Fireproof (Book 4 in the No Control Series)

The minute Liam and Liz pull up at the villa, Antonia and Rosa are at the car retrieving the kids from their car seats. Liz watches as they cuddle her children. At times, Liz feels bad that her children only have one set of grandparents. Although watching Antonio and Rosa with them now, she realizes they most definitely have some honorary grandparents.
Liam snakes his arm around Liz’s waist, giving her a kiss on the cheek, “It’s good to be back.”
Liz smiles. “Yes it is, Handsome. We needed this.”

The next day while the kids are napping, Liam meets with Antonio to discuss any maintenance the property requires. Rosa and Liz have coffee together out by the pool. Liz fills Rosa in on the latest with the Harry situation.
“You think this is the end of it?” Rosa asks.
“I don’t know. He’s definitely different this time. I think he finally accepted that I won’t leave Liam.”
“Are you happy that it’s over?” Rosa asks cautiously.
Liz takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Is it horrible that a small part of me is sad?”
Rosa smiles. “You care about him. That’s not horrible”
“Oh Rosa, I’m such a mess. What the hell is wrong with me?”
“Do you love Harry?”
“I loveLiam. I can tell you every reason why I love him and why we belong together. I know with every part of me that I would give my life for him.”
“And Harry?”
“I can’t explain any of it. I think the problem is I want to put it all in a neat little box of understanding. The fact that I can’t, makes it hard for me.”
Rosa grins. “Why don’t we go see Lucia? I’m sure she could help you understand Harry’s place in your life.”
Liz smiles. “Let’s go see her tomorrow. She can help me with my feelings for Harry.”
When Liam walked in the bedroom he could hear voices outside. Unfortunately, the only part he caught was that last sentence.

Liz is confused by Liam’s silence during dinner. They’re both human, they get moody sometimes but tonight feels different.
“Are you okay, Handsome?”
He doesn’t meet her eyes. “I’m fine.”
Liz’s heart physically hurts. He’s never been so cold to her before.
After dinner, while Liam plays with the kids, Liz bakes his favorite cookies. When Liam sees them, he gives her a kiss on her forehead. “Thank you, Beautiful. I’m not really hungry though.”
Normally Liz would comment “Are you hungry for something else?” but that doesn’t seem appropriate at the moment.
After putting the kids to bed, Liz finds Liam standing out by the pool. Her breath catches as she sees her handsome husband; his features highlighted by the full moon. She leans against the door frame, too overwhelmed by her love for him to even move.
Liam finally realizes she’s there. “What are you doing, Liz?”
She smiles. “I was just overwhelmed by how much I love my handsome husband.”
Liam frowns. “Oh really?”
Liz approaches him. ‘Have I done something to upset you, Liam?”
He looks out at the distant vineyard, not meeting her eyes.
She touches his bicep. “Liam, please, we always tell each other everything.”
He turns to face her. “Do we?”
“Obviously I’ve done something to upset you. I don’t like it when you’re angry with me. Please, Liam.” The tears rimming her eyes threaten to spill over.
When Liam sees this, he melts. Pulling her into his arms, he says, “Please don’t cry, Beautiful.”
She looks up into his eyes and he wipes away the tears.
“What have I done, Liam?”
He gazes out over the top of her head, enable to face her as he says it. “I didn’t mean to but I overheard you with Rosa today. I heard you say you have feelings for Harry. Just when I thought all that was over-”
“Liam” Liz interrupts. “I promise you misunderstood. Let’s sit down and talk.”

Liz opens a bottle of wine while Liam builds a fire. As they sit together in front of the fireplace, Liz explains. “It’s not what you think, Liam. I wasn’t saying I’m in love with Harry or that I want to be with him. I guess the reason I want to see Lucia is so she can explain to me what the purpose of Harry’s feelings for me were.”
“Purpose?” Liam asks.
“The whole situation hurt all of us...you, me and Harry. So why did we have to go through that? Lucia seems to understand people’s connections; like she did with us.”
“Liz, sometimes you just have to accept that you won’t understand everything that happens in your life.”
“I know you’re right, Liam. For some reason I feel strongly about needing to understand my connection to Harry.”
Liam looks down.
Liz touches his thigh. “Not like that. It's not something I can explain.” She lifts his chin until his dark eyes find hers. “I do know without a doubt that you are the only man I love. The only man I want in my bed and the only man I want to spend the rest of my life with. I love you, Liam, only you.”
Liam takes her hand, entwining their fingers. “I love you, Liz, only you.”
“Will you come with me tomorrow, to see Lucia?” Liz asks.
“Are you sure you want me there?”
“I’m sure. I want you and I to be able to put all this behind us, together.”

Notes