Pulse of my Heart

"Would you give me a hand?" her mother popped the button on the key to open the trunk."Sure, " Allie made her way to the back of the car. Inside the trunk was an assortment of dishes in boxes Grace prepared the night before. It looked to Allie as if her mother planned on feeding an army. A noise behind her brought Allie's head around swiftly. There stood a brawny looking man well over six feet with midnight black hair and the greenest eyes she'd ever seen on a person.
This was the first time in a year another man held her interest for more than a few seconds. The stranger looked ruggedly appealing, somehow managing to invade the shell she placed as protection around her heart. She felt as if someone knocked the wind from her chest and it was hard for her to breathe."Grace, I've come out to give you a hand, " his deep husky voice held the rich sound of an Irish lilt."Oh, thank you, Liam, " her mother greeted him.
"Liam O'Shea, this is my other daughter, Allie Taylor.""It's nice meeting you, Allie Taylor, " the huskiness was still in his voice, but now she noted a gentle tone, as well."And you, Liam O'Shea, " she answered, feeling her pulse rise. She couldn't explain the strange reaction she was having to him. It felt as if the fog she'd been in for a year was slowly lifting and a patch of sunshine filled her thoughts."Liam, take the heaviest boxes at the back of the trunk inside and we'll carry the others, " Grace tried not to show approval for the way Allie was responding to Liam's gentleness.
She wanted her daughter to open up and find happiness again after such a long drought. After Liam lifted the boxes, he walked toward the farm house just ahead of the two women. Allie couldn't take her eyes off his muscular frame. It was so long since she'd found anyone else this attractive, other than Jake, and she felt waves of guilt swishing through her. Even with the guilt, she couldn't stop her emotional response to this giant Irishman.
Once inside, Allie followed Liam and her mother into the kitchen where her grandmother was looking into the oven door checking the delicious smelling turkey. When she turned and saw Allie, she reached out and hugged her granddaughter. "Oh, Allie, you've made me so happy today. We're going to have a lovely dinner and socialize afterwards. I've missed you.