I should move away. But I don’t want to.
“There’s four of us. Ronan is the youngest, then Cormac, then me, and Shawn.” I run my hand through my hair. “One night, when my folks were running really late getting home from work, we decided we should make a pot roast Mom had thawing in the fridge to surprise them. We thought we had the perfect recipe and that Mom and Dad would be so impressed that they’d buy us a restaurant and we’d all work there. A family business.” I smile at the memory, even as a sad sort of longing creeps in at the edges. “Ro was only a little kid, barely out of diapers, but like you, he always wanted to be part of whatever we were doing. Shawn was, of course, in charge, and Cormac did all the chopping. I was responsible for making sure we got all the spices right.”
“How’d it turn out?” she asks, her eyes still bright, her lips curled into a smile.
“Well, let’s just say that I thought cinnamon was a spice that would taste wonderful on beef. I mean, it’s so damn good in cookies, right?” I laugh. “I must have poured the entire bottle on that meat.”
“Oh no!”
“My mom wasn’t too thrilled. The entire house smelled like garlic and cinnamon by the time she got home. The roast was unsalvageable.”
She covers her mouth with her hand but is laughing all the same. “Did you get into a lot of trouble?”
“Oh hell yeah. Dad was livid. We all got a whooping that night. My ass was sore for days.” I smile. “We were in it together, though, and we had a lot of fun cooking that meal. We still all thought that a restaurant was in our future. Just maybe hiring a chef.”
She closes the distance between us and reaches up to touch my cheek. “Oh hey, you’ve got a dimple there!”
I can’t help but smile wider, knowing that my dimple only pops when I’m truly happy.
“See, there it is!” She pokes it with her finger. “You’ve been hiding that bad boy.”
“My mom used to say that to me.” I reach up and hold her hand when she tries to pull away. “She used to poke my cheek and tell me that I was always hiding that sweet dimple of mine so that nobody would know what a cutie I was.”
“She doesn’t do it now?”
“She passed.” I stop her from shifting her hand away. Alarm bells are going off in my head, but I can’t stop myself from indulging in this…just for a few minutes. “No, don’t stop. I like it when you do that. Reminds me of her.”
“I’m sorry you lost your mom.” Maggie’s eyes soften, and she shifts closer so she can spread her hand over my cheek.
“It was a long time ago,” I whisper. “It’s just been a long time since someone said that to me.”
She frowns and traces her fingers over my scar. “And this? Where’d it come from?”
My thoughts shift to darker times, and I know my face must show it, because Maggie looks worried. “My brother, Shawn. He and I were running away from a shop where he’d stolen something, and the security was after us. We made it to a chain link fence, and as I was going over, he gave me a hard shove. Caught my face on the top of the chain and ripped my cheek open.”
Her eyes flare. “Not sure I really like the sound of that brother of yours.”
I bark out a laugh. She’s feeling protective? Of me? “Well, he was doing it to protect me, actually.” Back in the days when he did that kind of thing. “The security guy had gotten too close and was pulling on Shawn’s leg. He didn’t want both of us to get caught, so he shoved me over.” I gulp back the lump in my throat. “He got charged that day. I got away.”
She starts to pull back, and I reach out to touch her hair. It’s so soft and crazy, and I just want to curl my fingers in there and hold her close, kiss her fiercely, and never let her go. But that’s not how this night is gonna go. “I like your hair.”
“Oh geez, it’s just a mess all the time.” She seems self-conscious, pulling back a bit, her face going pink as she pushes a curl away from her forehead.
“It’s wild and honest, like you.” I rub my thumb over her cheek. “You’re nothing like the other women I’ve met before. They are always after…well…other things, and they make everything so complicated.” She’s so sweet. She’s so beautiful. Despite my better judgment, I close the distance between us, one hand on her back, the other on her face. “I like spending time with you like this.” And that is the honest truth.
She bites her lip the way I like, and her eyes dart from my eyes to my mouth.
