She pulls up her underwear and adorable little jeans on her own, and we exit the stall.
I pick her up so she can wash her hands and then grab a paper towel to dry them.
I take a moment to toss water on my face and blot it with a paper towel.
My mascara is nearly gone. I don’t wear makeup often, but I went the extra mile for my birth mom. When I look in the mirror, I cringe at my red blotchy cheeks and swollen eyes.
I could hardly be called high-maintenance, but it’s human nature to want to appear somewhat put together when out in public. Especially when you’re interacting with the guy you’ve been ridiculously attracted to since you first laid eyes on him over a year ago.
I nearly slap my own face as I stare at it in the mirror.
Stop lusting.
His daughter is right next to you.
I don’t get in deep with men.
Especially hot men who make me feel things that are scary and big.
But Liam is a dad.
And I love kids.
And he adores his daughter.
Figurative face slap.
Leave it be, Haley. This is your last warning.
CHAPTERTWO
Liam
I stare at the closed restroom door where Haley and Lulu have gone and then glance down at the suitcase by my feet.
I exhale and run my hand down my face.
I’m still trying to process what happened.
Haley Laine, the woman I haven’t been able to get out of my mind since I first met her, just face-planted into my chest.
Between her crystal blue eyes, smart mouth, and cat-eye glasses, I never know which part of her to focus on. Her sassy sense of humor and sarcastic retorts clash with her soft blond hair and smooth skin. Between her fiery attitude and fit body, she pervaded my senses from the moment we locked eyes at that cowboy bar in Montana. She’s tall and willowy and doesn’t need a trace of makeup to highlight every sensual feature on her face. From her eyes to her long lashes to her pouty lips, Haley is a knock-out. And the hottest thing about her is that she doesn’t seem to rely on her beauty for confidence.
The first time I met her, I wanted her badly.
I didn’t want to want her just as much.
So I shut her down.
And the next time we met, she bolted.
“I remember you,” I said as I looked across the booth. “The woman who makes assumptions.”
I felt shitty as soon as I said it, and the hurt that crossed Haley’s face made it clear I was acting like a dick.
“Hey,” Emerson said to me. “I know you two didn’t hit it off when you met last year, but Haley’s a great person.”
“It’s okay,” Haley said to Emerson before she turned to me and said in an apologetic tone, “I realize I was rude before, but it wasn’t personal.”
