“I’m fine,” he says automatically, squeezing my arms before releasing me to shove his hands in the pockets of his dress pants. “Rex is…he’ll be okay. I asked if he wanted to leave, but he said he wants to stay. All of his friends are here.”
I seek out Rex in the crowd. He’s with a group of kids by the punch bowl. He seems to have taken charge of ladling the punch into cups, which makes me think of Liam and the way he takes charge and makes sure people are taken care of.
“Kids are resilient,” I say, turning back to Liam and looping one arm around his waist. “He’ll keep having fun tonight and we’ll make sure he has a good Christmas break.”
Liam presses a lingering kiss to my temple. I close my eyes, enjoying the sensation; when I open them again I notice a few people around the room watching us. Mostly older couples, but a few people our age too. I resist the urge to squirm or free myself from Liam’s embrace. I didn’t used to mind PG public displays of affection with Alan until I realized more often than not his doting husband act reallywasan act and there were usually cameras aimed at us.
It feels completely different with Liam, though. He’s naturally affectionate and shows it with ease. I’m sure he’s completely oblivious to the curious eyes watching us, and I somehow doubt he’d care even if he was aware. It’s oddly refreshing.Liamis refreshing; there are no pretenses or games with him. If I’m not careful, I could get used to this.
The song playing over the speakers transitions into a ’90s pop song I vaguely recognize. Couples, groups, and kids flock to the dance floor, bopping along. I smile as I watch Rex and his friends guzzle their cups of punch before racing to the center of the dance floor.
Over the course of several upbeat songs spanning from the 1960s to current hits, no fewer than five people come over to talk to Liam. One woman thanks him profusely for fixing the hole in her front porch, followed by a man who invites him for a thank-you dinner after all his hard work erecting a wall-to-wall bookcase for his wife. Liam introduces me to each person, and I’m equal parts relieved that no one seems to recognize me and touched at how full of praise and gratitude people are for all Liam does around town.
“You’re practically the town hero,” I say after a sweet older lady finishes pinching Liam’s cheeks and hobbles away on the arm of an equally adorable senior gentleman.
“The town wanted to erect a statue in my honor, but I told them to put the money into the community center instead.”
His earnest expression nearly has me fooled until one side of his mouth quirks, followed by a full-body laugh.
“You almost had me going,” I say, shoving playfully at his chest. Still laughing, he takes my hand and pulls me toward him, looping my arm around his waist as a slow song starts playing. My eyes slip closed when he leans in and presses a kiss to my forehead.
Halfway through the song, a warm hand settles on my hip. Unless Liam has suddenly sprouted a third hand, it’s not his since both of his hands are hooked low on my back, the tips of his fingers just barely brushing the top of my butt. I look down to find a pair of warm brown eyes looking at me imploringly.
“Are you trying to cut in, little man?” Liam asks Rex. He releases me and swoops down as if to pick up his nephew.
Rex backs away, releasing a sound between a squeal and a giggle. “You can’t pick me up! I’m too big for that now.”
“Too big as in too heavy or too big as in too old?” Liam asks. He gives Rex a second to ponder the question and then adds, “Will being picked up embarrass you in front of your friends?”
One side of Rex’s face screws up as he thinks. “No.”
“Okay then.”
Rex’s face glows as Liam scoops him up. He hooks one arm around his uncle’s neck and reaches for me with the other. By the time the three of us get situated with our arms around each other, the slow song has ended. They either don’t notice or don’t care because we continue to sway in place. With my head on one of Liam’s shoulders and Rex’s head on the other, I can’t control the smile that overtakes my face. My chest feels like it’s expanding and filling with warmth. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt anything even close to this, and I’ve never had this exact sensation. It’s wonderful and also scary as hell.
We stay locked together through another song and then Rex says he’s ready to be with his friends again. He kisses both of our cheeks before Liam sets him down and he runs off toward a pair of girls across the room.
Liam makes a face as he shakes out his arms and rotates his shoulder on the side he was holding Rex. “He really is too big for me to carry him anymore, but I can’t resist,” he says. “I have this feeling I’m going to blink and he’ll be taller than I am, you know?”
I reach up to rub his shoulder, and he folds me into his arms again, burying his face in my neck. I let out a low hum as his stubble scratches against my sensitive skin. It both tickles and turns me on, making me think of other times his stubble has scraped against my bare skin. Warm breath rushes against my ear, telling me he’s laughing at my reaction. He places a few light kisses on my neck before releasing me.
“We never did make it to the refreshments table,” he says. “I don’t know about you, but I could use a drink to cool off right about now.”
I think I’d need a deep dive into a snow bank to cool off at this point. “Lead the way.”
As I peruse the assortment of snacks, Liam makes his way to the far end of the table where the drinks are. Concerned murmurs reach my ears from nearby people about the weather taking a turn for the worse.
“I think we should leave now,” one woman says to another while an older man on my other side says, “Hip’s acting up. This storm’s gonna be a doozy.”
I don’t give it much thought until a guy in his mid-twenties approaches Liam, a phone clutched in his hand. “Mrs. Turnbull just called to tell me the power is out on Cherry Lane. I poked my head outside and I think we should start encouraging people to head home. I’m going to leave now for the shop to get my snow plow.”
Liam tells him to be safe and keep in touch. When the guy walks away, giving a nod in my direction, Liam joins me where I’ve been lingering a few feet away, the cookie in my hand all but forgotten.
“Ned works for Nathan and me,” he explains, his gaze sweeping over the thinning crowd. Some people are still dancing and chatting while others are making their way to the coatroom or out the front door. “We have a contract with the city and a few local businesses for snow plowing.”
“Is there any way to know when the power will be restored on my street?” I ask. I don’t relish the idea of going home to a cold, dark house. I suppose I could camp out in the living room; the fireplace would give off enough heat to prevent me from freezing.
“Let me make some phone calls,” Liam says. “Can you keep an eye on Rex?”
