Liam grins, grabbing a knife and nudging an onion toward me.
“I’m here to supervise,” he says, eyes twinkling. “Make sure you don’t burn the place down.”
I snort, reaching for the onion.
“Oh, please. We both know I’m the only reason you eat anything that isn’t beef jerky and gas station burritos.”
He hums under his breath, stepping behind me and leans in, voice low and teasing right against my ear.
“You know what else you’re the only reason for?”
I freeze for half a second, pulse kicking into a wild rhythm. Slowly, I turn my head to glance back at him, trying to play it cool even though my knees feel suspiciously weak.
“No,” I murmur. “What?”
His mouth curves in that slow, lazy, lethal smile that should come with a warning label.
“You’re the only reason my jeans are tight as hell right now.”
And just like that, my heart splinters.
I don’t have time to reply because the moment I open my mouth, he’s already brushing a kiss against my temple, so light it leaves me dizzy.
I stand there for a second, the knife forgotten in my hand, trying to collect myself.
He whistles innocently, moving to grab spices from the pantry like he didn’t just knock the air clean out of my lungs.
“Better get that meatloaf going, honey,” he tosses over his shoulder, wicked and smug.
“You’re the worst,” I say, but it comes out laughing, breathless.
“And you love it.”
I do. God help me, I do.
My body feels like it’s on overdrive as I move around the kitchen, my heart still hammering from the way Liam looks at me like I’m the only thing that matters.
I get the meatloaf prepped and into the oven, the savory scent already filling the house. The veggies are chopped and ready on the stove for later. Across the kitchen, Liam stands at the counter, tossing a salad with a focus that’s almost comical, considering the tension vibrating between us.
I wipe my hands on a towel, glancing around.
“What time is Teddy coming?” I ask, my voice a little too casual.
“Six,” Liam says without looking up. “Why? Need something from town?”
I’m quiet as I rinse my hands in the sink, drying them slowly, methodically. And then I turn toward him.
“No,” I say, my voice low, syrupy with intent. “I need something here.”
Liam’s head snaps up.
His eyes darken instantly, the green blue of them flashing molten heat.
“Oh?” he says, voice rough without me even touching him yet.
I move toward him, step by step, savoring the way his body tenses, the way he tracks me like prey.
“Yeah,” I murmur, stopping just a breath away. “See, this cowboy rocked my world earlier—” I reach up, letting my fingers trail lightly over his chest, feeling his heart slam against my palm. “—but it wasn’t enough.”
