Liam blinked several times, attempting to process the demand just tossed his way.

The dance?

Emma's eyes kept wavering as she struggled to hold his gaze. Her cheeks were red and she was abusing her full bottom lip with her teeth.

Liam had to admit she painted a damn cute picture as she sat there letting him know what she wanted. He was happy that she felt comfortable enough with him to do so. But......

The dance?

Liam had just opened up to her and poured his heart out more than he ever had before and she was worried about a dance?

"I don't go to social dances," Liam grumbled. He'd been to three of them in his life and he hated each of them.

Women batting their lashes, fawning over the bachelors like lovesick mares in heat hoping to snatch a husband. Men boasting and bragging. Gossips waggling their tongues. Crowds. Noise..... No. Liam hated social dances.

"Oh..." Emma's face fell. "If course. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have blurted it out like that."

"Don't," Liam scolded gently. "Don't make apologies and excuses for asking for something."

"Okay..." Emma mumbled, lowering her gaze.

Liam sighed. "I hate those dances, Emma. I don't like being around a lot of people."

"Okay," Emma repeated, her voice stronger. "Really, Liam. It's okay."

Liam frowned. He put his finger under her chin and lifted her gaze to his. She seemed to be alright. "If I was the type of man who went to dances, I wouldn't take anyone but you," he offered.

A shaky smile curved Emma's cheeks and before Liam could stop himself, he leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. Liam's heart was pounding and his hands were shaking as he pulled away.

Holy hell.... He'd kissed women before.. but never in twenty-seven years of life had he felt anything like what that tiny brushing of lips did to him.

Emma's brown eyes slowly opened and the surprise in them was obvious. "Don't ever think you aren't special to me, Emma..." Liam assured her, his voice tight. "You are. I've never felt like this before."

She licked her trembling lip. "Me either."

Liam felt a strong urge to kiss her again but resisted. He needed to give Emma time—hell, give himself time—before he went too far.

Standing slowly, Liam pulled Emma to her feet. "Let's get you out of this cold."

Liam held out his arm and Emma once again looped hers through. He held her closer to his side as they made their way to the boarding house. Once at the door, Liam pressed a tender kiss to her hair, breathing in the lavender scent before distancing himself.

As they stepped into the kitchen, Liam rolled his eyes. His aunt was standing there with a knowing gleam in her eyes and a grin on her face.

"Did you have a nice talk?"

Liam noticed Emma's face flame red. "I believe I cleared up a few things," Liam replied.

"Well, that's good," Anita winked. "Emma, sweetheart, since your sewing lessons haven't helped much, we'll try cooking today."

"I....I can sew a little..." Emma muttered, clearly embarrassed.

Liam chuckled. "Baking," he stated. "Let her bake." He knew that his aunt did her best to teach her girls skills to help them earn money. "Emma made me the best apple pie I've ever eaten. Better than yours, Aunt Anita, and that's saying something."

Anita pursed her lips at her nephew before turning her attention to Emma. "You bake?"

It was clear Emma was unsure how to take Liam's praise as she flushed. "I made Liam a pie."

"And I would gladly pay for another," Liam spoke up, enjoying the way Emma's eyes lit up. "I'd be willing to bet other people would too."

"I wouldn't make you pay me for a pie," she whispered.

Liam smiled down at her. He let his fingertips dance across her cheek, remembered he had an audience and headed for the door. "I'll see you around, Emma."

Liam quickly made his way down the road, eager to escape before his aunt did something to embarrass him. He was caught off-guard when he was stopped on the boardwalk by Sally.

"Have you been to see Emma?"

Liam looked down at the blond. She'd' been living with Anita for three years and she liked butting in other's business. Usually Liam hated people like her, but, she was practically family, so, Liam usually put up with her.

"Yeah, I did and I was on my way home."

Liam attempted to get around her but she stood her ground. "Did she tell you about the dance?"

"She mentioned it," Liam replied, wishing he could hear the last about that dance.

"Did she happen to mention how much going to that dance would mean to her?"

Liam frowned. "No...."

Sally rolled her eyes. "Men sure are ignorant. She has never been to a dance, Liam. She was kept locked up in that mountain shack and never experienced anything. She is dying to dress up and hear the music and do something that she would have never been able to do had she not escaped."

Liam grumbled. "Then she can go," he muttered. Hellfire, he wasn't her keeper. She didn't need his permission.

Sally took a deep breath as if to calm her temper. "Since this is new to you, I'm going to help you with your love life just this once," she graciously offered.

Liam glared at her. "Please don't."

Sally seemed unfazed. "Emma is doing well at Anita's. She truly is. She's learning things and beginning to come out of her shell a bit. But she's scared. She's scared of people, of crowds, of too much noise. The smallest bit of yelling terrifies her and she nearly leaps out of her skin if people accidently bump her on the street.

"But you, you make her feel safe. She has put a lot of faith in you, Liam McIntyre, whether or not either of you realize that. Emma won't go to the dance without you, but, I think it would be selfish of you to let that happen just because you don't like dances."

"Are you done?" Liam grumbled.

"Yes."

"You're awful damn pushy."

"And you're awful damn blind, stubborn and set in your ways. But it's okay. I heard that Clarence Tackett was thinking of wooing Emma. Maybe she'll feel safe with him too and he'll take her dancing."

Liam felt jealousy, a new emotion for him, burn to life in his gut. Clarence Tackett? That near-sighed bastard needed to keep his hands to himself and off of what belonged to Liam.

If the dance meant so much to Emma, why the hell hadn't she said so? Liam was no damn good at reading subtleties. He needed her to tell him what she wanted, and if it was something that meant a lot to her, she needed to make sure he understood that.

He was man enough to admit he'd do just about anything to make her happy—that smile of hers was a masterpiece.

Without another word, Liam turned and strode back to the boarding house. He entered the kitchen and Emma looked up from the pie crust she was rolling out.

Liam smiled, unable to stop himself from doing so as he took in the sight of her with flour on her nose. "Yes," he stated.

Emma frowned as Anita and Lauren shared a smile. "What are you talking about?" she asked.

Liam shrugged. "Yes. I'll take you to the dance."

The smile that lit up Emma's face had her shining like a diamond and Liam nearly swallowed his tongue. "Yep... well.. I'll see you then," he stammered before stumbling out the door and feeling as awkward and nervous as a school boy.

But he was a nervous schoolboy with a smile.... Maybe this dance wouldn't be so bad—the company would definitely be better.