Page 116 of Falling for my Brother's Best Friend

“Until something else comes up.”

“No.” I tug on his tie. “Nothing will. I promise. We’re alone right now. Are we going to keep fighting?”

“We’re not fighting.”

I tug on his tie once more. “Kiss me.”

He smirks. “Because you want it so bad, I kind of wanna punish you and say no.”

“But?”

His hand comes out of his pocket, his arms wrap around my waist, and he lifts me off the ground. “I have a hard time saying no to you.”

I lower my lips to his, and finally my world rights itself. The melancholy feeling overtaking me leaves with a swipe of Liam’s tongue against mine.

He slowly sets me down and kisses me one last time. “We’re leaving early.”

“No complaints from me.”

I catch the valet peeking out from behind the bushes.

I push Liam toward the door. “You go first.”

He inhales a deep breath but smacks my ass and walks through the entrance. I wait a few minutes then return to the room where everyone is already eating. I slide into my chair. Holly, being too observant for her own good, flutters her eyelashes at me.

I ignore her and eat two bites of my salad. We talk about the overly hot summer, and I ask her about the honeymoon, though my gaze keeps wandering to Liam’s table. His eyes always seem to be on me too. Did I make a mistake by not coming out beforehand?

Midway through dinner, Grandma Dori clears her throat. “Savannah, time to tell everyone about the auction items.”

“Let her eat,” Austin says.

“We’re the hosts, and there are certain expectations.”

Austin says nothing but gives me the classic I’m sorry look.

I wipe my mouth and place my napkin on my chair, grabbing my list of items to announce.

When I stand at the microphone, I wave. “Hello everyone. Me again.”

This time, I do look at Liam. He’s smiling brightly at me, and I smile back. My dinner isn’t sitting well in my stomach from being so nervous about outing Liam, but I’m so proud of him. He’s going to see how well his paintings are received by everyone, then he’ll be able to live a free life just like he wants me to.

“In a few minutes, these barriers will be removed for you to cast your silent bids and try to win an array of generous donations. To start, we have a survival excursion from Lifetime Adventures. A six-tier cake from Sweet Suga Things. There’s a toolbox filled with every tool man’s dream, donated by Hammer Time. Terra and Mare has donated a six-course chef’s table meal. And Lard Have Mercy has donated a two-hundred-fifty dollar gift certificate. And our bigger prizes include a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and an all-inclusive trip to New York City on a private jet.”

Everyone ‘ohhs’ and ‘ahhs.’ Thank you, Wyatt Whitmore. Brooklyn smiles at her husband.

“But there’s one item I want to talk about in particular, and I’m going to unveil this one first.” I take the microphone off the pole, my gaze glued to Liam, who tilts his head as though he wonders what I’m talking about. I can’t stop smiling because I’m so happy to share his talent with everyone. I move the barrier and take the cloth off Liam’s painting. “This is an original piece of art by a local artist. It features the gazebo in fall with a lot of the businesses in downtown.”

“Gorgeous,” Grandma Dori says.

There’s another course of ‘ohhs’ and ‘ahhs’.

“I see Terra and Mare.” Harley nudges Rome.

“And there’s the diner on the corner. Is that Karen inside?” someone else points out.

“Who did it?” Holly asks, leaning forward.

“You might be surprised to hear that it’s our very own Liam Kelly.” I put my hand out toward his table.

Everyone turns around, but my eyes land on a vacant chair.

“You got mad talent, dude…” Denver’s words fade when everyone searches for Liam.

But he’s gone.

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