Page 47 of The Love Chase

“Em, we’re here.”

I rubbed at my eyes, completely forgetting about the makeup plastered to my face, and looked around. We were parked in the driveway of a red-brick townhome that resembled a row house in Europe. There was a garland of peonies hanging over the front steps with a banner that said “Welcome Home, Newlyweds.”

I rolled my eyes. Bridget didn’t miss a thing. Nothing like announcing to the neighborhood that we’d just got married.

“Come on, let’s get you in some pajamas so you can relax,” Liam said, interrupting my perusal of the house.

Mmm. Pajamas.

I hadn’t even realized how it sounded until his cheeks darkened. “I mean, you can get in pajamas…not that I’ll help you in some.” He rubbed at his neck, giving me a sheepish smile, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at his embarrassment.

Liam was around to my door in a heartbeat, opening it and grabbing my waist to help me down to the ground. The shifting of my weight put me off balance and I fell into him, our chests touching. His arms were strong, unwavering, as I slowly slid against his chest until my feet hit the driveway. Being this close to him was pure agony. Before, I had only ever dreamed of being in his arms, of him holding me in such a way.

Instead of stepping away when my feet were firmly planted on the ground, Liam kept his grip on my waist, looking down at me with his brows furrowed. His heart was racing beneath where my hand rested on his chest. I swallowed, moving my hands to his arms. It looked like he glanced at my lips, but it was too dark to tell for sure.

Surely not. This was Liam after all. Why would he want to kiss me?

I suddenly wished there were more streetlights on this road so that I could see his face clearer.

Come on, streetlights, help a girl out.

The air was still sticky despite the sun having gone down, and my hands were clammy where they held onto Liam’s biceps. His generous biceps.

Stop thinking about his biceps, Emma. This is your best friend.

He’s also your husband now.

Okay, well, he’s going to have to stop holding me so close and staring at me like that.

As if he heard my internal argument with myself, Liam cleared his throat and released me, taking a step back.

“Come on, I’ll show you around.” He fished out two duffel bags from the bed of the truck, one for each of us I assumed, and led me to the door. The rest of my things were going to be brought over tomorrow by a moving company Bridget had hired, and I tried not to think about what might be in those bags. Knowing her, she probably packed mine full of lacy little things, hoping I’d take advantage of the situation.

Which I certainly would not be.

This was Liam. He might legally be my husband, but our relationship wasn’t real, and there would be none of…that.

My face heated, and I was thankful for the shadows of the porch as Liam unlocked the front door.

Then he froze.

“Uh, hang on a sec,” he said, lifting the duffle bags inside before spinning to face me.

“Liam?”

It was still too dark to make out his face, but it didn’t matter because he suddenly looped his arm around my waist and then plucked me off the ground with another beneath my knees. My arms automatically went around his neck, my heart thundering in my chest.

“W-what are you doing?” I asked.

“I know this wasn’t your ideal marriage, Em, and while a lot of this is fake, I don’t want to take everything from you. I don’t want you to feel like you missed out because of me.” He pulled me tighter against him, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. “So, for a moment we’re going to pretend it’s real and I’m going to carry you across the threshold. Okay?”

Swoon!

I was speechless. I had no idea what to say or how to respond to his thoughtfulness. Why would he do this for me? In the end, all I could do was nod.

He lifted me higher and stepped through the door. “Welcome home, Emma Walker.”

Goosebumps prickled on my skin at my new name on his lips. Since both of his hands were holding me, and the lights were still off, engulfing us in darkness, it somehow heightened my awareness of Liam even more, the places he was touching tingling in anticipation.

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