My whole body is revving hard for this woman. I want her under me. I want to devour her whole.
And I desperately need her to stop me before any of that happens.
But she doesn’t.
She eases into my hold and looks back up so our eyes lock. The hunger I feel is reflected right back at me in the flush of her cheeks, her lowered lashes, her quick little intakes of breath.
I am fucked. I can’t back away now, no way in Hell.
I slip my fingers into her hair like I’ve wanted to all night and bring our mouths together. Her lips are so soft, parted slightly so that I can slip my tongue in and stroke her, explore her mouth, the spicy Indian food and the tang of wine making her taste even more delicious than I imagined. She presses her body closer to mine. My cock is aching for this woman, and I’d give anything to strip her bare and see her glorious body, to feel her soft skin. She lets out a soft moan that nearly kills me, and I know I could go there with her. I know she’s willing.
But it’s not going to happen.
With more effort than I’ve put into anything ever, I slide my tongue along hers one last time and suck on her bottom lip before parting.
Her mouth is puffy, her lips glistening and her eyes hooded.
I’m in over my head with this girl.
“I better head home. It’s late, and we’ve got an early start tomorrow.” I hesitate. “If you’re sure you want me to come along?”
I’m jittery with the need to kiss her still-puckered lips. This racked up, I can’t decide if I want her to say yes or no.
Her eyes open, and she smiles a lazy kind of smile that nearly snaps my last shred of control. “Oh yeah, I’m sure.”
And then she blushes so prettily, like she just realized how fuckable she sounds.
“Good.” I barely manage to stop myself from kissing her one more time then flee her apartment before I do something stupid. Like slide my hand into those tight little pants of hers and make her come hard and loud, my name on her lips.
There’s no way I’m sleeping tonight.
Chapter Five
Maggie
I don’t think I’m totally awake when I stumble out of bed and wrench open the door. All I remember is that I was definitely having an amazing dream about—
Liam is standing there looking completely drool worthy in his black shirt, the top two buttons open to reveal the hint of his tattoo, and his jeans, which are so well fitting that I can practically see his big coc—
“I hope you don’t mind me coming this early.” There’s a heated flicker in his eyes at this. “I’m a morning person. Your sister here yet?” He hands me a coffee as he pushes past me, and I’m left staring at his ass, which is also encased quite nicely in those jeans.
“No, but she likes to be early, so she’s probably on her way.” Before I can close the door fully, a foot appears, trying to stop me.
“Whoa there,” a male voice exclaims. “I’ve got Mr. Walsh’s bags!”
I try to stop the momentum of the door, but it’s a heavy fucker, and it just keeps sliding closed. There’s a crunch and a groan, and then I’m desperately trying to pull the door open again while still keeping my coffee cup in hand. “Ohmygosh, I’m sorry!”
“Here, let me get that.” Liam is there, his hand on my hand, easing the door open again. “It’s my driver, Jimmy.”
Of course he has a driver.
I take
a step back. “Sorry for crushing your foot, Jimmy.”
Jimmy is wearing a gray suit, similar to the one Liam is wearing, tailored and looking like it cost more than my rent. He’s a big guy, broad shouldered with a bit of a gut. His hair is cut short, and a bald patch extends from his forehead to his crown.
“No worries, miss. It’s only my driving foot.”
I wince and open my mouth to apologize again, but Jimmy is smiling at me with warmth in his eyes.
“Well, that’s not an important thing, now is it?” I say instead.
“No, ma’am.” He winks at me before turning his gaze back to Liam. He’s carrying a garment bag and small suitcase. “Where do you want these, boss?”
Liam motions to the side. “Just leave it there. Thanks, Jimmy.”
Jimmy moves forward but not before giving me a once over, probably noting my bunny-themed pajama pants, and grinning.
“I wonder if there will be a day that you show up at my door and I’m actually dressed properly,” I grumble as I follow Liam into the living room.
“I don’t know, you in a towel and now you in your pajamas? I like it.”
