A representative from Winnie’s publishing house showed up, and I took a step back to let them talk shop. Glancing at my phone, I realized the class I wanted to take Liam to started in three minutes. We had to hurry if we were going to make it.
“Come on—class is starting.” I snatched the map of the convention center off the corner of Winnie’s desk. She smiled to let me know she was okay with us going for an hour. I gave her a thumbs-up and mouthed, You got this. She did. She just needed to own her awesomeness. Three sessions and I could have her strutting through this place like the rock star she was—if only she’d take a seat on my therapy couch.
Liam walked a half step behind me. His hesitancy was normal in a new situation—and endearing. I was finally getting a look at the real Liam, and what I saw was … refreshing. His showman personality commanded a room, but this Liam, the one who was in his own head, was much more comfortable to be around.
The main ballroom had a concrete floor, but when we got to the hall where classrooms were set up, a thick, horribly patterned, multicolored carpet softened our steps and helped keep noise down for instructors.
I glanced over and saw him rub his jaw. He used to do that when he was thinking hard, and I couldn’t help but ask, “What’s going on in that noggin?”
He eyed me. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Ah. He was really uncomfortable. I was beginning to learn that flirting was a coping mechanism for him.
I laughed. “Yes. I would. But it’s so funny that you said that, because my mom bought me a tee shirt when I was in college that had a cartoon of a man on a therapist’s couch saying that same thing.”
He chuckled. “I bet you wore that thing out.”
I blushed. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” I flinched. Was I flirting back?
Liam opened his mouth in shock before he chuckled and held out his arm. “My dad gave me this watch when I graduated high school,” he said as he tapped its face a few times.
I could hear the reverence in his voice, and it made my heart swell slightly. I knew what it was like to treasure items. “The fact that you still wear it says how much he means to you.”
He paused, and for a moment, I wanted to discover what that was about. It was as if there were something more to the McKnight family than what he was leading on. But then he nodded and tucked his hands into his pockets, and the moment was over.
I thought about pushing him further, but we found room 13 and I led the way inside. I was certain that if I offered him the choice between a deep therapy session or this class, he’d take the session. If I left the choice up to him, we wouldn’t come in at all. We tucked ourselves into the back row just as the teacher took her place at the front of the room.
“Hi, everyone. It’s so good to see so many faces. I’m Hope Heart—not my real name—” She grinned. “—and I’m here to tell you what women want.”
Polite applause broke out.
Liam pinned me with a look.
I grinned like I’d just stolen the winning pass out of the receiver’s outstretched hands in a playoff game. Leaning over, I whispered, “It’s good research for you.”
He rolled his eyes. “I already know what women want,” he said with a suggestive hint to his voice.
My entire body heated from his implication. “I’m pretty sure you don’t,” I challenged.
I stopped myself from recommending he read one of Winnie’s books. Anytime I’d mentioned reading in our tutor sessions, he’d done everything to change the subject. Audiobooks had saved him from flunking. It wasn’t until we’d been halfway through the year that I’d realized he had dyslexia. He hid it so well. I wondered where he was at with that these days. He’d gotten over his initial embarrassment with me back then, but he might have rebuilt those walls.
“Okay.” I conjured up a football analogy. “Let’s say you’re offered the other team’s playbook—do you take it?”
He narrowed his eyes. “I wouldn’t say no to that kind of an advantage.”
“Well, here ya go. You get a backstage pass to what women really want. How many guys would kill for this opportunity?”
He sighed, folding his arms and settling into his chair. “Can’t I just watch the movie made about this?”
I patted his knee before I realized what I was doing. I yanked my hand back as heat permeated my cheeks. I was an idiot. This was my client, not high school tutee.
“We’re going to have a lot of fun today,” said Hope Heart, saving me from my blunder. If I looked like I was focused on what she was saying, I wouldn’t have to face Liam’s stare, which was currently burning a hole in the side of my face. “Let’s start with what every woman is looking for in a book boyfriend.” Hope advanced to the next slide.
