“You two coming or what?”

She glanced up and saw a man who closely resembled Liam.

“Guess we’ve got no choice now,” Liam grumbled good-naturedly and climbed after her.

“I’m Liam’s handsomer, slightly younger twin brother, Niall. You must be Vivie.”

She returned the man’s handshake and turned with a smile to the dark-haired woman beside him—her silver eyes were startlingly beautiful.

“I’m Kayleigh, Niall’s fiancée.”

“And business partner,” her future husband put in, giving her an indulgent look that grabbed Vivie’s heart. How wonderful to have someone who wanted to spend their personal and professional life with you. True love. No question about it.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Liam! I’m in Mom’s room. Come see me,” called a voice from deeper inside the small apartment.

Liam shrugged. “We’ll catch up later, bro.” His eyes slid between his twin and Kayleigh. “Glad things are going so well and congratulations on winning the Shorty for best app this year.”

A wide smile lit up Kayleigh’s face. “Our start-up’s doing better than I ever dreamed.” Her adoring gaze fell on Niall and an adolescent boy made a gagging sound.

Liam turned to the teen leaning against the wall. “Connor. Good to see you, bud.”

“Yeah. I bet. Must be why you come home so much, then.” His voice dripping with sarcasm, the kid turned on his heel and disappeared through another doorway off the living room.

Niall shook his head and the twins seemed to hold some silent conversation that involved brow lifting, a frown, shaking heads and a shrug.

Ella raced from another room and skidded to a halt in front of Vivie. “You’re pretty.”

Vivie smiled. “Not as pretty as you. You are beautiful.”

Ella lowered her head for a moment and fiddled with her locket. “That’s what my brothers say, but they have to, right?”

Vivie glanced between the twins, noting their indulgent expressions. “Nope. Brothers can be beasts...so it must be true.”

Ella’s eyes widened and she smiled. “I like you. And Mary Ann says come right away.”

Liam nodded. “Got it.”

A pre-teen boy a few years older than Ella passed by and yanked a string of licorice from his mouth. “Better hurry. She’s acting kinda crazy.”

Liam pulled the youngster into his arms. “Hey, Daniel.”

“Did you hear what I said? Hurry.”

Liam nodded. “Going.” He turned to Vivie. “Ready to meet the bride-to-be?”

“Bridezilla is more like it. Maybe I’ll make her into one of my cartoon characters.” Daniel stuck his candy back in his mouth and sauntered away.

“Liam!” cried a female voice—Mary Ann, Vivie supposed.

“Coming!” he hollered and Vivie followed him through the maze of furniture, toys, books and lounging pets. A cat cuffed her ankle, making her jump.

“Knock it off, Grinch.” Liam picked up the cat and held it overhead before he kissed its nose and lowered the squirming animal to the ground. “That’ll teach you to mess with my lady.”

His glowing eyes warmed her. Was she his lady? For this weekend, or longer? Her temples throbbed as she pondered the possibilities, what each of them wanted versus what they could handle.

They rounded the frayed end of a couch and stopped inside the entrance to a sunlit room, a bumped-out window letting in the afternoon sunshine. In the middle of the room stood a redheaded young woman garbed in white lace, a sheer veil attached to the back of her curls with a crystal barrette. A woman stood behind her, measuring tape in one hand, a pincushion in the other.

“Liam!” Her smile flashed white against her freckled, pale skin. “Can you believe I’m doing this?” She gestured to the dress belling around her bare feet.

“Weren’t you and Michael engaged in junior high?”

She stole the seamstress’s tape measure and chucked it at him, only her aim went wild and it smacked Vivie’s arm.

“Oh. I’m so sorry! Gosh. What a first impression I’m making. I’d come over and hug you, but I don’t think Brea wants me to move. I’m Mary Ann by the way.”

Brea shook her head vigorously and continued pinning the wedding dress’s waist tighter.

Vivie closed the space between them and extended a hand. “I’m Vivienne but—”

“Everyone calls you Vivie.” Mary Ann peered over Vivie’s shoulder at Liam. “My brother told me.”

Her curiosity piqued, Vivie almost asked what else Mary Ann had heard.

“It’s so good to hear he’s dating. We were worried when Niall got wind of him moving to Yellowstone. Glad that’s off the table.”

Liam raised one eyebrow at Vivie and she closed her mouth. So he wanted her to play along. Pretend, for the sake of not upsetting his sister, that he wasn’t moving cross-country, running as usual.

She was a smoke screen. Nothing more, and the thought burned away the growing confidence she’d felt lately. Suddenly the city noises penetrated the windows and wove around her heart, squeezing it until it leaped and bumped in her chest. Perhaps she would attend the support-group meeting tonight.

When she pulled out her cell to text them, it clattered to the floor waking an elderly woman napping on a daybed.

“What? Why is everyone in my room? Who are all of you? Where’s my husband?”

