Liam chuckled. "We tried a formal dinner once. The chief ended up loosening his tie an hour in and declaring we would never put on airs again."
I laughed. "He sounds like a wise man."
"He is. He's been with the department for almost thirty years and remembers everyone's birthday but will run you into the ground during drills."
"Damn."
We crossed Main Street at the intersection by Thompson's Bakery.
"How's your project coming along?" Liam asked.
I was in the middle of explaining my plans when the engine of a truck revved as it took the corner way too fast. Before I could process the danger, Liam moved with reflexive speed, his arm shooting out and pulling me hard against his chest as he stepped back onto the curb. The truck sped past, missing us by inches, the driver oblivious to how close they'd come to hitting us.
"Shit!" I gasped.
Liam's arms tightened around me, one hand cradling the back of my head, the other one around my waist. The rapid rise and fall of his chest accelerated the beat of his heart against my ear. His scent enveloped me, clean and woodsy, making my breath catch.
"You okay?" he asked, his voice rumbling in his chest.
I nodded, but neither of us moved. The moment of danger passed, but something else had taken its place: an awareness ofeach point where our bodies connected: the solid wall of Liam's chest against my cheek, his palm against the small of my back, and the slight roughness of his jaw against my temple. Time slowed to accommodate the rush of sensations.
When I finally tilted my head back to look up at him, Liam stared at me with such intensity that I felt naked. His usually guarded expression conveyed hunger.
"How the fuck did he get a license? I told you they take this curve too fast."
I studied his face. Something about his discomfort gave me courage.
"Are you okay?" I asked, holding his gaze when he looked at me.
Instead of answering, one hand came up to cup my face, and his thumb traced a path along my cheekbone. For a heartbeat, he hesitated. Then his mouth was on mine, and thinking was impossible.
The kiss was a declaration rather than a request. His lips moved against mine with a hunger matching the ache blooming in my chest and spreading downward to the pool low in my belly. I responded, my hands sliding up his chest to curl around his neck, pulling him closer.
Liam groaned in his throat as our kiss deepened, his lips tracing the seam of my lips until I opened for him. The gentle press of his tongue created a delicious pressure, leaving me dizzy.
When he pulled back, we breathed hard. He rested his forehead against mine.
"I—"
"Yeah, me too," I agreed, understanding perfectly. What we understood wasn't about words. It was a quiet agreement that whatever this was wasn't going away.
He reluctantly stepped back, his hand lingering on my waist as if he couldn't bring himself to break contact completely. "We should get away from this dangerous curve before I do it again."
"Would that be so bad?"
"No, but the middle of Main Street might not be the best place."
"You're right." I giggled. Things felt different now as we walked, but his hand found mine, our fingers intertwining with an inevitable casual intimacy.
The rest of the walk passed as if I were in a dreamlike state. All too soon, we reached my rental. We paused at the steps leading to my door.What was this, and where was it going?
"Thanks for walking me home," I expressed.
"Anytime. Goodnight," Liam responded, stepping back.
"Goodnight."
I climbed the steps to my door, pulling my keys from my pocket. As I stepped inside, I knew his eyes were on me, watching until I made it safely inside. I closed the door, leaning back against it with my eyes closed, trying to process what had just happened.