“Abs!” called a woman in the third row, earning a round of laughter.
“Check,” Liam whispered as he patted his washboard stomach. It was terrible that I knew exactly what his stomach looked like. It was also terrible that I knew that he was Mr. October on the team calendar. But worst of all, it was horrible that he was the reason I bought the blasted thing. If anyone asked why last year’s October was still hanging up in my room, it was because I was a hoarder.
“What else?” asked Hope.
“Someone who is strong,” answered another woman.
Liam’s pecs bounced.
I glanced away as if I’d caught him walking out of the shower. He was not a good influence on me. “Settle down or she’ll change the seating assignment,” I admonished him.
“Someone who knows what they want out of life. No one wants a man who is wishy-washy,” the woman sitting next to Liam called out.
“True,” Hope replied.
The comments continued to roll in. Much to my chagrin, Liam checked off every box. He was proud of it too, making sure I knew that he knew that he had the goods. Which was part of the problem. I wanted to take him by the ear and drag him into the hallway to let him have it. If he were the cream of the crop, he wouldn’t have had to hire me in the first place. I wanted to scream at the women too. Didn’t they care about anything more than a guy’s ability to carry them out of a burning building or to look good in a swimsuit? I was trying to teach a man who already had a healthy self-esteem to be more aware of the needs of women—not pad his already healthy ego.
A lady with purple hair raised her hand. “The guy has to care more about her than he does about himself.”
Oooh, that was good. I held my breath as I peeked over at Liam to see him squirm. I refrained from shooting him a pointed look. I wanted him to get it—to learn from this room full of diverse, smart women instead of having me spoon-feed it to him.
“A great kiss,” said a white-haired woman sitting in front of us. “For me, it’s all about how good of a kisser he is.”
Liam snorted and leaned over to whisper, “I guess you’re never too old to lock lips.”
I cleared my throat and gave him my impersonation of a prim schoolmarm who didn’t appreciate the class clown. Silently, I begged the room to go back to talking about a man’s character—how attractive it could be when a man wanted a family.
Liam leaned closer until our arms touched. I startled as I took in how strong, thick, and warm it was. It was like sitting next to a space heater. The air conditioner picked that moment to kick on, and I broke out in goose bumps. I welcomed the cool blast, because it woke me up from my own thoughts—ones that seemed to wonder what it would be like to be inside of those warm arms and taste his lips.
The conversation on kissing continued, but my blood pounded so loudly in my ears that I didn’t hear any of it. Thank goodness. I didn’t need to think about kissing Liam. Nope. Was not going to go there. Those thoughts were forbidden territory—forever.
He’s a client, I silently screamed at myself. The reminder was enough to calm my nervous system down so I could hear Ms. Heart.
“Yes, you in the tiara. Did you have a question?”
The princess for a day touched her
headpiece as if making sure it was still there. “Yes, I just have to ask, how do you go about writing your kissing scenes? They’re always so realistic.”
“Well, I picture the scene in my head. How they’re standing, et cetera,” answered Hope. Hope glanced up as if gathering her thoughts, or maybe some courage. “My husband’s going to kill me for telling you this, but I make him act them out with me.”
Giggling erupted like they were at a junior high sleepover and Bonnie had just admitted to kissing Ben.
I grinned and tipped my head. “Good for them.”
Liam dipped his chin in agreement.
“It’s just … I struggle writing them,” said the princess. “I’m just not sure what details are important …” She trailed off and glanced down as if she were ashamed to admit her weakness.
Hope reached out an arm, like she wanted to save a drowning person. I felt the same cry from my heart to ease the princess’s embarrassment. It was that compassion that had led me into my profession. “Don’t get discouraged. Writing is a skill, one you can learn. Let’s—” She lifted her eyes to scan the room. “You there, guy in the back.”
