Free Stitches in Time by Diana Hunter Page A

Seamus’ voice, he dared not look up for fear of seeing those wings in reality.
    “Aye, that’s the way, man. Gentle her. She’s like a hurt wild bird, she is.”
    Maggie broke the kiss, swallowing hard. Barely able to breathe, she sought his eyes as she faced her truths. “If I don’t take the company and keep it in the family, then who would? He would have to sell it or he would be forced to work until he dies. Neither is an option I can allow.”
    Her eyes searched his and Liam understood she wanted an answer. She only saw the two options; did he have a third?
    “Perhaps he can find someone to sell it to he would trust.” He took a deep breath and ventured deep, keeping his hands around her waist. “Someone like me.”
    “You?” Maggie took a step back.
    “What’s wrong with me? I know the company inside and out. I’m good at what I do—very good . You saw last night. Strange as it may seem, I am not content to stay where I am the rest of my life. I already decided I’d stay for another three years because of the expansion your father is doing—I want to see that through. But then I plan to leave and start my own business.”
    “And if I weren’t there to take over for my father…”
    “Then I’d consider staying.” He sighed. “No, never mind. It wouldn’t work.”
    “Why not?” The more Maggie considered Liam in her father’s position, the more she saw the advantages. She was privy to her father’s counsel and knew he thought of Liam as his right hand.
    “Because I’ve set aside enough money to start up a business, not to buy one that’s well-established.” His eyes narrowed. “Unless…”
    He shot a glance at the tapestry.
    “Oh, no, boy-o. No pot o’ gold here. That’s a fairy tale told by them pesky creatures to get us leprechauns in trouble. Sorry, but there’s no money to be had from me.”
    Maggie followed his glance. “How can the tapestry help? Even if we find the other piece and I do restore it, selling it still wouldn’t be enough.”
    Liam’s shoulders slumped. “I know.”
    But Maggie wasn’t ready to give up so easily. For the first time since her brother’s death, she saw a way out—a way to please both herself and her father. Liam Finnerty was the perfect person to take over the company—and she was going to make sure he did.
    She backed away and put her hands on her hips. “Liam…what’s your middle name?”
    He frowned at her non sequitur. “Patrick, why?”
    “Liam Patrick Finnerty , if you don’t have more confidence than that, then you’ll never get my father’s company. If you’re really serious, and I mean really, really serious, then I will help you make it happen.”
    She smiled at his look of astonishment and let her hands drop down. “Liam, you’re right. I don’t want to work for my father and I don’t want to own the company. I want to find a quiet museum or a nice antiquities bureau somewhere, and restore ancient art to my heart’s content.” She laughed out loud for the first time in ages. “It may not be glamorous, and I’ll never have a position out front, but that’s just fine with me.”
    Liam had never heard her laugh. Like long, deep wind chimes, softly sounding on a warm summer’s night, their tones pealing through the darkness, her laughter sang in his heart and he knew his course. With a resolute step, he swept her into his arms and kissed her soundly.
    She yielded to him, to the strength in his arms, to the force of his tongue on her lips. Sliding her hands along his forearms, she reveled in the firm muscles bunched under his skin. Her hands slid up and around his neck, feeling freer than she had ever felt before. His tongue slid into her mouth and she tasted him with hunger reawakened.
    This time Liam broke the kiss as he stepped back long enough to scoop her up in his arms. “Maggie Andrews, I want to hear you laugh again.”
    She couldn’t hold it in. Her startled exclamation turned into a full-throated laugh;