right.” Her voice was weak, unrecognizable. She supposed that was how you sounded when you were the greatest dunderhead in Creation. She took his hand and wondered how many months – or years – she’d be mad at herself for not giving him a proper chance.
Liam led her into the street where others were attempting to dance. This was Clear Creek and the townsfolk were used to doing what they wanted when it came to dancing. So much for the lessons.
“I noticed Benedict is playing,” Liam commented. “I’m still surprised at how good he is.”
“Tell that to Merritt. She’s fuming.” She didn’t mean to say that, but she had to converse about something. If she was smart, she’d have this dance and avoid him the rest of the evening. But her heart screamed she should spend every waking moment she could with him before he left. Speaking of which … “When do you plan to leave?”
“Clear Creek?”
She nodded, unable to speak further.
“I meant to tell you yesterday, but you fell ill and disappeared.”
She half-smiled. “I decided to go lie down in my parents’ wagon for the rest of the evening.”
“That couldn’t have been fun. I looked for you … and, well, to answer your question, tomorrow.”
She stopped cold. “So soon?”
“I leave on the afternoon train. Mr. Van Cleet told me one’s coming south tomorrow with a special order of ice.”
“So soon?” She took a shuddering breath and covered her mouth. She thought she’d have time, at least enough to say goodbye and convince herself this was all for the best. She’d go to England and …
“Adele!”
She didn’t remember moving, but found herself running down the street toward the other end of town. She heard footfalls behind her. It had to be Liam. She stopped in front of Mulligan’s, turned and let him catch up.
He almost ran her over. “Adele, what’s wrong?”
There were no lanterns here, no torches lighting up the street. She let a few tears fall. “Liam, go back.”
“But Adele …”
“Please!”
He took her by the upper arms. “Adele, sweetheart, have I done something? Have I upset you?”
Her jaw dropped. “Upset me?” She laughed.
“Adele?”
She heard the hysteria in his voice and bit her lip to stop cackling. He probably thought she’d gone mad, and maybe she had. Did he just pull her into his arms? She blinked at his chin, then up at his eyes. Even in the darkness she could tell they were filled with concern and something else. “You’re leaving,” she stated.
“Yes, I know. I have business to take care of.”
She squinted at him. “Business?”
He took a breath, smiled and nodded. “Doc Drake gave me the idea. There’s an engineering firm in San Francisco I submitted some of my work to before I graduated college. They liked it and wanted to arrange a meeting with me, but I hadn’t done it until now. I wired them earlier today, and they replied and said come on down.”
Her face fell. “I’m happy for you.”
He drew her closer. “Adele, I’ve wanted to talk to you about this, but I needed to make sure I could provide for you first.”
She stared into his eyes. They were so close her head was tilted back. Wait, what did he say? “Whaaat?”
“It’s the perfect solution. I can have the best of both worlds!”
She continued to stare at him. “Wait. Back up. I missed something.”
“Adele darling, these past couple of weeks have opened my eyes.”
She was still confused. “What do you see now that you didn’t before?”
“You.” Before she knew it, he’d brought his lips to hers.
The kiss was gentle, sweet and long overdue. How many years had she squandered? How many did she not have to be alone? And now he was leaving – and so happy about it! She struggled against him, breaking the kiss. “Liam!” How dare he kiss her like this and leave tomorrow! She turned her head away. “What are you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m kissing you! Can’t you see I’m in love with you?”
“Oh, my,” she heard Father say somewhere in the darkness. “Well, that explains it.”
Good grief, who else was watching them from the shadows? But a lot was still unexplained to her. “How can you say that? How can you say you’re in love with me tonight and leave me tomorroooooooo …” She fell to bits right there, sobbing and banging her forehead against Liam’s chest.
Liam ignored the whispers in the dark and waited until she calmed down. “Adele, listen. I’m going to San