Liam positively froze in his seat. A vein on his neck ticked and then picked up speed.
“Are you two together?” she asked.
I placed a comforting hand on Liam’s knee. He didn’t need to be afraid. Not that he would ever admit to being scared, but I knew he had insecurities about being called out by a teacher that stemmed all the way back to when he was in school. He was big and tough, but there were some things that took him down.
Wanting to make sure that I was included in whatever she was going to ask him, I said, “We are.” I would stand with him. I wanted him to feel safe with me, to know that I would run interference for him.
His hand grabbed mine and he threaded our fingers together, holding tight. Man, this guy had a grip. I laid my other hand over the top of his and smiled reassuringly at him.
Hope strode down the aisle. “Perfect. Will you two stand up?”
I got to my feet, and Liam followed, his back hunched and a worried look reflecting in his forced smile. I was beginning to learn when Liam was uncomfortable, and he was definitely uncomfortable.
“Well, heaven’s bells.” Hope lifted her hands as she took in Liam’s large frame and chiseled jaw. I could practically hear the author wheels turning in her head. I’d have to buy her next book, because there was no doubt in my mind that I was holding hands with its main character.
I glanced down at our entwined fingers. Holy crap, I was holding hands with Liam! My heart fluttered. He had long fingers, and I suddenly had a picture of them threading into my hair.
Hope’s eyebrows lifted into her hairline. “Are you a cover model?”
Liam’s chin jerked up in surprise. “No.”
“He should be. Am I right?” she asked the room.
Several women whistled; others clapped.
Something happened in Liam. It was like the calls of adoration and hey, hot stuff flipped a switch inside of him. In an instant, insecure Liam was gone, and party Liam was in his place. I startled at the change and dropped his hand, but he grabbed mine back and held on.
“What can I help you with, Hope?” he drawled in a deep voice that had the women in the room swooning. Seriously, one woman actually fell out of her chair.
Hope fanned her neck. “I was hoping you two would give us a kiss so we could practice describing it for readers.”
My entire body went ice cold. What did she just say? A kiss? Was she for real? I parted my lips and whipped my gaze to meet hers. I needed to stop this train before it left the station.
I couldn’t kiss Liam. I opened my mouth to tell her just that, but she spun around and raised her arm. “Grab a paper and pen, ladies, or your laptop, and get ready to write.”
A flurry of activity erupted.
“I—I, that is we can’t—” I gestured between Liam and me.
But it was too late. Hope wasn’t paying us any attention, and a buzz of excitement filled the room like the sizzle of lighting a firework, complete with the anticipation of watching it go off. Maybe that was just me. Maybe I was the only one on fire at the thought of kissing Liam.
Liam. He didn’t move to stop this. From the corner of my eye, I could see him grinning at the women in the room. He didn’t look bothered. Why wasn’t he freaking out like I was?
“Okay, we’re ready when you are.” Hope stood to the side with a relaxed smile on her lips. The train was out of the station and careening down the tracks. There was no stopping it now.
The entire room held its breath in anticipation.
This was happening. I was going to kiss Liam.
I couldn’t look at him. There was no way I could look at him. I’d just close my eyes and let him take aim and get this over with. I couldn’t believe I’d thought this class was a good idea. I pulled my shoulders up to my ears and squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for impact.
“You want me to kiss her?” Liam asked, drawing out my agony. I mean, I was about to be kissed by my high school/forever crush. If I told Winnie that I wasn’t looking forward to it, she’d laugh in my face. I wanted that kiss, but I was so afraid of what it would do to me that I trembled.
“I’m not ready.” I panicked, ripping my eyes open and waving my free hand in front of my face. “Is it hot in here? It’s like the desert. I need some water.” I glanced around at the women in the room, but they were no help. Instead, they just smiled gleefully at me.
Liam laughed as he stepped closer. “I promise to make it good for you,” he said, drawing all sorts of catcalls from our huge audience.
