“I’m here with my roommate and brother.” He doesn’t address my remark about his little girlfriend.
“You!” My drunk friend comes from nowhere to press a French-tipped finger into the center of Liam’s chest. “I just tried to call you!”
“Hi, Gráinne,” he sighs in return. “Must not have heard my phone.”
She raises her eyebrows but is cut off from responding by her fiancé’s brother. “You’ve been calling McGuiness?” He seems aghast at this news.
She whirls to scowl at him. “Mind your own business, Matt.”
Liam, the dolt, smiles widely. “Hey, you can tell your brother I didn’t answer a single one of her calls. Not any of thedozentimes she tried.” He winks conspiratorially at Gráinne.
Matteo glares while my friend gasps. “So youhavebeen ignoring me!”
“What the fuck, Gráinne?” Matteo growls at her, and I have to laugh when she bats her eyelashes in return, before swaying a little and pointing over his shoulder.
“Oh look! Elizabeth found a hot guy to dance with. Maybe she’ll decide to leave with him. Wouldn’t it be great if she found someone who could treat her the way she deserves?” The look in her eyes is devious.
Matteo’s face contorts with rage before he turns on his heel to storm across the dance floor. I know he’s supposed to be looking out for all of us, but he’s taking this protective thing a little too seriously.
“Well played,” Liam congratulates her.
She crosses her arms over her chest. “Well, now that I have you—”
“Oh, sweetheart,” Liam coos, “you may not have heard, but you’ll never have me now.” He is having way too much fun with this conversation. Is everything a goddamn joke to this guy?
“Very cute,” Gráinne replies.
“Thank you,” he acknowledges. “You look nice too.”
“What in the absolute fuck is happening here?” I can’t take any more. “None of this is funny.”
Liam nods solemnly. “I agree. Why don’t we go somewhere more private and have a conversation?” He puts his hand on my elbow.
“Taryn and I were about to leave,” Sam informs him, pulling me closer to his side. Poor guy still thinks he has a chance at getting lucky tonight. I really owe him an apology.
Liam tracks the motion of Sam’s arm tightening around my waist. He smiles again. “Oh, she’s not going anywhere with you.” He says the words so conversationally, I wonder if I’m imagining the threat behind them. There’s something in Liam’s eyes. Something sharp. Something focused.
Sam drops his arm. He saw it too. Motherfucker.
Gráinne’s hand touches my bicep. “You should go talk to him, Tare. This is your chance.”
“What’s going on?” Sam’s eyes dart between us. It’s impossible not to feel the tension.
Liam shoves his hands in his front pockets and rocks back on his heels. He shrugs at me with a smirk. Waits for me to respond. Jesus.
“Fine,” I bite out. Then, I turn to Sam. “It’s some clan business. I’ll be back.”
“She won’t be,” Liam advises him with a smile, before pressing his hand to the small of my back to guide me away.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I growl at him.
He doesn’t respond. Instead, he pushes me forward with a light pressure on my back until I’m being shut into a supply closet. Fantastic. Fuckboy knows where the club has its private spots. What a shocker.
I turn to face him with my arms crossed over my chest. “I don’t want to marry you.” There. Right to the point.
He shrugs in response, a slow roll of his big shoulders. “Okay.” A dimple pops as he says the word.
“Okay? So you’re okay if we don’t get married?” This can’t be so easy.
