“What’s in Italy?” Brian asks, still standing like a sentry next to my table, hands tucked into the front pockets of his jeans, the sleeves of his white button-down shirt rolled up to expose the sexiest forearms I’ve ever seen.
Do not ogle Gabe’s best friend’s forearms, the better angel in my head hisses.
Don’t listen to that bitch. That’s some serious forearm porn right there. It would be practically sacrilegiousnotto ogle, says the devil.
I’m in a devilish sort of mood on account of meddling brothers, so I keep my eyes right on those forearms as I bend down and grab my laptop from the bag resting at my feet. “The Italian Culinary Institute. I was accepted to a six-month program there that starts right after New Year’s.”
I sit up and look at him just in time to see a flash of something in his eyes. It’s a blink and you’d miss it kind of thing, but I didn’t miss it, and it looked weirdly like…regret, maybe? Strange. But he seems to recover quickly, his lips tipping up in a smile. “Wow, congratulations, Liv. That’s a huge accomplishment.”
His words are genuine, and it doesn’t escape me that he’s the first person who has been entirely happy for me when I told them the news. Everyone else’s responses were layered with sadness over how much they’ll miss me and concern over me being alone in Europe for six months, but Brian seems genuine, and that sends warmth careening through me. “Thanks, I’m really excited about it.”
He nods, smile still on his face. “You should be. I’m taking over the bar until close so Ben can get home.” He gestures towards the bar where Jeremy’s business partner and best friend, Ben Parker, works. “Just let me know when you’re ready to head out and I’ll walk you to your car.”
I shake my head. “You so don’t have to do that. I’ll be fine, honestly. Jeremy was having an overprotective attack. You can just head upstairs.” Brian lives in the loft apartment above the bar, and I’m sure he’d rather be there than here watching over me. The thing about taking over for Ben for a couple of hours seems made up.
“No way, Liv. I really am taking over for Ben. I live here, and he has three kids at home. It’s freezing cold, snowing, and pitch-black outside. If you think I’m going to let you go out there alone, you’re out of your mind.”
I roll my eyes for the millionth time tonight. Brian is the best of my brother’s friends when it comes to treating me like I’m five, but he still has his moments. “Stop thinking of me like a little sister,” I mutter.
Brian’s eyes flash. “Liv, I promise that nothing about the way I think of you is even a little bit sisterly.”
Those butterflies flap in my stomach again as Brian’s cheeks tinge pink, like he didn’t mean to say what he just said. “Just tell me when you’re done,” he says in a low voice, turning on his heel and striding towards the bar.
I watch him go, my eyes glued to his back as I turn his words over and over in my head. He might not have meant to say it, but I heard it loud and clear.
Nothing about the way I think of you is even a little bit sisterly.
What the actual fuck?
CHAPTER TWO
BRIAN
Gabe
Hey man, is Liv still at Fireside? I tried calling her, but she didn’t answer.
Glancing towards the back of the bar, I see Liv bent over her laptop where she’s been for the last two hours. Her eyes are glued to the screen, her chestnut hair piled on top of her head, and she’s tapping a pen to her lips, drawing my gaze directly there. All the blood in my body rushes directly to my cock as I think about the many things I’d like to do to that mouth. That I’d like that mouth to do to me.
I need to get a fucking grip.
It’s been three years since the first time I laid eyes on her, and she still has the power to bring me to my metaphorical knees. I’m pretty sure she thinks of me as one of her brother’s irritatingly overprotective friends, and I long ago tried to put her in thenever going to happencolumn, but my heart just doesn’t seem to care. It’s completely crazy and, like, ridiculous, romance novel shit to say my heart reaches out to her, but that’s the way itfeels. And there’s been a little ache in the time since she told me she’s leaving for six months.
It's not forever, but the thought of going that long without seeing her dropping into the bar or hanging around Gabe’s house when I’m over there has my traitorous heart throbbing in my chest.
Tearing my gaze away from Liv, I type out a response to Gabe.
Me
Yeah, she stayed here to work after Jeremy left. Why?
Gabe
Have you looked outside?
My gaze immediately drifts to the front window, and holy fucking shit. The few inches of snow we were supposed to get tonight seems to have turned into a veritable blizzard.
Me
