She leans up to sweep her lips over mine in a soft kiss. “Thank you, Liam.”
Thank you, Athena, for giving me a reason to hope.
I hold onto those words as we fall onto her bed, and her hands drop to my belt.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
Athena
I rush backinto Wild Lilac after spending an hour in bed with Liam.
He ate me to an orgasm before I sucked him off.
He didn’t have a condom, and the ones I still have in my nightstand drawer wouldn’t fit.
He tried, and we laughed at the fact that they were too small.
It didn’t matter.
It was still magical and perfect in every possible way.
I walked back to the store feeling as though a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Liam knows that my parents have made horrible mistakes, but he didn’t judge me because of them.
I still saw adoration in his gaze. I still felt tenderness in his touch.
He agreed to meet my family next week.
Maybe my twenty-fourth birthday will be the start of the best year of my life.
“You’re back,” Leanna singsongs from behind the table. “Your cheeks are flushed. Your hair is messed up. It looks like you had a good time with that gorgeous man of yours.”
I fumble with something to say. “We…I…”
“You don’t owe me an explanation.” She sighs. “I think you should duck out of here more often to meet him.”
I think so too.
“Al is on his way over.” She points at the coolers. “I got everything done, so we are ready to hit the road for deliveries.”
“What would I do without you?”
She tilts her head. “You’ll never find that out. I plan on sticking it out until the day I die.”
I can only hope that’s the truth.
“I’ll take you up on that offer for my birthday.” I smile. “I want to take the day to get ready for a very special dinner my family has planned.”
Narrowing her gaze, she studies my face. “I hope Liam will be there.”
Hearing his name come from her lips so effortlessly keeps the smile on my face. “He will be.”
“Mark my words, Athena.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “By this time next year, you’ll have a diamond ring on that finger.”
I glance down at my left hand. “One day at a time, Leanna.”
“An assistant can dream, right?” She flashes her wedding ring. “When he does pop the question, promise me that you’ll let me help with the flowers for your big day.”
“I promise,” I sound back even though I don’t want to tempt fate.
