His eyes dipped, meeting mine, and time seemed to stretch as he stared at my mouth.Then he spoke, and my entire world changed.
“I noticed, Jess.I’ve noticed fucking everything.”Liam’s voice was rough in a seductive way that’s haunted my dreams since.
It was a voice a woman hears during sex.
Liam used that voice with me.
And if there’s one thing I know about Liam, he doesn’t do anything by accident.He’d noticed me becoming a woman...and he wanted me to know.
Then the boy—no, man—I’d loved since I could remember had driven away and become a pilot.
Love.
Mom told me it was a crush, that every young girl has one, and it would be wrong of me to expect Liam to be interested.That he was Jayden’s best friend.
Like people had ownership over another.
I was confused by that.
Mom watched me watching Liam year after year and would scowl at me.Dad even told me not to haveany ideasabout that boy.
The boy he treated like a second son.
So I tried to hide it as best I could.I guess some of it sunk in because I got on with my life.During college, I volunteered on movie sets and took tiny parts where I could.
Then I got the part inHigh Tops, a popular cop show, and it felt like things were starting to happen for me.
I should’ve moved to LA, but the truth was, knowing Liam could return home to Texas one day motivated me to stay.The movie industry was growing in Fort Worth, Texas, which means more roles and opportunities.
Liam returned for the holidays, and each time I waited for him to say something.
He never did.
So I took the bull by the horns one year and dressed in the shortest denim shorts and a halter top during the Fourth of July celebrations.He barely blinked.Correction, he did blink, but then he glanced away.
At Christmas I wore a pair of booty hugging black pants and a tight sweater.I even added a shot of tequila to his eggnog to loosen his...well, briefs.
“It takes more than one shot to knock me over, but nice try, Squirt,” Liam whispered in my ear before leaving that night.
Goddamn it.
But he had kissed my ear, and that means something.
Listen, I didn’t stay a virgin.
I’m notthatpathetic.
But every guy plowing into me looked like Liam when I closed my eyes.Hence, being twenty-four and single.
How can I love someone else when I’m in love with him?
It’s worth noting Liam isn’t married.He hasn’t dated anyone seriously that I’m aware of, and it does beg the question why.
So after knocking on their front door and hearing them inside cursing and carrying on, I tried the doorknob and found it unlocked.
Idiots.
I walked in, and when I dropped my bags and leaned in the doorway, the two of them nearly leaped out of their chairs.
