“No.” Amelia shook her head firmly. “It wasn’t your fault for being born.” As if of its own accord, her hand reached across the sofa and rested on Liam’s. His hand shifted beneath hers and, for a moment, she thought he was pulling away. But then he rested his warm, large palm against hers and threaded his fingers between hers.

  “I know that,” he said. “And I think my parents do, too. But it was a difficult childhood. That’s when I realized that love isn’t enough. Financial security means a good job, a warm house, enough food, and new clothes when they’re needed. I knew I needed to prioritize financial security over family, because I couldn’t put another child through life in a home where they felt guilty just for being alive.”

  Amelia squeezed Liam’s hand. Her heart went out to the little boy he’d been, sitting in a trailer somewhere feeling responsible for his family’s struggles.

  “What happened next?” she asked softly. “I mean, how did you go from being a little boy in a struggling family to” — she made a sweeping gesture meant to encompass the penthouse and Liam himself — “this?”

  “I think I told you already about how I went to college based on scholarships,” Liam began. “I studied hard and saved as much as I could. I finished college in three years with a degree in business and went straight to work. While I had my first office job, I got my MBA online at the same time. There were many years of long nights and hard work, scrimping and saving every penny I could. And then, suddenly, I didn’t have to anymore.”

  “After all that work, you’re more than financially secure now,” Amelia pointed out. “Haven’t your feelings on family changed?”

  There was a long pause. Amelia’s heart began to beat faster. This felt like a very important moment. She wanted to believe that she was tense on Grace’s behalf, but there was a selfish component, too. If Liam felt ready for a family, maybe she would have a part in it.

  “Maybe. It’s hard, though. I saw how financial struggles and the stress of parenthood pitted my parents against each other. And I know how hard I have to work to maintain the empire I’ve built. I don’t think it would be fair to a wife or children. Grace is here now, and I love her, and I’m going to do right by her, but more family than that… it’s hard to say.”

  Amelia felt a flood of disappointment, but she cut it off quickly. Liam wasn’t saying he wouldn’t ever be ready for a family of his own, just that he wasn’t sure. It was a huge change from the man she’d met a few weeks ago who’d only wanted a fake wife. Maybe things were moving in the right direction.

  “What about your parents?” Amelia asked. “What are they doing now?” She knew she was asking a lot of questions, probably too many, but she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to finally get some answers. Liam was opening up for the first time since she’d met him. This might never happen again.

  “After I started to have some money, I bought them a house,” Liam admitted. “And I gave them some money, enough that they don’t have to work anymore. But we aren’t in touch. My parents are enjoying finally having some time to themselves, and I’m not really a part of that.”

  His tone was casual, but Amelia could hear a world of feeling behind his words. It must be terrible to feel so abandoned by one’s own parents. Amelia’s parents would stand by her no matter what; she knew it. She still saw her father almost every week, though less now that she was “married” to Liam and caring for Grace. Even if they went years without seeing each other, though, Amelia knew he would always welcome her back with open arms — just like how Amelia still loved her mother deeply, even though she’d been gone for almost a decade.

  “I am so sorry.” Amelia squeezed Liam’s hand again. “I can’t even imagine.”

  “It’s all right.”

  “No, it isn’t. Children should always feel loved and should never feel like a burden. I know your parents must have had a hard life, trying to make ends meet, but they should have made time for you, too.”

  “I don’t think it was that easy. But I appreciate you saying so.” Liam ran his thumb over the back of Amelia’s hand, the way he had in the car at the zoo. Amelia felt a shiver run up her arm.

  “Still. I hope you know now that you didn’t do anything wrong as a child.”

  “I know.”

  Amelia was pushing her luck, but she had to say this while she had a chance. “And neither did Grace.”

  Liam’s thumb stilled and he lifted his gaze from their hands to her eyes. “I know that.”

  “So, don’t be like your parents. Keep doing what you’re doing now — not just for the barbecue, but forever. Show Grace how much she matters.”

