Before he can say anything else, I hold up a hand. “It’s okay, Liam. Really. You don’t owe me anything, and that includes an apology about the other day. It was…”Incredible. Mind blowing. The best sex I’ve ever had.I swallow the words along with a sigh. “It was an experiment, like we said, and we can just leave it at that.”
His eyes go wide. “O-okay. But if you’d just—”
“It’s fine!” I say a little too forcefully. “Really. It’s good. I’m good. We’re…”
“Good?” His eyes light with humor and a certainknowingas they slowly sweep over me from head to toe and back again. I’ve never been as aware of my body as I am right now. Despite the sweater and winter jacket I’m wearing, it feels like he can see straight through my clothes. Throughme.
My skin tingles as I think about the fact Liam has seen me naked. Heard the breathy, needy sounds I make during sex. Had his hands and/or mouth on every inch of my body. And I know what his skin feels like against mine, what his low murmurs sound like in my ear, how it feels to have the almost-physical weight of his dark bedroom eyes watching me, the ecstasy on his face as he—nope. That’s enough. I shift from foot to foot in an effort not to clench my thighs together because I’m certain Liam would notice, the way he notices everything else.
My full-body flush deepens when Liam takes a step closer and rests his hand on my shoulder. “Even with yourverybelievable assertion that you’re good andwe’regood, I’d like for you to give me a chance to explain. You told me things the other night about…” He trails off and raises his head to look around. People bustle past on the sidewalk, although no one appears to be paying attention to us.
“You told me about your ex and how his cheating made you question things,” he continues. His voice is lower than before, and I find myself leaning closer even though I can hear him. “I don’t want that to be the case with me. I have no regrets about the other night. It was amazing.Youwere amazing. I got a call from Mae that morning to tell me Thea hadn’t picked up Rex to take him to school. She needed to head to the café, so she asked if I could take Rex. I had every intention of heading back to your place, but the day snowballed from there with emergencies around town, and those emergencies have barely stopped in the last few days.”
As if to illustrate his point, his phone rings again. He tilts his head back, squinting at the sky as if he’s praying for patience. With a deep breath, he silences his phone without even looking at the caller ID. When he meets my eyes again, he gives me a weary smile. “Sorry. Anyway. The times I called you, it was because I wanted to explain. When you didn’t answer or call me back, I kept hoping I’d run into you so I wouldn’t have to show up at your door like some lovesick stalker.”
It’s utterly ridiculous, but I almost want to cry from relief. I’m beginning to realize the insecurities and fears I developed during my marriage to Alan have farther-reaching effects than I suspected. Liam isn’t Alan, though, and I need to stop jumping to conclusions and assuming the worst.
Liam’s small smile spreads into a grin, making me realize I’ve been standing here staring at him without saying anything. “I appreciate you telling me all that,” I say. “I thought…well…”
He nods and waves a hand. “I get it. It hit me afterward that I should have left a note. I fully intended to be gone just long enough to take Rex to school, grab us some coffee and breakfast, and then return to your nice, warm bed.”
I’m about to jokingly ask if he was more interested in my bed or me when his phone rings again. His expression darkens and he mutters, “Oh, for fuck’s sake” as he yanks the phone out of his pocket and silences it once more. “I’m sorry to cut this short, but I need to run before Mr. Baros blows a gasket.” He takes a step back and then returns, surprising me by reaching for my hand. “If I call you again, will you answer?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I will. Sorry about before.”
His fingers tighten around mine. “No apologies necessary. If you were thinking about heading into Sweet Escapes, Rex is in there with Mae. He’s mentioned you a few times, so I know he’d love to see you.” He gives my hand another squeeze and pulls me in to kiss my cheek before turning and dashing across the street to his truck.
Inside, Rex is sitting at a table near the back. He’s got his head propped on one hand while the other half-heartedly scribbles in a coloring book. This forlorn little boy is a far cry from the exuberant child I met the other day outside the community center.
I clear my throat as I approach. He lifts only his eyes, as if it’s too much effort to raise his whole head. His expression brightens the instant he sees me. Talk about an ego boost.
“Hi, Joss!” he says, straightening in his seat and setting aside the blue coloring pencil in his hand.
“Hey, Rex. How’s my favorite kid in Honeywell?”
He grins, despite the squinty-eyed look he gives me. “Do you even know any other kids in Honeywell?”
“Well, no, but I have a feeling you’d still be my favorite even if I did.”
“He’s certainlymyfavorite,” Mae says, appearing at my side and bending to kiss the top of Rex’s head. She sets down a mug of hot chocolate—at least I assume it’s hot chocolate from the plethora of mini marshmallows on top—and a plate with two chocolate chip cookies. “This will be our little secret, okay Rexy? I never let Fiona or even your mom or uncles have treats so close to dinnertime. I’d never hear the end of it if they knew I was making an exception for you.”
Rex smiles up at Mae and thanks her. She kisses his head again and tells him we’ll be right back, then motions for me to follow her. She waves at the lone stool at the far end of the counter as she goes around to the other side.
“Everything okay with Rex?” I ask as I perch on the stool.
“Physically, yes.” Mae turns to me, sliding a plate with a shortbread cookie onto the counter in front of me. “The center is closed for the afternoon. They’ve decided to only open three afternoons a week, hoping it’ll mean they can eke out their funds and prolong closing for a while longer. Thea has been working extra with the holidays coming, and Liam has been run ragged this whole week. I offered to watch Rex, forgetting I’d agreed to fill in for Regina for the afternoon, so the poor boy is stuck here with me for the next couple of hours. Nathan said he might be able to pick him up when he’s finished working, but he’s been as busy as Liam.”
“Oh.” I nibble on my cookie as I twist in my seat to glance at Rex. His shoulders are slumped as he colors with one hand and eats a cookie with the other. My heart gives a little pang. Despite not having a ton of experience with kids, I remember what it was like tobeone and to feel the sting of rejection from a parent who was always busy with work. I knew my mom loved me, just as I’m sure Rex knows Thea loves him, but it’s hard to understand as a kid that your worth isn’t tied to how much free time your parents have. At least Rex has a bunch of people in his life who clearly adore him; during the months when filming ofOur Thorny Familywas on hiatus, I had a long line of thoroughly-screened babysitters until I turned twelve and able to stay on my own.
I turn back to Mae. “Would it be all right if I took him home with me until someone can come get him? I just need to run to the store for a few things, and then I could feed him dinner and entertain him at my place. That way you wouldn’t have to split your attention here, and Nathan wouldn’t have to leave work early. I know you guys don’t know me well—”
“I know all I need to know,” Mae interrupts. “I trust you. And Liam trusts you.”
The matter-of-fact way she says this makes me wonder what Liam has said about me. Aboutus. Would he tell Mae we spent a night together? I know they’re close and she’s like a mother to him, but are theythatclose?
“I’m sure Rex would much rather spend an evening with you than stuck here at the café anyway,” Mae continues. “And you’d be helping us all out. Are you sure about this?”
“Positive. You’ve all been so good to me in the short time I’ve been here, so I’m glad to have a chance to return the favor. I’ll go run the idea by Rex?”
