He calmly twirled the glass in his hands. “Did you submit your drawing yet?”
“I’m going to soon.”
“Surfer?”
“Yeah. I don’t think I’m actually going to win though. I mean, drawing isn’t my livelihood or anything, so it doesn’t matter.”
William leaned in as if exchanging a secret and beckoned me forward silently, curling his index finger. “It could be. If you really wanted it.”
I looked up at him, and the curve of his mouth twitched up. Something froze me in place, and I found myself staring into William’s eyes for an ungodly amount of time.
I cleared my throat. “Yeah, well... Maybe. So when are you going back to Scotland?”
William slowly looked away. “Can’t tell yet. We made some progress with the pub’s books this afternoon, but a lot more changes are needed to get this place on track.”
“Any new updates from back home?”
“Mum hired one of my cousins to pick up the slack while we’re down a housekeeper. A lot of my family help with the inn, actually. It’s nice.”
I sipped more of my drink and felt bolder than usual. “Minus Angus?”
William stared at me. “That’s the best part.”
“Have you guys attempted to talk at all?”
William’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed. “Nope.”
I mumbled out of the side of my mouth, “Sounds like you’re scared...”
“Scared of what exactly?” William inched his upper body closer until he was all I could breathe.
The sound of his deep voice this close to me was so intimate.
“You tell me,” I whispered.
William was nearly touching me now. The anticipation of it was unnerving, and I tried to refrain from jumping into his lap.
The air was electric.
My hands itched to caress his muscular thigh, our faces merely inches apart. I brought my drink closer to my chest to avoid touching him, but it brought the cold glass against my breast, and the sensation made my nipple hard.
William looked down, and I wondered if he noticed my body’s reaction.
He glided his tongue across his devilish smile. “What about you?”
His brogue drew out the vowels in “you,” a deep, almost growl-like response.
“What about me?” My voice quivered.
William locked eyes with me, taking his time formulating the next question. It seemed like he was enjoying watching me squirm.
“Why are you getting kissed by guys like that?”
His stare was penetrating as I struggled to find a response. There was a possessiveness in his voice.
“He’s a nice guy deep, deep down... I think.”
William chuckled and took another sip.
