Change My Mind (Liam Payne Fiction)

Chapter 7

Aria rolled her eyes after what seemed to be the billionth time her grandmother apologized to Liam.  Throughout lunch, she kept thinking he’s just a guy, not the pope, in an attempt to telepathically send the message to her grandmother, but the older woman was oblivious and kept gushing over him that Aria thought her grandmother was going to start feeding him herself.  It didn’t help that Liam knew how charming he was and did his best to keep her grandmother under his spell. 

Aine Byrne was acting that way because she was simply ecstatic that the business opportunity with Liam gave their family a lot of financial breathing room.  Because he was paying them a substantial amount of money for the riding lessons and its confidentiality, they can hire another person to do Aria’s chores on weekday mornings, and they didn’t have to start their spring riding program until after school was over.  Now her granddaughter can concentrate on her studies, and teach the lad to ride a horse only on weekends. 

Aine can see Aria rolling her eyes at her, but she ignored her granddaughter. She wanted Aria to act her age before her teenage years were over.  The 18-year old was wise beyond her years because she was forced to take on certain responsibilities that should’ve been her parents’.  While girls her age were going to the mall, watching movies, and dating, Aria stayed home to study, take care of Max, and help around the ranch. 

“You don’t need to keep apologizing, Grams,” Aria informed her grandmother as she started to clear the table.  “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Mr. Payne’s ego remains intact.  My yelling obviously didn’t do any damage.”  And my insults to classy and delicate to register in his tiny brain, she added to herself. 

Liam just looked at Aria, but she noticed the corners of his mouth twitch nearly into a grin, as if he found her formal use of his last name to be entertaining.  He waited until Mrs. Byrne exited the dining room to go upstairs and give Max a bath. 

“I see you’re a little unhappy about you being the only one who dislikes me in this household,” he said in a teasing tone.  A tone, Aria noted, that was almost exactly the same as the one she herself used when intentionally trying to annoy someone. 

How dare this guy. 

“It’s my charm,” he continued, without even trying to hide his air of condescension.  “There aren’t a lot of people who can resist it, Miss Byrne.”  Then, he made a gesture that seemed as if he was waving their differences aside.  “But I’m here now, so let’s get down to business.” 

“Oh, we will get down to business, Mr. Payne.  Pray that you’re man enough to handle it.” 

Liam gave her a slow smile.  He took a step closer and noticed that he towered over her.  When she lifted her head and looked him straight in the eye, he was taken aback by how blue her eyes were were that for a minute, he couldn’t think about anything but the Caribbean Sea water. 

He quickly replaced the relaxing ocean thoughts with scary erupting volcano ones.  “Miss Byrne,” he said matter-of-factly.  "I am man enough.” 

When Aria took a step closer and placed her hands on his chest, Liam found his breath caught in his throat.  For a brief moment that he attributed to temporary insanity, he thought she was going to kiss him. 

But then she laughed and pushed him away.  “Good!  Now that that’s settled, meet me in the stables in about half an hour.” 

********

Two hours later, Liam straightened up and wiped the sweat off his forehead.  Aria left him about half an hour ago to shower and change for a friend’s birthday dinner, and he was left alone to muck the stalls after she showed him the ropes.  He didn’t want to do it at first, thinking it was a waste of time. He didn’t see the logic behind it since he was only there to learn how to ride, but Aria explained that it was important.  She said that doing the chore would make it easier for him to read horses and establish a partnership with them, so he conceded and got to work.