“It’s the truth,” he says. “Come on, Joss, you have to see how amazing we are together. You have to know how I feel—”
I move my hands to his face and pull him to me, covering his mouth with mine. Some desperate, yearning part of me knows I can’t let him finish that sentence or I’ll completely unravel. I expect him to gently push me away so we can continue talking, but instead he hauls me up and over his lap so I’m straddling him. He grips my ass, releasing a low growl that sends a hot jolt straight to my core.
My fingers dig into his shoulders before moving to entwine in his hair. He tightens his hold on me, shifting me forward so I can feel the hard ridge of his erection through his jeans. My hips move of their own accord, grinding against him. Our kisses are messy and wet, and I’m vaguely aware of the needy little sounds coming from the back of my throat as Liam’s hands leave my ass to slip under my shirt.
I’m reaching for Liam’s belt buckle when a chiming sound nearby startles me. I break our kiss and grin at the sight of Liam with his swollen lips, lust-hazed eyes, and wild hair from my tugging fingers.
With a groan, he reaches for his phone on the end table and silences it. “I set an alarm,” he says. “I knew I’d get caught up in having you to myself, as evidenced by…” He waves a hand between us, indicating our disheveled appearances, and then points down to the bulge in his jeans. When I bite my lip to hold back a laugh, he groans again and drops his head back, staring at the ceiling.
I give him a minute before asking, “Are you sure I should go tonight? I really want to meet Fiona, but I feel like I’m encroaching on a family thing.”
Liam raises his head. “Don’t you get it by now, Joss? The Murphys see you as family. Rex sees you as family.”
I tell myself not to ask the question, but it slips past my lips anyway: “And you, Liam? How do you see me?”
He swallows hard, his dark eyes scanning my face. “I think you know.”
A thrill zips through me. I feel like I’m living dangerously by saying, “Tell me anyway.”
He releases his grip on my hips, bringing one hand up to rest on my shoulder while the other pushes my hair away from my face. “I see you as someone I wish were a permanent fixture in my life.”
My heart gives a hard jerk at his words before lodging in my throat. Why did I ask if I wasn’t prepared for the answer?
“I know that scares you,” Liam says quietly. “It scares the shit out of me too, I can’t lie. If we were two regular people, I wouldn’t hold back. I’d be game to move full steam ahead. But we’re not two regular people; we’re one regular person and one whose life and career are somewhere else.”
I nod, unable to put words to the storm of emotions raging through me. Part of me feels like I should apologize, although I’m not sure for what. I may not be thrilled with the course my acting career has taken the last few years, but ultimately, I love my job and I won’t apologize for that. Liam wouldn’t expect me to anyway. Am I sorry I’ve let things get this far between us? Let feelings grow and make things messy despite my best efforts? No. Not at all.
“It’s okay,” Liam says. “We don’t have to figure anything out right now. We agreed this was temporary and we’d enjoy it while it lasts, so…” He reaches for his phone and taps a few buttons.
“What are you doing?”
“Setting the alarm for another ten minutes. Nobody will mind if we’re a few minutes late.” He brings his lips back to mine, and within seconds I’ve forgotten what we were even talking about. Mostly.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Fiona is everything and yet nothing like I expected.
The front door of the Murphy house flies open as Liam and I stroll up the driveway, hand in hand. Upon reaching the porch steps, I get my first glimpse of Fiona, framed in the doorway. She’s smiling brightly and practically dancing on the spot as her gaze flicks between Liam and me. Her eyes land briefly on our joined hands and, if possible, her grin grows even bigger.
Despite the cold and the fact she only has socks covering her feet, she steps outside. Liam releases my hand a second before Fiona envelopes me in a hug that makes me feel as if I’m reuniting with a long-lost friend.
“I’msohappy to finally meet you, Joss,” she says into my hair. “Everyone talks about you so much, I feel like I already know you.” She loosens her hold on me and takes a step back, gripping my upper arms. “Let me look at you. God, you’re even more beautiful in person.”
I laugh because I was thinking the exact same thing about her. She has her mother’s luxurious auburn hair and brown eyes, but the spark of curiosity and something akin to mischief is all Murph. Even though I know we’ve never met, there’s something so familiar about her, it instantly puts me at ease.
Before I can say anything, Liam comes to stand beside me. Fiona gives my arms a squeeze before releasing me and all but throwing herself into Liam’s arms. He wraps her in a hug and lowers his face to her shoulder, closing his eyes. The sight makes my heart clench.
“I’ve missed you, Fi,” Liam says. “I’m glad you’re home.”
She murmurs something I can’t hear and then releases Liam abruptly, her eyes shimmering with tears. “Let’s go inside where it’s warm.” She ushers us through the door, chattering away to us as we take off our coats and boots.
In the kitchen, Mae and Nathan are huddled together looking at something on the counter. Fiona calls a greeting and the pair turn in unison. Mae’s face lights with pleasure while Nathan’s remains impassive. At the sight of Fiona, his body goes rigid and he crosses his arms over his broad chest.
After greetings and hugs are exchanged, Nathan catches Mae’s attention. “Can I go now?”
Mae grabs a nutcracker-print tea towel from the oven door handle and spins around, cracking it like a whip in Nathan’s direction. “Yes, Mr. Sullen, get out of my kitchen. Liam will help me, won’t you?”
“Whatever you need, Mae,” Liam says.
