Loving Liam (Cloverleaf #1) (27 page)

A couple minutes passed in awkward silence before Maggie joined them.

“Hey, roomie!” she cried as she embraced Rachel. “I hope you don’t mind,” Maggie said as she quickly exchanged looks with Liam.

“No, this is amazing.” Rachel squeezed Maggie back before adding, “Do you or your mom need any help before we leave?”

“I’m sure she does,” she answered.

Rachel followed Maggie out of the RV. When she turned back and gave Liam a broad smile, his heart lurched inside his chest. He couldn’t explain the hold this woman had on him. But judging by her expression, he was pretty sure Rachel knew.

Chapter Twenty

Rachel

“Mary, can I take anything out for you?” Rachel asked as she stood in the living room with Liam’s mother.

“No, I think we have it, dear,” Mary replied as a man Rachel hadn’t met walked through the front door.

“Got anything else for us to load, Mary?” he asked.

Maggie grabbed him by the arm and led him toward Rachel. “I would like you to meet my husband Michael.” She turned her green eyes to him. “Michael, this is Rachel.”

He extended his hand to her, and Rachel noticed it was soft and well manicured. His smile was filled with perfectly white teeth.

“Pleased to meet you, Rachel. Maggie talks nonstop about you. All good things, I promise.” He laughed as Maggie softly punched his arm.

“Nice meeting you as well,” Rachel said. He was handsome, too sharply dressed for a camping trip, and his demeanor screamed professional. She recalled Maggie saying he was a lawyer or something along those lines.

“We better get on the road, guys. Everyone out,” Mary ordered playfully as she shooed everyone out the door.

Rachel followed Maggie to the RV they would be using, noticing Liam was already behind the wheel of the massive vehicle. Their gazes connected immediately.

“Michael, why don’t you ride up there with Liam?” Maggie suggested. “Rachel and I will hang out back here with Mel.”

Michael climbed into the passenger seat, and Maggie led Rachel to the large sitting area. Melanie was curled up in the corner on one of the couches, her gaze glued to the screen of her handheld game system.

Rachel took a seat across from Maggie as the RV started to pull away from the house.

“So how far away is this campground?” she asked, feeling a little queasy as they rolled down the street. She wasn’t use to this jarring motion and tried to calm her nerves by looking out the window.

“About an hour or so. It’s really beautiful there. We go every year, and it’s a lot of fun, huh, Mel?”

Melanie looked up and smiled but quickly returned to her game.

“I’m glad your mom invited me. I’ve been looking forward to this since she told me.”

“I know, I’m so happy she asked you too. So how are things going at work?” Maggie said, looking toward the driver’s seat as if trying to tell if Liam was eavesdropping.

Rachel had been keeping Maggie in the loop for the most part through email and text messages. However, she had avoided discussing anything too deep about her and Liam. She knew she was walking a fine line here. After all, Maggie was still his sister, and Rachel knew the two were close. So divulging any information about her feelings for Liam could complicate their new friendship.

“Honestly, things are much better.” Rachel wasn’t lying; things were better.

Liam stole a glance at Rachel, and she gave him a small smile in return as she spoke with Maggie. She was completely at ease with his family, and she hoped she would get that way with him too.

Aside from the constant jostling of the RV as it worked its way over the wet, muddy ground along the curvy mountain roads, the drive to the campsite was incredible. Snow lingered on the walls of the mountains and hills, and they were surrounded by majestic tamarack and cedar trees.

“Mom, are we almost there?” Melanie whined, tossing her game to the side. “I’m hungry. Can I have a snack, please?”

“We’re almost there, Pumpkin,” Maggie answered as she fished around inside a large bag for a box of graham crackers for her daughter.

Michael leaned over and whispered something in Melanie’s ear. It must have been quite funny, because she erupted into wild giggles.

Liam tossed a look at Rachel. “You doing okay back there?”

“Yep. Eyes on the road, mister,” Rachel commanded nervously. Her stomach still hadn’t gotten used to the constant jiggle of the RV. Liam smiled as he turned his focus back to the road.

