Chapter 90 Setting the Wedding Date
By the time they finished, it was almost five o'clock.
Emma was roused by the weight of Liam's arm, which lay heavily across her chest.
"Liam." She nudged his arm.
He pulled his arm away, then wrapped it around her waist and pulled her into his embrace.
She drifted back to sleep, curling up face-to-face in his arms.
Nearly noon had come around before they got up.
They gathered in the dining room.
Liam sat down, holding Emma's hand.
Does she forgive me?
After dinner, they went out to the backyard together.
The men decided to build a bonfire in the fire pit.
The others sat under the gazebo on the patio, drinking coffee.
Emma looked at Liam, who looked every bit the teenager.
She had never seen him like this before.
Liam turned his head, his gaze locked onto hers.
The moment their eyes met, she hurriedly looked away.
The heat crept onto her cheeks.
She picked up her coffee cup, took a sip, and stole a glance at him.
He was still staring intently at her.
He then walked over, patted her on the shoulder, and sat down in the chair next to her.
He draped his arm over the back of her chair, picked up the half-empty coffee cup in front of her, and took a sip naturally.
Emma blushed.
"Liam, when does the company resume operations?" Eugene asked.
"Next Monday," Liam replied, nodding toward Howard across the table.
Howard smiled and nodded back.
"So, Emma works as a fashion designer at your company?" Eugene turned his gaze toward Emma.
"Grandpa, I just love designing," Emma interjected quickly, wanting to explain.
"I'm just curious. The city's top young tycoon, willing to stay at a single fashion company for a girl?" Eugene smiled.
"Emma's so innocent. I'm afraid she might get taken advantage of without realizing it," Liam said, raising his hand and slowly twirling a strand of Emma's silky hair around his finger.
"Wherever she goes, I go," he added.
Eleanor turned to Emma and asked, "When are you planning to have your wedding?"
"Yeah, I'd like to know that," Patricia chimed in.
Emma pursed her lips, a blush spreading across her face.
Stealing a glance at the man beside her, she said, "Let's wait until this busy period is over."
"That won't do. I'll talk to him later." Patricia lifted her chin.
"Don't. He's busy enough," Emma whispered.
"No matter how busy he is, the wedding has to happen," Patricia said.
"Set the date, and we'll handle the rest. All you two have to do is show up on the day of the wedding," Eleanor suggested.
Emma's cheeks flushed.
A warm hand rested on her shoulder.
"Mom, don't worry. The wedding is already being planned. We've set the date for the Fourth of July weekend," Liam said.
"Then we can rest easy!" Eleanor affirmed with a smile.
Eugene, standing nearby, nodded slightly.
Only Emma was flustered.
"Why are you so timid?" His hot breath brushed against her ear. "Your ears are all red."
Liam smirked triumphantly.
She picked up her cup and drank the coffee in one gulp.
Two days later, the group drove back to the city.
On the way, Emma's gaze kept drifting to the man driving beside her.
"Do you have something to tell me?" Liam asked, sensing her gaze.
"You said the wedding was set for the weekend of July 4th. Is that true?" she asked softly.
"I was planning to discuss it with you on your birthday. What do you think of that date?" His Adam's apple bobbed slightly.
His long fingers tapped lightly against the leather surface.
"Why did you choose that day?" Emma asked, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Sorry, I'd actually planned to do this sooner. The company's autonomous vehicle project is officially set to launch in May, and I'll be incredibly busy then. I might not have enough energy to prepare for it," he explained.
She frowned.
Isn't it too early to start planning now?
His company is launching a new product?!
I have to work harder to be a better match for him.
"Emma, be with me, and I'll never let you regret it," he said earnestly.
Her hands clenched, and her heart pounded.
"Mm-hmm," she replied softly.
"If you fall in love with me, remember to tell me," he continued.
Blushing, she fell into silence.
"Emma?"
"Hmm?"
"You've fallen in love with me, haven't you?" He pressed on.
She smiled and turned to look out the window.
Yes.
Seeing that she wasn't speaking, his shoulders sank.