Liza closed her eyes. “Of course he is.”

“Your car’s not outside, so Tom won’t know you’re here. I didn’t want you blindsided.”

“Thank you. I can duck upstairs while he’s here.” But then Rafe winced again. “What?”

“I might have invited him to eat pizza with us.”

Liza’s temper popped. “Dammit, Rafe.”

“I’m sorry! It sounded like a good idea at the time. He doesn’t know you’re here. I promise.”

“When will he get here?” A knock at the front door was her answer. “Fucking hell, Rafe.”

Rafe sighed. “I am sorry. I shouldn’t have done it. But I do need help with the tables. I didn’t make that up. You can go upstairs if you need to and I’ll take him out for pizza.”

A dog barked and Liza’s resolve crumbled. “He brought Pebbles. Just . . . open the door.”

Rafe did and Tom stepped in, his expression going slack in surprise. So at least Rafe hadn’t lied about not telling him that she was here. Pebbles took advantage of Tom’s distraction to tug her leash from Tom’s hand and lunge at Liza.

“Whoa,” Liza soothed, gently shoving Pebbles’s massive paws from her chest. She crouched when the dog dropped to all fours, wrapping her arms around Pebbles’s neck and burying her face in the dog’s fur. “Missed you,” she whispered, laughing when Pebbles licked her face.

“I’ll . . .” Rafe hesitated. “Those tables are in the garage, Tom.”

But Tom wasn’t listening, his gaze frozen on Liza’s face. “Can I talk to you?”

“Me?” Rafe asked.

Liza sighed. “No, he’s not talking to you. He’s talking to me. Like you didn’t know.”

Rafe looked uncomfortable. “You should go back with the girls, Liza. Tom, let’s get busy.”

Tom took a step forward, his gaze still locked with Liza’s. “Please.”

Liza opened the garage door. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”

Tom crossed the space in two long strides. He closed the door in Rafe’s face before descending the single step into the garage, where Liza had retreated to the far wall, leaning against the hood of Sasha’s hot pink car.

“I didn’t see your car outside,” Tom said.

“I got a ride.”

“Oh.” Tom’s throat worked as he swallowed. He approached warily, his eyes on hers.

She took a few steps back, stopping when she hit the wall. “Is there an issue with Sunny—” She cut herself off, not knowing who could overhear. “With my job application? I already told Raeburn about my interview. Have you heard anything?”

“No, this isn’t about that place. Liza, are you afraid of me?”

Liza frowned. “No. Why would you ask me that?”

“Because you’re standing as far away from me as you can. I can’t . . . I couldn’t handle it if you were afraid of me.”

Liza hated seeing the apprehension on his handsome face. “I’m not afraid of you, Tom. It’s just best if I keep my distance.”

“Why?” he asked, the single syllable sounding tortured.