A little while later, Liam followed the caravan of RVs to a partially secluded campground that offered a splendid view of a decent-sized lake. The RVs created a wall as they parked with their doors facing the lake.

Rachel sighed in relief. Now that they had stopped, hopefully her insides could go back where they belonged.

Everyone fled the RVs and sprung into action making camp. Mary led the women, including Melanie, in setting up portable chairs and tables. The men secured the RVs and discussed going out for firewood, even though they had brought a decent amount of dry, seasoned logs.

Rachel soaked in the damp, fresh scent that can only be found in the deep forest as she absorbed the rugged crevices of the mountains that surrounded them. She had never been camping before and couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy about the animals or monsters that might be lurking in the thick trees. An image of Bigfoot crossed her mind. If that thing existed, it would be living out here for sure. Still, being outside among the greenery and stone made her mind feel free and clear. She felt as though she could finally think and breathe.

The campers settled in around lunchtime, and Mary had already started an assembly line for the women to organize the meal. One table acted as a buffet filled with homemade barbecued baked beans, potato salad, condiments, plastic cups, and cutlery. Paper plates were neatly stacked next to several packages of hotdog buns. Mary had already ordered for a campfire to be started, and it was billowing large plumes of smoke as the flames licked the iron grill where they would cook the hot dogs.

The older O’Brien men had planted themselves in front the calm, mirror-like lake. As they sipped beers and enjoyed the view from their canvas chairs, Liam and Daniel tried to help the young twins burn off some energy with a game of catch. Meanwhile, Patrick stoked the fire and chatted with his father and grandfather.

Rachel wished she’d brought her cell phone so she could capture the family enjoying the tranquility of nature and one another’s company.
Her gaze then shifted to Maggie’s husband. Michael had his laptop out and was desperately trying to find a signal with his cell phone. She couldn’t help but think how out of place he looked. Dressed in khakis and a cream sweater, he didn’t fit into this picture of rugged O’Brien men who were dressed in jeans, thick hiking boots, and thermal or flannel shirts that hugged their broad chests.

Liam wore a deep olive-green thermal shirt under a warm brown flannel, and both colors brought out the emerald and gold tones of his eyes. His worn, soft, and comfortable-looking jeans fit well against his long legs. He oozed sexy mountain-man appeal with his unshaven jaw and slightly shaggy hair.

Shaking away those thoughts, Rachel asked Mary what else needed to be done.

“I think I’ll have Pat and Grandpa Paddy roast the hot dogs now. I’m sure everyone is getting a little hungry,” Mary replied as she hugged Melanie.

Sitting around the fire and balancing their paper plates in their laps, the family devoured their lunch. Conversation flowed as they shared old memories and made new ones. Rachel and Liam sat next to each other, and their arms occasionally brushed as they ate or talked.

“Liam, you should show Rachel that trail that leads to the other side of the lake,” Mary suggested as she started to gather up the plates after they had finished eating.

Liam turned to Rachel. “What do you think?”

“Mary, are you sure I can’t help you first?” Rachel asked, not wanting her to get stuck with all the cleanup.

“Oh no, it’s fine, dear,” Mary answered, giving Liam a slight nod.

“Well, okay then. Let me grab my gloves real quick, Liam,” Rachel said as she set off toward the RV where her luggage was stowed.

***

The ground crunched under their boots as they walked together at a steady pace to keep warm.

“This place is gorgeous. I can see why you guys all come out here,” Rachel said as they worked their way onto a small trail of flattened, worn ground. She guessed that animals heading to the lake had made it over the years.

“Yeah, it’s one of my favorite places.” When Liam took Rachel’s hand, she didn’t flinch or pull back. “I’m glad you came with us.”

She smiled, enjoying the quiet as they continued to walk hand in hand alongside the lake. Up close, she could spot layers of ice she hadn’t noticed before on the water. Along the way, Liam wrapped his hands around her waist to lift her over several old, decaying logs that had fallen in their path.