  Amelia thought Liam might be upset, but he just nodded slowly. His lips parted.

  “Will you help me?”

  “Of course.” Amelia said the words with so much feeling that she surprised even herself.

  “I know we’ve planned to keep our arrangement short, but if Grace needs you, if I need you, will you stay?”

  Amelia didn’t hesitate. “I will. I’ll stay as long as you both need me.” Because I might just need you, too.

  Liam gave Amelia’s hand one last squeeze, then let it go. “It’s getting late. We should both get some sleep before tomorrow.”

  “We should.” Amelia got to her feet as Liam released her hand. “Good night, Liam.”

  “Good night, Amelia.”

  She walked to the door but hesitated in the doorframe, torn. Then she turned back. “Liam?”

  “Yes?”

  “Thank you. For telling me all that.”

  “It was nice… to tell someone. Thank you for listening.”

  With that, Amelia left.

  In her bed that night, tucked into her blankets and with the moonlight painting a broad path across the dark ceiling, Amelia struggled to sleep. She kept thinking of what Liam had told her.

  She’d been wrong about him. He wasn’t some selfish billionaire who cared only about his wallet and his reputation. There was a lot more to him, more than Amelia had seen before.

  And with that realization came another. Amelia had managed to keep her feelings for Liam walled off, mostly by reminding herself that this arrangement was temporary and that he wasn’t a very good father. But now that he’d asked her to stay, now that he’d opened up about his past — those walls were starting to crumble.

  When she’d taken this job, Amelia had told herself that she needed to be careful. She’d wanted to focus on the child in her care, not on the mysterious man who’d hired her. It was too late now, though. Her crush had officially expanded into something else, something deeper. Something more permanent.

  Amelia was scared. Liam had told her himself that he hadn’t wanted a family and that he had preferred casual relationships. Yet she was hopeful, too. Maybe, with time, he would see that some things, some people, were more important than the wounds of his past.

  CHAPTER 16

  LIAM

  Liam had worried that it might be awkward, seeing Amelia in the light of day after his confessions the night before. What if she judged him or wanted to keep her distance? But the next morning, when he arrived in the kitchen after his run, he found a familiar, happy sight. As they did every morning, Amelia and Grace were preparing breakfast. Grace was mixing a big bowl of eggs, while Amelia chopped veggies and fried bacon.

  Grace spotted Liam first and called out a cheery, “Good mowning!”

  “Good morning.” Liam stepped into the kitchen. As he did, Amelia turned around, and her face broke into a beautiful smile. Her hair was up in a messy bun and there was a streak of egg on her apron, but she’d never looked more gorgeous.

  “Good morning,” she said. “Did you sleep well?”

  “Yes, thank you.” In truth, Liam hadn’t slept well. He’d lain awake long into the night, thinking about what Amelia had said. She’d been right. He needed to prioritize his daughter. And he needed to be open to the possibility of something more — a real family, the kind he’d never imagined having. “And you?”

  “I slept great. I was just telling Grace what to expect from today’s barbecue.”

  “Lotsa people,” Grace said excitedly. “Food. Kids.”

  “Exactly.” Liam crossed the kitchen to his daughter, who was standing on a special booster stool for toddlers. Amelia’s words from last night echoed in his mind as he bent forward and kissed the top of Grace’s fair head. She smelled like baby shampoo. When he raised his head, he saw that Amelia was looking at him, a smile on her face. She gave him a little nod, then turned back to the stove to check on the bacon.

  Liam’s heart warmed. He smiled at Grace, who beamed up at him with her toothy little grin, then joined in the breakfast-making.

  They ate breakfast together at the dining room table. They had done the same the weekend before, and on a few weekday mornings before Liam left for work, and it was starting to feel like a ritual. Grace tried her best to use her plastic toddler cutlery, but ended up using her fingers to pick up a slice of bacon, chewing with glee.

  Amelia and Liam exchanged an amused glance.

  “Should we have gone over table manners before the barbecue?” Liam asked.

