Chapter 6

"Okay," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

Liam's face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. 

"Great!" he exclaimed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. 

"I'll set the table in the dining room. Seven o'clock?"

Samantha nodded, feeling this weird fluttery thing in her chest. She turned to make a quick escape, but Liam's voice caught her.

"Samantha?"

She turned back, her heart racing with anticipation. 

"Yeah?"

Liam's eyes locked onto hers, and he took this step closer that made her feel like he was invading her personal space. 

"I promise I won't bite," he whispered, his voice low and husky.

Samantha's cheeks went up in flames, and she felt this spark of electricity run through her body. She turned and hightailed it out of the kitchen, Beatrice still snuggled in her arms, before she could make a total fool of herself.

As she reached the safety of her room, she let out this deep breath and tried to calm her racing heart. What had she just gotten herself into?

The hours ticked by at a glacial pace, and Samantha found herself glancing at the clock every few minutes. She tried to focus on getting Beatrice ready for bed, but her mind kept wandering back to Liam and their dinner plans.

Finally, the clock struck seven, and Samantha made her way downstairs, her heart pounding in her chest like a drum. She took this deep breath, smoothed out her dress, and pushed open the dining room door.

Liam stood up, this smile spreading across his face, and Samantha's heart skipped another beat. The room was dimly lit, with candles flickering on the table, casting this warm, golden glow over everything.

"Wow," Samantha breathed, feeling like she'd stepped into some kind of fairy tale.

Liam chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. 

"I thought we deserved a little romance," he said, pulling out her chair.

“Romance?” She thought as she sat down.

Well, this is about to be an interesting night,she thought again.

As they sat down to eat, Liam couldn't help but steal glances at Samantha, who looked stunning in the candlelight. He felt a pang of guilt for noticing her in that way, but he couldn't deny the attraction he felt.

As they began to eat, Liam cleared his throat, his voice low and husky. 

"Samantha, I asked you to join me in dinner because I have something to tell you,” he started.

Samantha looked up to face and met his gaze instead, making her to almost choke on her food.

"Of course, sir. What is it?"

"Please, call me Liam," he said, smiling warmly. Samantha nodded, trying to play it cool despite the rapid flutter in her chest.

“What is it you wanted to tell me,...Liam?” She asked.

Liam took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. 

"I know this may sound weird, but I have to be honest. I like you, Samantha. A lot. Your gentle nature, the way you care for Beatrice, the warmth you've brought to my home...I don't know how or when it started, but I feel it deeply.”

Samantha's eyes widened in surprise, and she looked like she'd been punched in the gut. 

"I...I don't know what to say, Liam," she stammered.

"I know, it's unexpected. Take all the time you need to process this," he said with a gentle smile, before taking a bite of his steak.

But Samantha's heart was beating really fast. She was too shocked to even continue her meal.

“Please eat. I made this meal specially for tonight since it's a special night,” Liam said when he looked up and noticed she wasn't eating.

Samantha poked at her food, the silence between them making her skin crawl. She tried to hurry through her meal, but her haste ended in a embarrassing choke. 

Liam sprang into action, his chair scraping against the floor as he rushed to her side. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, and thumped her back with a firm hand. 

Samantha's eyes watered as she gasped for air. Finally, the food dislodged, and Samantha gasped, her lungs burning. She looked up, her eyes locking onto Liam's, their faces inches apart. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the air thick with tension.

Liam's eyes dropped to her lips, and Samantha's heart skipped a beat. She felt like she was melting into his gaze, unable to escape the attraction that pulsed between them. 

Suddenly, Liam's face dropped a little lower, his breath whispering against her skin. Samantha's pulse racing, she wondered if he was going to kiss her. 

Again.

She closed her eyes, waiting for the impact of his lips against hers but just as they were about to meet, a loud wail pierced the air, shattering the moment.

Samantha immediately jumped to her feet. 

"It's Beatrice," Samantha said, already halfway out of the dining room before Liam could respond. 

Samantha rushed upstairs, still reeling from the almost-kiss encounter. She scooped up wailing Beatrice and began to nurse her, the baby's cries softening into contented coos.

As Beatrice nursed, Samantha's mind began to wander back to the dinner table. What would have happened if Beatrice hadn't interrupted them? She felt a flutter in her chest as she imagined Liam's lips on hers. 

"Samantha, stop it," she scolded herself, trying to shake off the fantasy. 

"He's your boss, for crying out loud!" 

But the memory of Liam's dark eyes and gentle smile lingered.

Before long, Beatrice's eyelids drooped, and she drifted off to sleep. Samantha carefully laid her back in her cot, tiptoeing out of the room to avoid disturbing her. Downstairs, she expected to find a mess of dishes, but Liam had beaten her to it. 

Samantha retreated to her room, to take a warm shower. She slipped into a soft nightgown, the fabric whispering against her skin. 

As she climbed into bed, sleep beckoned, drawing her into a world of dreams and fantasy.