Irritated that this was so easy for him, I glared. “Like you won’t enjoy it,” I snapped. Call it stupid. Call it a coping mechanism. But the only way I was going to be able to survive this ordeal was to flirt back.
“Good!” Hope clapped. “I love the banter. What are we thinking here, people? He’s a billionaire tycoon who just put her out of business, and she can’t stand him but is drawn to his animal magnetism.” She growled.
The sound of a million pencils scratching that scenario out on paper caused my face to turn splotchy.
Liam’s eyes danced with laughter.
“Why can’t she be the billionaire and he’s her bodyguard?”
I had no idea who said that, because I’d been caught up in the silent conversation Liam and I were engaged in. He looked thoroughly entertained, as if somehow he was planning to knock my knees right out from under me. I rolled my eyes and mouthed, Not going to happen.
He winked and mouthed back, I love a challenge. Then he moved closer and the air between us began to lift. I felt light-headed, and my knees sighed and nearly gave out.
“Yes!” Hope’s voice sounded far away. She must have moved to another spot in the room. “See how he takes his time getting closer to her?”
I wanted to tell Hope to can it. Of course people could see it. I was freaking experiencing it.
His hand went to my side, heating me through as easily as a dunk in a hot tub. His smile and wink told me, I have you right where I want you. Placing a hand on the side of my face, he tipped my head slightly, and I lost all ability to move. I was pliable for him, my body doing his every wish. My traitorous hands found his chest and slid upwards to wrap around his neck as I leaned into him, bringing our bodies flush. The heat I felt from his hands was just a precursor for what I felt with his body next to mine.
The warmth was everywhere, thrumming through my veins and filling my consciousness with all things Liam. All I could do was stare up at him as he leaned down and brushed his lips against mine, once, twice, and on the third time he lingered before pulling back and meeting my gaze. Then his thumb drifted over to my lips, where he traced my bottom lip. It took me a moment to realize that I’d sighed audibly. Biting my lower lip and tasting the minty flavor he’d left behind, I stared into his blue eyes. My entire body felt tense and relaxed at the same time.
“Bravo!”
I jerked back to the class, having forgotten we were in a convention center and in front of dozens of people. But it was the break I needed from the trance that Liam had put me under. I took that freedom to step out of Liam’s embrace and smile as the room erupted in applause.
Hope clapped. “That was perfect. Thank you so much.”
I nodded and sat down as quickly as I could.
Liam turned up the charm and winked at the room. “Anytime, ladies. I’m happy to be your kissing model.” He earned himself a round of twittering and giggles for that one.
Suddenly, someone shouted, “It is you! That’s Liam McKnight.”
I ducked my head. Great. Just great.
“Liam McKnight? He plays for the Wolves,” answered someone else.
“That’s you, right?” demanded the first voice.
I glanced up to see Liam grin and flex. “I am.”
“Oh my gosh!” fifteen women exclaimed at once. In seconds, we were surrounded by women shoving paper at Liam to sign and telling him how amazing he was and how much they loved football.
Yeah, right.
I folded my arms and shoved my way out of the growing crowd, needing a minute to recover from that kiss and the crash back to reality. He’d promised to make it good for me, and that man had delivered on his promise. I’d never had a kiss like that before. I’d never been swept into the experience of kissing so much that the whole world fell away. It was like I’d left my body only to feel every point of contact with intense clarity.
Instead of following me, Liam lapped up the attention like a puppy with a bowl of gravy. He signed books, tee shirts, hats, paper, laptop covers … whatever was shoved his direction. He didn’t need time to recover. He didn’t need to catch his breath. He didn’t need to remember that there was air in the world.
I leaned against the far wall and did my best to regain my equilibrium as I tried not to study him. Liam hammed up the football star role, drawing people into the classroom from the hall like a giant magnet.
His Romance Coach (A McKnight Family Romance Book 5) Page 6