Mary Ann rushed to the bed and took the woman’s hand. “Mom. It’s me. Your daughter, Mary Ann.”

Liam’s mother sat up and smoothed her short white curls with a quaking hand. “I don’t have a daughter. Just a baby son. Aiden.” Her voice rose. “Has something happened to him?” White showed all around her irises. They darted around the room before landing on Liam. She blew out a long breath.

“There you are, darling. Is Aiden okay and why have you invited so many people over? Are we having a party?”

Liam started forward but Mary Ann held out a hand, checking him. Hurt flashed between the siblings and Vivie’s heart ached that Liam’s mother didn’t recognize him again. This should be a joyous moment, but was, instead, a difficult one.

His mother hadn’t asked for this condition and neither had the family, yet they accepted what fate gave them.

She needed to learn to do the same.

* * *

V
IVIE
WATCHED
L
IAM
’
S
bent head as he spoke earnestly to his mother. All through dinner, she’d caught his pained expression as his mom hadn’t recognized him. Yet now, just as she prepared to leave for her support group, his mother had realized who he was and asked to catch up with him.

How could she drag him away from that? He’d vowed to go with her when she’d mentioned her plans. If she told him she needed to leave now, he’d insist on coming. She’d feel safer with him by her side, but couldn’t ruin his chance to talk with a mother who recognized him.

Fear rose as she forced herself to stay silent and walk to the door. Mary Ann was in the kitchen with Ella. Niall and Kayleigh were cleaning up, and Liam’s other brothers were in their bedrooms. So no one would notice her leave, especially with an Ella Fitzgerald tune blaring.

Vivie hoisted her purse, picturing the can of pepper spray inside. The support group met in a familiar part of the Bronx. Still, she was taking precautions.

She’d been to that well-lit neighborhood plenty of times since the assault. Knew it well. As long as she followed the usual bus route, she should be able to navigate her way back. Granted, she’d have to catch the bus from SoHo, but she’d manage. She had to try new paths or she’d never grow stronger.

She eased open the door, raced downstairs and sprinted along the shadowed street until she caught a bus on a main thoroughfare. She banged on its closed doors and the driver opened them, gesturing impatiently for her to climb in.

She thought she caught a glimpse of Liam jogging up the sidewalk as they pulled away from the curb. But she turned back toward the front of the bus. As her support-group leader said: time to face her fears.

Alone.

* * *

T
HREE
HOURS
LATER
,
after her support group, Vivie boarded a bus and double-checked her map for the next connection to SoHo. She yawned and rested her forehead against the window, eyes heavy. How nice that she had twenty minutes until she left this seat. It’d been a long day...

Suddenly, the bus hit a bump and her eyes flew open. Had she fallen asleep? Fear fluttered in her stomach. She glanced at her watch, then out the window. Everything looked dark and unfamiliar. She’d been asleep for almost a half hour.

A groan escaped her. How had she made such a colossal mistake? Granted, this had been a tiring day full of travel, meeting people and working with her support group. Still, she should have been more vigilant. Leaving Liam behind had been a mistake.

“Excuse me?” she called and walked up the aisle of the empty, swaying bus. “What stop is this?”

“Coming up on Castle Hill.”

She shook open her bus map and groaned. Four stops too far. And Castle Hill...not a Bronx area she knew. Was it safe? It wasn’t anywhere close to SoHo. She peered at the outlines of connected stone homes, what looked like a playground and a kid’s bike on a stoop. Children. That had to be a good sign. A family neighborhood. Not a threat. Not even at this hour.

“Can I catch another bus here soon?”

The bus driver took off his hat and scratched his ear. “Running about every twenty minutes or so. You could get lucky.”

“Thanks.” She pulled the wire and a chime sounded.

The doors opened with a pressurized hiss and the driver grunted. “Take care.”

“I will.” She forced a smile and stepped out into the warm air. When the bus drove away, she turned in a slow circle, her heart beating fast.

Now that she was closer, the houses loomed tall and scarred. Some of the windows were cracked or boarded over. Neon graffiti shone dimly in the gloom, covering several of the walls. Gaps appeared in a chain-link fence around a small playground, the bottom pushed in or cut away in sections. Needles, food containers and beer cans littered the weeds around it.

What had she done? She should never have gotten off that bus, but now it was too late.

Her mouth went dry when a wailing police siren sounded in the distance. It practically screamed danger. She scurried toward the stop across the road and up a ways, praying a returning bus would appear at any minute.

Her hand rose to her neck and she felt her scar. Had the knife extended another inch, gone a bit deeper, it would have nicked her carotid artery and she would have bled out on the spot. An Alive Day if ever there was one. Would she be so lucky if attacked again? She passed by a dented sedan with cardboard duct-taped over a passenger-side window. Another car lacked its hubcaps. Sweat beaded her forehead.