“God, you’re beautiful, Rachel,” Liam sighed, his voice heavy as he leaned in closer.

Rachel stood rigid but didn’t pull back. She told herself not to worry and not to think but just to let go and be in the moment.

The kiss was gentle, not rushed or demanding. The same current that had surged between them each time they had kissed returned, but this time it spread through her slowly, as if this kiss were seeking new meaning, new promises.

Liam pulled back slowly, took her hand again, and continued to guide her on the trail. As they reached the end near a small tributary that fed into the lake, Liam took a seat on a large fallen tree. Rachel watched him gaze at the landscape as he breathed slow and easy, clearly contented. She envied his calm. She had been rattled by their kiss. Though it wasn’t as passionate and wild as their previous kisses had been, it was still wonderful, but in a way Rachel couldn’t quite understand. She tried to seem as interested as Liam was in the beauty of the scene around them while her brain struggled to work out her feelings.

“Well, we probably should get back before they send a search party,” Liam said after they shared about twenty minutes of quiet reflection.

He extended his hand to help Rachel up, and they traveled back, exchanging comfortable conversation. Finally, Rachel realized what had been different about the kiss. This walk felt just like the time they had explored Birch Valley together. She had loved spending that time with him, and now she was finally able to accept that she needed to be with Liam. The only major roadblock now was how they would handle being a couple while working together. But if she wanted a relationship with him, she knew she needed to figure out a way around that obstacle.

***

As they approached the camp, Rachel heard lively music. Grandpa Paddy was singing an Irish folksong, his rich brogue bringing it to life. Rachel released Liam’s hand and instantly felt the loss of their connection.

“There they be. Mary almost had us call in the troops for you,” Grandpa Paddy declared before resuming his singing.

“Never mind him.” Mary shooed the old man away. “Rachel, did you enjoy the trail?”

“I did. It’s really breathtaking. This whole place is beautiful. Thank you for bringing me here.” She couldn’t help but look up at Liam.

Liam smiled at his mother as he gently placed his hand on the small of Rachel’s back. “You want anything to warm you up?” he asked her.

“I started a pot of coffee if you would care for some,” Mary said.

“That would be wonderful,” Rachel answered. Even though she was warm to her toes from kissing Liam, coffee was always welcome.

With Styrofoam cups in hand, the group sat around the fire again and listened to Grandpa Paddy sing. Rachel was in awe of his spectacular voice as it took her to a different place with green, rolling hills, a cold ocean crashing violently against cliffs, and an old world that was magical and alive with heritage.

Shortly thereafter, the kids all went back to the RVs for a nap, and Rachel studied Liam’s family in fond silence. Mary was huddled close to her husband’s side with her eyes closed and a contented smile on her face. Grandpa Paddy was lost in his music, his eyes teary as he sang. Daniel was oddly quiet and almost appeared lonely, and Patrick looked deep in thought as he stared off into the distance. Maggie clutched her cup and was staring at her husband, who seemed a million miles away as he kept raising his cell phone in frustration to try to locate a signal. Liam was humming along with Grandpa Paddy with his long legs extended toward the fire. He had that familiar look on his face of overall happiness and being content.

Even without speaking, the O’Briens shared a closeness, and Rachel could feel the love and security hovering over them. She had never had any moments like this with her family, had never felt that sensation of love and effortless togetherness. She realized then that being with Liam would also mean having a place among his family. Her heart squeezed with an odd longing when he put his hand on her knee and rubbed it lightly. The connection was instant.

The afternoon quickly transformed into night, and the air was cold without the cloud cover. The family had finished a dinner of stew and homemade biscuits, Rachel was washing dishes in one of the RVs, and the children were watching a movie in the sitting area nearby. Looking at their small faces mesmerized by the dancing characters on the screen, she couldn’t help but feel domestic and maternal in this homey setting. When she imagined herself being a mother, a thought she didn’t have often, she was surprised that it didn’t frighten her but filled her with longing instead.