Chapter 55

And with her final words said, Maggie hung up the phone and all but ran to the door, where Liam grabbed her and hugged her to him.

He had been watching through the big window and knew she was kicking Jason’s ass—that cheeky, smart mouth that he loved about her.

He was worried when he saw tears on her cheeks, and it took everything he had not to rush in and save her.

But he knew she could handle herself and needed to clear out her baggage before they got married and started their amazing life together.

“Are you okay, darling? Are you hurt? Do you need anything?” Liam asked in a rush.

Maggie wiped her face and shook her head. “I’m fine now that I am with you! Let’s leave this place and never come back!”

“Your wish is my command!” he said as he thanked the deputy. They left with his arm wrapped protectively around her.

He got in the car and started driving, letting her relax. They sat in silence as he drove, and Maggie noticed that they were not heading home.

“Liam, where are we going? I am not in the mood for seeing anyone or doing anything.”

“I know. That’s why I called the marina and had them quickly stock the boat with some food. We are heading out. It’s going to be just us and the ocean until tomorrow night. Is that okay?”

“Babe, that is perfect! I love you for thinking of this! I just wish I had my bathing suit.”

“I packed a bag first thing this morning.”

She leaned over and put her head on his shoulder as they arrived. He pulled in, parked, and walked with her to their boat.

An attendant was waiting to help them pull away and promised Liam that someone would be back at their spot to help get them tied off when they arrived back the next night.

Liam helped Maggie onto the large, luxury boat and she sat on a bench, watching the two men work to get the lines put away.

Maggie noticed their two large coolers tied down over to the side.

She went over and opened the lid. They were filled with all their favorite foods, and she wondered how much Liam had to slip someone under the table for that favor.

She sat back down as Liam started the engine and the man pushed them off.

Liam guided them out of the marina and out to the Inner-Coastal Waterway, following the no-wake zone rules as they moved along.

Maggie went over to Liam and kissed him. He held her with one arm and used the other to steer. They finally made their way to the outlet and out onto the vast water.

Liam ramped up the motors and they flew along the water until he found a spot away from the boating lanes and dropped anchor.

He pulled her to him and they went to lie down on the bed under the deck. He wrapped his arms around her, smoothed her hair down, and kissed her neck.

“If you want to talk about it, I am here to listen, Maggie.”

Maggie sighed, feeling content in his arms, and told him what happened with Olivia and all the things she said to Jason. Liam was proud of her for standing up for herself and said as much.

She thanked him, snuggling closer to him, inhaling deeply his unique scent that drove her wild. It was a combination of his body wash, his cologne, and his natural manly scent.

She never tired of it, and with her hormones going crazy, she usually wanted to jump him for a round of hot sex, which he loved to accommodate every time she asked.

But today had wiped her out emotionally, and she quickly fell asleep.

Liam let her sleep and went up on top and put away everything in the coolers. He cut up the veggies and opened the hummus dip she loved.

He arranged a few other things, grabbed a beer, and went out to the back of the boat, where he just relaxed, thinking about the last week.

He was glad it was almost over and prayed that they could put it behind them and move on. Based on the things she told him about her conversations, he thought that was a good possibility.

Maggie awoke about an hour later, feeling much better and refreshed. She saw their duffle bag on the little chair by the bed and went up to find Liam sitting, drinking a beer, and staring out to sea.

She hoped that he wasn’t rethinking their relationship and quietly walked up behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“Have a good nap, darling?” Liam asked as he pulled her around and sat her on his lap.

“It was nice, I really needed that…”

“Are you okay?”

“I think so... I’m just... I…”

“What, Maggie? You can tell me anything, you know that.”

“I’m just worried that you might be tired of dealing with my fucked-up past and call off our wedding…”

“You don’t have to marry me; you could easily just break it off and we figure out a custody agreement…

“You are so smart, sexy, and amazing. You could have anyone and I still don’t understand why you chose me!”

“Maggie, how many times do I have to tell you, I love you, and I am never going to leave you! Your past is just that, your past.

“I don’t care what happened other than that past brought you to me, and I am so grateful that it did!

“I helped take care of Olivia and Jason because I know you wouldn’t want their child to suffer because of their mistakes.

“You have the most amazing, giving, and compassionate heart, and that’s one of the reasons that I love you so much. Not only are you beautiful and smart, but you have this way about you that drives me crazy! Your cheeky mouth and feisty personality keep me tied in knots.

“I love the way you make me feel and how you feel when you are sleeping next to me. And then there is the way you feel when I am inside of you. You have made me a different man, and I like being this way.

“So I am never letting you go, no matter what comes out of your past or mine! I love you so much, Maggie Sloan, and I can’t wait to marry you and meet our child!”

Maggie started crying at the beginning of his speech and was all but sobbing by the end of it. He spoke with such heart and emotion, she believed every word he said.

She leaned in and kissed him, letting him know that she understood. Liam wove his fingers in her hair and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss.

She felt her stomach clench as he lifted her up and carried her to the lower deck and the bedroom. Liam undressed her, and they made love for hours, expressing their feelings without words.