“Oh no?” He wiggles his brow, tightening his grip, and the placement of his hand on the back of my thigh sears into my skin. “That almost sounds like you trust me.”
“To not be one hundred percent a shitty person. Yes. I trust you that much.”
Liam traipses along the original chevron wood flooring down a long white hallway adorned with Haussmannian molding before turning left into a living room with a charcoal couch.
“I feel like that’s progress.” He flashes a lopsided smile at me, hovering over the couch. His eyes flicker to my mouth. I swallow, my breath matching the slightly elevated rhythm of his, while a flutter in my stomach mixes among the general, painful chaos down there.
He clears his throat, eyes widening, before placing me gently on a sofa cushion. “You want me to call Eli?”
I shake my head. “Thank you, but he’s out with Fionn, and I don’t want to ruin that. I’m fine. Promise.”
He scratches at the scruff on his cheek and nods. “I’ll go get you some dry clothes. The kitchen’s back there.” He motions behind me before trudging into an adjacent room.
“Clothes? Oh no. Seriously, I just need to talk to you quickly, maybe drink some tea, and then I’ll be on my way. No need to fuss.”
“You have to be freezing in those,” he yells from his room.
“Oh, I’m fine. Really.” I allow a shiver to pass while he’s out of sight.
Liam sighs, peeking his head out from his bedroom. “Peaches, if you want to have this conversation, have a little mercy on me, please.” His eyes stay pinned on my face like he doesn’t dare put them anywhere else.
If I had a modicum of self-confidence left, I could see how some would interpret the anguished expression on his face as a man desperate for relief of some kind, but I’ve done this dance long enough with him to know he probably just doesn’t want Caleb’s little sister’s unmentionables prominently displayed in his apartment.
I nod, as a full-bodied shiver I can no longer hide takes possession of my body.
He smirks, shaking his head. “Fine my ass. Put these on,” he says, tossing a bundle of clothes my way.
I hold up the long sleeve shirt—it’s from his time playing football at Alabama State,“Kelly”printed on the sleeve. “Are you kidding me?” I bust out laughing.
“Yes. Well, no. I don’t have a lot of options, but I can’t say I won’t thoroughly enjoy winning this one.”
I groan, dragging my spasming body off his couch. A modern kitchen sits behind me with white marble countertops and a professional stove. The pilot lights flicker with temptation. I could do some serious damage baking in here. “I thought I was supposed to do the winning now.”
“Oh no, that offer’s only good for my wedding dates.”
I snort to myself, filling the kettle with water. “So, funny story—” I start, turning to put the kettle back on its base. I jump at Liam’s figure hovering over my shoulder. “What are you doing?”
“You were going to teach me how to use that.”
“Oh, right.”
I step around him, settling the kettle onto the base, and wait for the satisfyingclick.A simple “on” and “off” switch sits at the bottom. Wonder Boy couldn’t have figured this out on his own? I peek at him. His face earnestly rests on mine. I pivot back around, a little befuddled by this whole thing, and flick the switch. “Voila.” I make a big show with my hands.
“Right.” He blushes, and his eyes fall on the clothes he handed me. “Why don’t you use the bathroom in my bedroom? I can’t guarantee Eli’s is clean.”
“Thank you.” I glance up at him, moistening my dry lips. His lips part slightly as if in response before he dips his head and steps aside.
“How do I know when it’s done?” he hollers as I saunter away.
“It literally turns itself off.”
“Huh.” He laughs to himself. “You’re kind of useful, buddy.”
“Are you talking to the kettle?” I enter his bedroom.
“Just letting off some steam, don’t mind me.”
“Oh man, how long have you had that one brewing?”
