“Let me just quit while I’m ahead and reset things a bit.” He takes a breath and extends his hand. “Hello, I’m Liam.”
I take his warm hand in mine and throw on my best neutral poker face in the process. This is very much necessary because, full disclosure, Liam is arguably the most handsome nerd I have ever seen.
To clarify, I have no idea if Liam really is a nerd—and in no way do I mean it in a disparaging way. I, myself, am a nerd, but I’m a standard issue drama nerd. No, this guy looks like he lived through a teen movie, but the popular girl never gave him the makeover she thought he needed to make him a viable option for her. Instead, he got through high school just fine on his own and filled out in all the right places and in all the right ways on the road to adulthood.
“Nice to meet you, Liam. I’m Winnie.”
“Ah,” he says, “would this be the Winnie I had the pleasure of speaking with yesterday?”
“That it is.”
“This should probably be the part where I tell you that you don’t look like your voice but, in this situation, you actually look exactly like your voice.”
“Really? And how do I look and sound?”
He hesitates for a second, seeming unsure before he quickly says, “Enchanting.”
I try to quip back with a snappy reply, but nothing comes. My cheeks threaten to stain red before I swiftly pull myself back together. “I’m sorry, but isn’t that a little corny?”
“Yes, well, sometimes the truth can be corny.”
“And you’re coming on a little strong considering you’re still holding my hand.”
We both look down between us to see what I’m talking about, but he doesn’t let go. And neither do I.
“As it happens,” he says, “I believe it’syouthat’s still holdingmyhand.”
I realize that he’s right and immediately release his hand from mine, stepping away as I clear my throat. “Sorry about that. It’s been a bit of a morning over here.” I watch as Liam slides his hand into his pocket, and I have to say, I’m sorry to see it go. “So, you said you’re here visiting Juliette? Did she have to suddenly run out or something?”
“Not quite, she just stepped into the other room to take a phone call from her manager.”
“Oh, great,” I say unenthusiastically, hoisting Ollie up to hold him more firmly against my chest.
“You’re not a fan of her manager, I presume?”
“No, he’s fine, but it just means we’ll most likely be going to an event or a function tonight, and I was hoping to have some time for myself.”
“Do you always accompany my aunt?” he asks.
“Mostly, and the places we go to are typically interesting, but I have a lot of work to do at the moment.”
“Right, your play. I’d love to hear more about that, by the way.”
Pleasantly surprised that he remembered, I’m about to reply when Juliette strides into the room, holding her locked phone and what I can safely assume is her third cup of tea, judging from the abandoned mugs I see scattered on nearby tables. I turn on the spot and place Ollie down behind the couch in front of me and out of her line of vision.
“Well, if it isn’t my two favorite people in the whole world. Winnie, how was your hunting expedition?”
I open my mouth to answer, training my face to appear calm and collected, when Juliette goes on instead, turning to Liam. “Winnie was just out with a very distinguished young man who loves the outdoors as well as photography.”
“Sounds like a pervert.”
“Excuse me!” Juliette gives her nephew a scandalized glare, but I just grin. “Ignore him, Winnie. Tell us, how did it go?”
“He was a pervert.”
Liam doesn’t try to conceal his satisfied smile as Juliette huffs and spins away towards the kitchen.
“Well, they can’t all be winners. Better luck next time.”
