“I’m good for now. It’s not hurting too much at the moment.”
Tugging me against him, he draped half my body over his, then placed my injured arm on his chest, taking infinite care. Kissing the top of my head, he wrapped both his arms around me.
His breathing soon evened out, and then light snores echoed through the room. My last conscious thought was how nice it felt to be back in his arms.
“Oh my,”a voice exclaimed, startling me awake.
Blinking my eyes open, I looked at my mom, her cheeks tinged pink, her mouth catching flies.
I peeled my cheek off Liam’s bare chest. “Mom.”
Getting over her surprise, she smiled at Liam, who was looking much too comfortable for someone who was caught out in bed.
Sitting up, I brushed my stubborn curls out of my face. “It’s not what it looks like.”
“I beg to differ,” a sleep-roughened voice replied next to me. “It’s exactly what it looks like.”
“Not the time,” I hissed at a grinning Liam.
He sat up, waving at my mom. “You must be Quinn’s mom. It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Liam. Her boyfriend.”
The word echoed through my body, leaving pleasant tingles in its wake. I liked him saying he was my boyfriend more than I should.
“I’m Paola.” My mom beamed at Liam, who’d brazenly taken my hand and kissed it. “Breakfast is ready in thirty minutes.”
She might have phrased it as a statement, but it wasn’t. Groaning, I knew there was no escaping this. But Liam had only himself to blame for what was about to happen next.
He had not only broken into my apartment, but he’d also announced to my mother that we were together. She’d be planning our wedding as soon as she walked out, her encyclopedia-sized binder full of wedding inspirations always handy.
“That sounds perfect,” Liam responded. “We’ll be there.”
Mom clapped her hands, looking giddy. “Everything will be ready in ten minutes.”
She gave me a look that meant “You better be there in five or there won’t be any cornetti for you.” Mom always made her own bread and pastries. And her cornetti were the best I’d ever tasted. No matter how often she’d shared the recipe with me, I could never quite get them as fluffy as she did. And when she was in a particularly good mood, she put vanilla cream inside that melted on your tongue.
After shooting one last glance at Liam, her eyes twinkling in delight, she left.
Getting out of bed, I pulled flowy pants and a sweater from my closet. No time to waste. “You do realize you just pretty much signed another marriage contract?”
Liam’s warmth hit my back, and then his arms wound around me and pulled me into his body. I came willingly, my body craving his. “And what’s the problem with that exactly?”
Turning my head to judge if he was joking or not, since his deadpan tone gave nothing away, I shook my head. “You’re crazy. You didn’t get out of a marriage contract only to get into another.”
“I have no issues with signing another contract if it’s you I’m going to be bound to.”
Stepping back, I took in his expression. Nothing hinted at him joking. He looked as serious as if he was making a business deal. My heart fluttered in my chest, reminding me how much I needed him to mean it.
Leaning down, he kissed me, a gentle caress, before stepping back. “Better get ready if we don’t want to be late.”
Biting down on my lip, I nodded, wondering what the hell was going on. Padding to the bathroom off the kitchen, I digested his words.Does that mean he wants to marry me?
I didn’t remember getting dressed, but the cold water I splashed on my face snapped me back to reality. When I stepped back into the living room, a now-dressed Liam was leaning against my small kitchen island, typing on his phone.
Looking up as soon as I entered, he grinned, and my knees wobbled. That smile would get him everywhere.
He placed his lips on mine as he walked past, and I sighed into his kiss. Pulling back, he winked at me. “Be right back.”
I stood frozen in the same spot, the taste of him lingering on my lips. I didn’t think you could miss anyone as much as I did him. But he’d made himself a place in my heart, and I hoped he wouldn’t damage it again. I wasn’t sure I’d survive a second time.
