Page 88 of Landing Liam

He doesn’t respond as his mouth crashes against mine. The box in my arms slips to the ground, forgotten, as I melt into him. His kiss is everything I didn’t know I needed—fierce, tender, and full of promise.

When he pulls back, his forehead rests against mine, and he whispers, “I couldn’t wait any longer.”

I smile up at him knowing I couldn't wait any longer, either.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Liam

Maggie’s cheeks are warm beneath my hands, her expression shifting from shock to something softer, something that pulls at my chest. “I can’t believe you’re here,” she whispers, her voice unsteady. “You’re really here.”

“I’ve been standing out here for twenty minutes, trying to work up the nerve to come in,” I admit, feeling a little sheepish. “But then you walked out, and… well, here I am.”

Her blue eyes widen as she tilts her head up. “What are you doing here?”

I take a deep breath, letting the weight of my words sink in before I speak. “I never should have let you leave without figuring out what this is. Without figuring us out.”

Her lips part slightly, and the vulnerability in her gaze almost undoes me. “I don’t have a job anymore,” she says, almost as if she’s confessing a secret.

I can’t help the chuckle that escapes me. “Why not?”

“I quit,” she says, her words tumbling out. “Or… maybe I was let go. Honestly, I’m not sure anymore.”

My brow furrows, and I can’t help but smile at her honesty. “What’s the plan then?”

Her shoulders lift in a small shrug, and I know better than to suggest what I want—to tell her to get in my car, come back with me, and figure this out together. Maggie Cooper isn’t someone you tell what to do; she’s someone you wait for, someone who makes her own way.

“I need to call Jack,” she says, her voice growing steadier. “See if that job offer is still on the table. And then… I guess I’ll head to Odie’s and grab my things.”

My jaw tightens at the mention of his name. “Odie?” I repeat, the frown unmistakable in my voice. “The guy who was texting you?”

She nods, her lips twitching with amusement at my reaction. “Yeah. I’ve been crashing at his place for the past few days.”

It takes every ounce of willpower not to press the issue further. Instead, I let out a breath and try to shake off the sudden wave of possessiveness. “Do you want to get your stuff now?” I ask, keeping my tone even.

Maggie bites her lower lip, a gesture that sends a ripple through my chest, and leans in slightly. Her body is still close to mine, and the warmth of her presence is enough to steady me. “Actually, I could really use a piece of pie and a cup of coffee first.”

I smile, bending down to grab the box she dropped before taking her hand in mine. “Let’s go,” I say, knowing there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than right here, pie or no pie.

***

The diner is quieter than I expected for a weekday. The warm glow of the overhead lights casts a rose-gold hue over the small space, and the faint hum of conversation blends with the sound of coffee being poured behind the counter. Maggie slides into the booth across from me, her eyes scanning the laminated menu, though I can tell her mind is elsewhere.

She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, the smallest of frowns tugging at her lips. “Do you think this place has good pie?”

“I’ve never had bad pie here,” I say with a small smile. “But I’ll warn you—they tend to overdo it on the whipped cream.”

Maggie’s lips twitch upward, and I take that as a small victory. “Good. I could use something over the top right now.”

The waitress, an older woman with kind eyes and a pen tucked behind her ear, approaches. “What can I get you?”

“Two slices of whatever pie you’ve got left,” I say, handing her the menus. “And two coffees.”

“You got it,” the waitress replies, disappearing behind the counter.

Maggie leans back against the booth, crossing her arms as she studies me. “You didn’t even ask what kind of pie they have.”

I grin. “Does it matter? Pie is pie.”