I’m out of the car and striding toward my door, my heels clicking on the pavement, when I hear a car door open and shut behind me. Suddenly, Liam is beside me, his long legs keeping pace with my shorter strides.
“What are you doing?” I ask, my pulse quickening.
“Walking you to your door,” he replies, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “What did you think I was doing? Mugging you to steal your sparkly handbag?”
I roll my eyes. “I think I can manage the perilous journey from the curb to my entryway.”
He ignores me, continuing to walk beside me like some sort of stubborn, annoyingly attractive bodyguard.
Just as we reach my front steps, a loud “Meow” pierces the night air. Winnie comes barreling out from around the back garden, skidding to a halt when she sees me with Liam.
“Why aren’t you sleeping, Winnie?” I ask, bending down to scoop her up. “Has Auntie Lizzie been tormenting you again? Forcing you to watchLove Islandreruns?”
Winnie just stares at me, then at Liam, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. I can practically hear her judgy thoughts.Well, well, well. Look who’s bringing home tall, dark, and brooding. You wish, love. As if you could handle all that.
I shoot her a warning glare, then turn to Liam, who’s watching the exchange with a mixture of amusement and confusion.
“I assume this is the feline responsible for the delightful present left on my desk?” he asks.
“The very same.”
“Lovely.”
Seeing Winnie and Liam together, something horrific dawns on me. “I need to clear something up. I do not, um, perform . . . self-love . . . in front of cats. I mean the diary entry,” I add quickly as his eyebrow shoots up. “She kept scratching at the door, meowing loudly, and I had to let her in. I’m probably making this worse. Just forget it. Pretend I never mentioned my masturbatory habits or lack thereof in relation to feline presence.”
He chuckles, the bastard. To my shock, he bends down and strokes Winnie’s head, his large, strong hand gentle. Her tail shoots up, and the little hussy immediately starts purring, leaning into his touch like she’s known him all her life.
“It’s forgotten,” he murmurs, still stroking Winnie. I’m so mesmerized by the sight of him tenderly petting my catthat I forget what we were talking about for a moment. It’s like looking at those pictures of hot men with babies.
“Oh, right. Good,” I say, my voice breathless. “Um, do you have any pets?”
“No,” he replies, straightening up to his full, imposing height. “I don’t have time for pets.”
“I’d imagine you with a Pit Bull Terrier. Or maybe a shark in a very large aquarium.”
“Helloooo.” The front door creaks open to reveal a scantily clad Lizzie, her sleepy gaze widening. I don’t have a chance to blurt out an explanation before her mouth splits into a filthy grin. “Well hello there. Gemma, you didn’t tell me we were having company.”
“We’re not,” I say grimly, my teeth clenched. “Liam was just walking me to my door.”
“Liam?” she purrs. “Is he coming in for a cup of te—”
The rest of her sentence is drowned out as I practically hurl myself through the doorway, slamming it shut in Liam’s face.
“Woah there.” Lizzie smirks.
“Sorry,” I call out through the door. “Good night, Liam! Thanks again for the ride.”
I hear his muffled curse, followed by retreating footsteps. I turn to glare at Lizzie, who’s looking far too amused for my liking.
“What was that?” I hiss as Winnie wriggles out of my arms and darts off down the hall.
“If I had to guess?” Lizzie grins, leaning against the wall. “Your smoking hot boss walking you to the door, hoping you’d let him through it. Were you going to let him?”
“No!” I make a beeline for the kitchen, desperate to hide my burning cheeks. Would I have let him in? No. Absolutely not. Maybe. Fuck. “That would never happen.”
But Lizzie just singsongs after me: “Never say never.”
I grab a glass of water, gulping it down and trying to ignore the way my nerves are still on edge. I can’t help but wonder . . . what if I had let him in?