  “Nah. This is normal behavior for toddlers, so if this Stanley is as much of a family guy as you say, he’ll be used to it. Plus, it’s a barbecue. Everyone eats with their hands.”

  “Fair enough.” Liam took a bite of his eggs. “Are you nervous?”

  “No. I was nervous about pretending to be a couple in front of a guy who might actually notice that we aren’t — but only when we first began planning. Now, I think we’re ready. We look like a real family.”

  “We sure do.” Liam smiled at her, and she smiled back.

  After breakfast, Liam helped Grace into a pair of pink shorts and a white T-shirt, at her request, before they met Amelia at the door.

  “White?” Amelia asked as she helped Grace into her shoes. “That’s going to be just a tiny bit messy.”

  “Oops.” Liam felt sheepish. “Should she change?”

  “No!” Grace exclaimed. “No change.”

  “No change,” Amelia repeated with a wink. “Let’s head out.”

  Stanley’s ranch was about an hour’s drive away. Liam expected to make the drive in one stretch, but he quickly realized that any car journey with a toddler wouldn’t be that easy. They had to stop twice, once so that Grace could use the bathroom and once so that she could stretch her legs at a park she’d spotted. Luckily, they’d left with plenty of time to spare, so they arrived outside Stanley’s ranch right on time.

  “Wow,” Amelia breathed from the passenger seat. Liam had to agree. The ranch was marked by a huge arching gate, across which the words Jefferson Family Ranch were carved in an ornate script. Beyond the gate, Liam and Amelia could see a one-lane access road curving through a line of cherry trees and up a small hill to what could only be described as an enormous mansion. It had a huge porch as well as several balconies, whitewashed walls, and red shutters. In front of the mansion, Liam spotted a large lap pool and a cluster of people on a patio.

  “Just how rich is this guy?” Amelia asked as they pulled up to the intercom.

  “Who knows,” Liam said, although he had a pretty good idea. This was the kind of place Liam could afford as well, though he’d never been interested in a sprawling ranch outside the city. It would be too far from the office and too big for just him.

  If it wasn’t just him, though…

  He lowered the window and pressed a button on the intercom. It crackled to life.

  “Liam, is that you?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Come right in. Just drive up the road — I think you can figure out where to go.”

  “I think I can,” Liam replied with a chuckle. The gates buzzed, then slowly swung open. Liam closed the window and navigated the car up the one-lane road. The trees above them were decked out with ruby-red cherries that made Liam’s mouth water. Perhaps there would be a chance for a cherry-picking expedition later.

  The thought was so foreign that Liam almost couldn’t recognize it. He’d never wanted to go fruit-picking before — it had always sounded like a waste of time. But now, a few hours in an orchard with Amelia and Grace was appealing. Very appealing. Liam gave himself an internal shake. Had his priorities really shifted so much that he’d rather pick berries with Amelia and Grace than go into the office and get things done? That was a problem. A big problem.

  Now wasn’t the time to resolve it, though, because they were pulling into the parking area. Stanley strode across the lawn to meet them, wearing a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and looking for all the world like a regular guy.

  “I’ve never seen him out of a suit before,” Liam told Amelia in a soft voice. “This is very strange.”

  “It’s probably the first time he’s seen you out of a suit, too,” Amelia pointed out. “Plus, you’re one of those rare guys who actually looks better out of a suit.”

  Liam glanced down at his shorts and button-down and wasn’t sure if he agreed, but it was kind of Amelia to say.

  “Right. Well, let’s do this.”

  They piled out of the car. Liam went to Stanley and shook his hand while Amelia circled the car to Grace’s seat and helped the little girl out of the buckles.

  “It’s good to see you, Liam,” Stanley said. His handshake was as firm and businesslike as always, but his eyes were warm. “Thanks for making the time to come out to my humble abode.”

  “It’s our pleasure,” Liam said smoothly. “Stanley Jefferson, I’d like to introduce you to my wife, Amelia… Bradshaw and our daughter, Grace.”

