“Remember, Maddie.” Liam spoke up again. “You can’t laugh or you lose the game.”
“I won’t.” Her daughter was tryingsohard not go giggle as she remained as still as a statue.
Less than two minutes later, Liam announced, “You win!”
Maddie’s long, unruly hair flew around her shoulders when she began jumping up and down. “I win, I win, I win!”
“Great job, baby girl.” Allison gave her daughter a double thumbs-up.
She looked to Liam who gave an almost indiscernible shake of his head.No tracker.A long sigh of relief escaped as she pushed herself up to her feet.
“Are you going to do it, too?” Maddie got even more excited at the idea of her mom playing the “game”. To Liam, she revealed, “Mommy’sreallyticklish.”
“She is, huh?” Liam’s lips curved into a too-cute-for-his-own-good grin.
“Don’t even think about it.” Allison pointed a finger his way.
His deep chuckle left his shoulders shaking and her lips fighting the urge to smile.
Clearing his throat, Liam motioned for her to come to where he stood. She went to him, turning around so her back was to his front.
Without having to be told, Allison shifted her stance and put her arms out to her sides.
“I bet it goes off on you, Mommy,” Maddie teased.
Dear God, I hope not.
Liam turned on the wand and inched his body closer to hers. “Lift your arms a little bit.” He used his free hand to guide her wrist a few inches higher. “Hold them as steady as you can.”
Allison had to work to keep them steady for the electric jolt still running through her veins. Never before had her body reacted to a man’s touch the way it did with his. It was confusing. Unexpected. Invigorating.
Arousing.
She could only imagine how incredible his hands would feel if he moved them…lower.
“Spread your legs a little more.”
The timing of Liam’s innocent command nearly left her choking.
“S-Sorry.” Allison cleared the stutter from her throat, shifting her stance to give the man more room to work.
Get yourself together, Al. And get your head out of the gutter.
A hurricane of emotions swirled around inside as Liam proceeded to wave the wand close to her body. She could feel the heat from his as he stood closely behind her.
While he traced her still form down one side and up the other, Maddie taunted and teased as her focus bounced between them and the TV. Liam shifted to the side before bringing the wand up behind her neck. He slowly moved it lower, not stopping until he’d nearly reached her feet.
Liam stood tall, transferring the wand from one hand to the other. For the next several seconds, he followed the same pattern down her front.
“You’re clear,” he muttered low enough only she could hear. A breath later, he transformed himself back to the easy-going guy from before. “Holy cow, Mads! Your mom won the game, too!”
“Yay, Mom!” Maddie cheered with gusto before turning her attention back to the flatscreen mounted high on the wall.
Allison’s grateful smile swayed Liam’s way. “Thank you,” she barely whispered appreciatively.
The intriguing man sent her a quick, knowing wink. “Be right back.” He waggled the wand in the air.
She remained in place as she watched him turn and walk away. Assuming he was on his way to return the EDD to its rightful place, Allison took a step to her right with the intention of joining her daughter. She stopped, noticing how completely enthralled Maddie was with the show she was watching.