A smile tugs at my lips. This flirty stuff with Liam is exactly how I’d want things to be with a guy I’m dating, and it seems to flow so naturally between us.
“You won’t be needing anything more, sir?” Jimmy asks.
“Thanks, Jimmy, no. I’ll be away until Monday night. Take it easy. Spend some time with your family. Enjoy the long weekend.”
Jimmy chuckles. “Thanks, sir, I may do that. Miss…” He nods toward me. “Have a great time away.”
“Thanks, Jimmy,” I say.
“Where’s your shower?”
I blink. Liam is standing in the middle of the room unbuttoning his shirt, and I’m standing there staring because one, his chest is slowly being revealed and it looks about as lickable as I imagined it would and two, his hair is damp and face shaven, so I kinda assumed he already had a shower.
“Maggie, shower?”
I swallow and point toward my bedroom. “Through there.”
“Be out in a sec,” he says as he bolts through the door. A second later, I hear the shower start, and I don’t even have time to wonder what the hell is happening, because a second after that, my sister walks right into my loft.
She’s talking non-stop. “Maggie, did you seriously just get out of bed? I’m double-parked. I thought you were going to meet me outside. Since when do you own a garment bag? And why is your shower running? You’re still dressed.” She walks the length of my place, scanning everything with a heavy dose of Charlotte judgment while I wait for her verdict.
Her standard uniform consists of Jimmy Choos and power suits, but today she’s wearing designer jeans and a flowy white blouse with sensible black pumps that round out her “my-heart-died-sometime-in-my-twenties” attire. This is how she dresses down. Even her hair is bland, cut in a layered style that doesn’t really move, even when she shakes her head, which she does often around me.
Don’t get me wrong, she looks great, as always, but she’s 100 percent a respectable adult, an intellectual property lawyer who married another respectable adult who happens to be a surgeon. Successful, talented, living a life that satisfies our mother endlessly, and one of the biggest measures that my life is held up against. Impossible to compete with no matter what I do.
Finally, she turns toward me. “I see you haven’t gotten those leaks fixed. Do you need me to call your landlord and straighten that out? I already told you, it’s not a problem, I’ll just—” She stops short, bringing a hand fluttering to her throat. “Oh, hello.”
Liam is standing in the bedroom doorway, a towel slung around his hips, his hair wet, and it’s a damn impressive sight. Those abs…holy fuck! My eyes snag on the tattoo that covers the left side of his chest, and it’s a crest of some sort, intricately detailed and breathtaking.
“You must be Charlotte.”
“I am, and you are?” She walks toward him with her hand out, expecting him to meet her halfway, I’m sure, a bright smile on her glossy lips, her teeth so white they’re blinding.
Liam doesn’t leave the doorway, which forces her to keep walking in order to shake his hand. “Liam Walsh.”
His grip is firm. I know this firsthand. Strong, thick, powerful fingers that I’m pretty sure he was using to devastating effect in my dream.
“And you’re Maggie’s…”
“Boyfriend,” he says with a smile, and I nearly swoon on the spot.
Somehow, I manage to nod. “I told you about him, remember?”
She gives him another once over, appraising him and his abs. “Oh, right…” And then she looks at me, one eyebrow up and a curl on her lips. I can tell she finds it hard to believe that a man like Liam would hook up with a girl like me.
I don’t blame her. I probably wouldn’t believe it, either.
Liam walks up to me and wraps his arm around my waist. “I’m going to get dressed, baby.” He kisses me, deeply, thoroughly, breathlessly, and then lets me go. “Sorry to keep you waiting. We got a little distracted,” he says to Charlotte before swatting my ass. “You better hop in the shower and get going so we can leave. Don’t want to keep your sister waiting longer than she has to.”
My face is hot, my lips feel puffy, and my eyes are probably glazed. I have no idea how I’m still upright.
Charlotte is staring at me with an expression that’s both disbelief and shock.
I know the feeling.
