Page 169 of Bad Blood

Liam and Brighton turn, his cheek-splitting smile a dead giveaway that the little shit had this planned.

“My escort awaits.” Liam turns his smile to Crissy, and she takes his offered hand. “Crissy, this is Dr. Fields.”

“We’ve met.” Brighton glances at him out of the corner of her eye, as confused by his formal introduction as I am, but gives Crissy a kind smile.

Crissy pulls Liam to her, folding his hand between both of hers as she leans into his shoulder. He closes his eyes from the sensitivity, but I’m the only one who notices. “You were sleeping,” she offers as an explanation.

Liam turns to face her, pecking her on the forehead. “When?”

“A week ago, I’m not sure,” she looks to Brighton for confirmation.

She nods.

And Liam coughs into his fist.

“I want X-rays tomorrow, no excuses.” Our eyes meet and I confirm that I’ll make sure they get done.

“Good night,” Crissy says, tugging on Liam as she leads him down the path. “I’ll take him straight home.”

The second they’re out of earshot, Brighton turns on me. “You couldn’t warn me?”

“About what?”

“His grand idea.” She waves her hands into the air, rolling her eyes.

I make a promise to myself to take care of that soon.

“That’s what the text was for.”

“It was vague, at best.”

“But it was a heads-up.”

A grin lights up her face. I don’t have it in me to explain the real reason behind Liam’s decision. Not yet. I’ll wait to see how things play out before I make a move.

There’s a bit of shame when Liam slips into my mind, along with how this situation poses a whole new set of issues. A part of me knows this is a bad idea, but after discussing it with him, I couldn’t find a reason to say no. He has to know there’s the possibility of this changing the dynamics between the three of us, but he seems to be okay with it.

Life doesn’t take breaks to allow us to catch our breath often, but the last five minutes were a glimpse of fresh air. We’re not all in the same boat and don’t weather the same storms. Some of us are drowning. And some of us forgot how to swim. But Brighton tossed me a life jacket and the option of a second chance.

I don’t know what the future holds, and I’ll probably regret it if I don’t take the opportunity to make things different between Brighton and me, but I need to find the right time.

She stuffs a fist onto her hip. “I have so many things I need to set in motion before Monday.” She twirls her pinkie ring, a million thoughts plastered on her face as she stares down the path. “I need you to make sure he sees Kline before his appointment. Did he come up with an excuse for wanting to transfer?” She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, and my eyes follow her movements.

I take a step toward her as she continues to ramble, take her hand in mine, and pull her until her chest is flush against me. Her eyes grow as I cup the back of her head and lean in. And the distant hum of the city falls away. Now is as good a time as any.

“So I could do this.”

She stiffens the second my lips meet hers. But this is the perfect way to get her to shut up and stop thinking. It only takes a second for her body to respond and meld against mine. I trace my tongue across her mouth, coaxing it open while I wait for her to make a decision.

The second her tongue touches mine, I’m a goner. Her hands settle on my chest, her touch sending a spark of energy through me. Her lips are firm and insistent, her tongue sweeping into my mouth with a hunger that makes my knees weak.

The world dissolves until all that exists is the pressure of her body against mine. Her fingers dig into my skin as she clings to me. The intoxicating taste of her and the way her hands roam over me leave a trail of fire in their wake.

She breaks the kiss, her breaths coming in quick gasps, her heart pounding against me. With a growl of approval, I capture her mouth again, the jolt of need leaving me breathless and wanting more. We get lost in the moment until someone passing by clears their throat.

She pulls away, both of us out of sorts, and she rests her forehead against mine. A smile tugs at the corner of her mouth as she wipes the pad of her thumb across her lower lip and says, “Liam’s full of good ideas.”

48

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