“Toasted sourdough bread, cream cheese, and a container of mixed berries. I threw in a candy bar just like the one you had in your bag, and a bottle of water.”
Wow.
No one, other than Linny or Jeremy, has gone to this much trouble for me. I try to find the right words. “I’m grateful…thank you…you’re kind.”
“I’m selfish.” He shoves the bag into my hand.
Looking down, I ask the obvious question. “Selfish? Why would you say that?”
“I was hoping that bringing you lunch might end with a kiss for me.”
I look up into his beautiful eyes. Memories of what we did two nights ago flash in front of me.
Rising to my tiptoes, I rest a hand on his shoulder and smile. “It deserves more than a kiss.”
“I’ll collect on Friday night,” he says before he presses his lips to mine in a lingering, soft, delicious kiss.
When he pulls back, my knees wobble. I step forward, my boot landing on the toe of his. “That was nice.”
With a brush of a finger over my cheek, he drops his voice to a low tone. “I’m going to count every fucking hour until I see you on Friday, lilac.”
“Me too,” I admit on a sigh.
“I have to get back to work.” He looks up at the sky. “Damn this earning a living thing.”
I let out a laugh. “Thank you again for lunch, Liam.”
“My pleasure.” He tilts his head. “I’m going to sear the memory of what you look like right now into my mind until I see you again.”
I look like I’ve been working my ass off. I’m wearing a wrinkled Wild Lilac T-shirt and ripped black jeans.
With a glance down at his watch, he lets out a muted curse. “I need to run. Promise me you’ll eat every last bite.”
“Every last bite,” I repeat back before he glides his lips over my forehead and takes off at a slow jog down the sidewalk.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Liam
I don’t knowwhat the hell I’d do without my family. I glance at the framed picture hanging on the wall of all of us that a waiter took at a restaurant in Greenwich Village a few months ago.
We were gathered there to celebrate Sebastian’s birthday.
It was a good night. I went solo because I’ve never felt the pull to introduce a woman I’m seeing to my family.
The itch is there now.
I know my brothers would love Athena. Nikita would want to talk shop with her since they both run businesses.
My parents would welcome Athena with open arms.
“That’s my favorite picture.” My mom taps me on the shoulder. “When you get married, we’ll take a new one.”
I spin around to face her. “When I get married? What about Nikita?”
“Candy is that girl’s life.” My mom swats a palm over the front of the navy NYPD T-shirt I’m wearing. “How can she meet a man if she spends all her of time handing out treats?”
“She owns a very successful candy store,” I point out. “She built that place from the ground up by herself. Maybe all she wants right now is to focus on that.”