“I’m going to just…” I gesture in the general direction of my room and then scurry off before she has a chance to ask questions I currently don’t have the mental capacity to answer.
…
“Doug will meet us at the resort later. He’s got a bunch of paperwork to catch up on.”
Charlotte’s car still smells like it’s brand new. She bought it a few years ago, and it honestly looks like she just drove it off the lot yesterday. There’s no garbage, no crumbs, no sign of life really. I have no idea how she does it, but I guess if I bought a car that cost the same as a down payment on a house, I’d treat it like a museum as well.
Liam is sitting in the back just behind me. “What kind of surgery does your husband do, Charlotte?”
“General surgery at Shriners.” She says it casually like it’s no big deal, but I know she’s proud of where her husband works. He operates on children, for goodness’ sake. Transplants are somewhat of a specialty for him, but really, he does everything. He’s the sweetest man you’ll ever meet, too sweet for my liking, but my sister loves the pampering. “What do you do, Liam?”
Liam leans forward a little and slips his fingers along the side of the seat so he can caress my arm. It sends shivers over my skin, and I turn my head a bit to look at him. Why is he touching me? Not that I mind, but my sister can’t see what he’s doing.
“I’m a broker.”
“Oh? Like for stocks?” Charlotte is looking at him in the mirror. “Doug will probably talk your ear off about some of the stocks he’s invested in.”
Liam runs his hand up my arm and then sits back. Is it possible he needs to touch me as much as I want to touch him? I suddenly wish I decided to sit in the back with him instead of upfront with my sister. I want to be close to him, maybe my hand on his thigh, my arm leaning against his, or maybe he’d wrap his arm around me and we would snuggle. After the little bit of touching we did the night before, I really regret not being next to him now.
“Not exactly. I broker deals between buyers and sellers…off the grid.” He flips his hand up. “Dealing mostly in artifacts. Hard to come by stuff.”
“That sounds interesting. Art related? Historical? Do you work with museums?”
Liam chuckles. “Something like that.”
Charlotte quirks her eyebrow then looks at me. “How did you two mee
t? I’m not sure you told me, Maggie.”
The blood drains from my face. Okay, so I totally suck at this pretend boyfriend stuff, because it never occurred to me to come up with a really kick-ass romantic meet story and not just a “he came to buy coffee, I served him a hot muffin, then asked him to pretend to be my boyfriend” story.
“I saw Maggie walking down the street on her way to work one morning,” Liam says.
I whirl around in my seat, my eyes wide. His eyes lock on mine as he reaches for my hand and smiles. That smile, the one where I can see that dimple he’s got…it’s breathtaking. I want to make him smile like that all weekend.
“I was late for work and rushing down a street I never go down trying to beat traffic,” he begins. “I was freaking out because I knew if I missed my appointment, I’d lose a deal, and it was a big one.”
He caresses the back of my hand with his thumb. “But there Maggie was, walking with her earbuds in, smiling and looking around at the sky, the trees, saying hello to people she passed. Not a care in the world, it seemed. I slowed my car right down, and she glanced over at me, and I saw her eyes, you know how they sparkle when she’s happy?”
He lifts my hand and kisses my palm, sending a powerful jolt through my body. He’s weaving a web of lies, but I swear I believe every word. “She glanced at me, and I felt this zap in my gut.” He’s still looking at me, and I can see this story playing out in his head like it actually happened, like he’s reliving the moment we first met. He shifts his other hand to his stomach, rubbing there for a moment. “I’ve never felt anything like that before, you know? I just knew that I was meant to drive down that street, at the moment, on that day. I pulled over, but in the time it took me to park, she disappeared. I thought I’d lost her. And then I looked into the window at the Coffee Hut and there she was. Needless to say, I missed that appointment, and over the next week, I developed quite a caffeine addiction.” He chuckles. “I worked up the nerve to ask her out before the end of that week, and we’ve been together ever since.”
Keep Me Wanting Page 5
