“You know what used to do me in? Gin.” She makes a grossed-out face. “I can’t stand even a sip of the stuff now. My twenties ruined gin for me forever.”
Liam laughs. “Same. Gin is disgusting. Also, Scotch.”
Auntie shivers. “I had it one time. Never, ever again. I’ll stick with rosé now that I’ve hit my mature years.”
“Hey now, rosé is for us younger folks too. I love a glass of rosé,” he says in a teasing tone. “That doesn’t make me weird, does it?”
She laughs. “Not at all. It makes me like you even more.”
Liam pumps his fist in the air, which makes her laugh even harder. I stand there and watch in awe as he charms my aunt. They’re chatting like old friends catching up.
What is happening?
My aunt holds out her hand. “I’m Christina, Kendall’s favorite auntie.”
Liam shakes her hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Liam, a friend of Kendall’s.” His gaze cuts to me. There’s a hint of teasing in his sky-blue eyes. “At least I’m trying to be.”
My aunt’s brow lifts as she looks between us. “Is that so?”
He nods. “She’s better friends with my brother.”
“Ah.” Auntie flashes me a knowing smile.
I explain that Liam is the younger brother of Aidan and that we’re planning some of the wedding events together. I opt not to tell her that we fought about the engagement party. We don’t need to get into that drama right now.
Liam looks at Auntie. “Are you sure you don’t want to join me? It’ll be tough trying to find another place to eat brunch at this time on a Sunday.”
I glance down at my aunt. She quirks an eyebrow. “He has a point,” she says to me.
I can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips as I look at Liam. Not even twenty-four hours ago, I was pissed at him. And now I’m touched by how sweet he’s being to my aunt and me.
“Okay. Thanks.”
He smiles like he’s genuinely happy that we’re crashing his solo brunch. He steps in front of us and uses his massive body to make a pathway in the crowded restaurant. We follow him and end up at a table on the far side of the space.
Liam quickly moves one of the chairs out of the way so my aunt has room to sit. He pours us water from the pitcher at the table and hands a glass to my aunt first, then me.
I look him in the eye. “Thank you for this.”
His gaze is soft and tender when he smiles at me. “My pleasure.”
He hands my aunt a menu. A server stops by and asks for our drink order.
Liam gives Auntie a playful conspiratorial look. “Rosé?”
She chuckles. “Not this early in the day.” She looks at the server. “Just an herbal tea, please.”
I order a coffee and Liam orders a mimosa. I look at him.
“What?” A smug grin plays on his lips.
I shake my head, trying not to smile. “Nothing.”
He gently elbows me. “Come on. I know you’re dying to say something.”
“I didn’t know you were a mimosa kind of guy.”
He frowns like he’s offended. “Of course I am. It’s not a proper brunch without a mimosa. You should get one too.”