  It felt strange to introduce Amelia with his last name. That was something they should have talked about, but despite all their late-night talks and time spent together, it somehow hadn’t come up.

  “Nice to meet you both.” Stanley held out a hand to Amelia, who shifted Grace to her other hip so that she could take it. Amelia was smiling her usual beautiful smile, and if she looked a little flustered, Liam was almost certain he was the only one who could tell. As if he’d done it a thousand times, he stepped closer to her and rested a hand against her lower back in comfort.

  “Nice to meet you, too,” Amelia said. “And can I say, what a lovely family you have.”

  Liam looked past Stanley to the small herd of children who were splashing around in the pool, and the pretty woman — Stanley’s wife, Laurie — manning the barbecue. Liam cast his memory back to the kids’ names — Thomas, Briana, Summer, and Patrick. He wasn’t sure which kid was which, though.

  “Thank you.” Stanley smiled. “And you must be Grace. Hi, there.”

  Grace buried her face in Amelia’s shoulder in a fit of nerves, and the adults chuckled.

  “She’s shy, but she’ll warm up,” Amelia said, rubbing Grace’s back.

  “I hope we’ll be able to make her feel welcome. Please, follow me.”

  Stanley led the way across the lawn towards the patio. Liam fell back to walk beside Amelia.

  “All good?” he asked quietly.

  “So far,” Amelia said. She flashed Liam a grin. “Stanley seems really nice.”

  “He is — now that he knows about you. When he thought I was just a money-obsessed bachelor, he was much more distant.”

  “I can’t blame him,” Amelia muttered. Liam let out a chuckle, hardly able to believe his ears.

  “Hey. I wasn’t that bad.”

  “Sure…” Amelia made a joking face, and Liam chuckled.

  “Liam, Amelia, Grace, let me introduce you to my wife, Laurie, and our kids, Summer, Briana, Patrick, and Thomas.”

  The kids popped out of the pool to wave and call their hellos. Liam and Amelia waved back. Liam estimated that the kids ranged in age from eight or nine to around fifteen.

  “It’s lovely to meet you.” Laurie put down the barbecue tongs she’d been holding and came to shake Liam’s hand and give Amelia a quick hug. “Please, have a seat. Food will be on shortly.”

  “It smells delicious,” Liam said appreciatively. He found a spot at a nearby picnic table and gestured for Amelia to sit. She did, Grace still wrapped protectively in her arms, and Liam sat beside her.

  “Thank you. It’s an old family recipe — meat and heat,” Stanley joked. “We always grill up some vegetables, too, which the kids love. Right, kids?”

  There were various shouts of distaste from the pool.

  “Speaking of which, you guys should all get dried off for lunch,” Laurie called. There were some grumbles, but as one, the pack of kids scampered off towards the house. “Sorry about them. I told them to be presentable when you arrived, but it’s such a nice day that they couldn’t resist staying in the pool until the last minute.”

  “I can’t blame them,” Liam said, chuckling.

  “Neither can I,” Amelia said. “The pool does look lovely.”

  “I should have told you to bring your suits,” Stanley said. “You’ll have to come back another time and take a dip.”

  “I’m sure we can arrange some time for that,” Liam replied. He and Amelia exchanged a glance. This was going better than he’d dared to imagine.

  “Poow?” Grace said. Her small head lifted from Amelia’s shoulder and she gave Liam a pleading look. “Poow?”

  Liam felt a sting of panic. He wasn’t sure what his daughter was saying, which wouldn’t exactly look good. Luckily, Amelia was on top of it.

  “Honey, we can’t go in the pool now,” she said gently. “We don’t have our suits with us.”

  “Poow,” Grace repeated. Her small face hardened, and Liam felt the winds change. They were about thirty seconds away from a full-blown, screaming tantrum. Liam knew that tantrums were normal. He knew that Stanley and Laurie probably wouldn’t have any problem with Grace being a little fussy. But he still didn’t want his daughter to cry, especially not now.