Page 49 of My Favorite Sin

“Sure. Lead the way.”

I return inside with Liam’s hand in mine. When we arrive in the living room, I retrieve my hand, feeling awkward about the intimacy in front of my family and especially Dan. All eyes are on us and it’s daunting, to say the least. Before I have a chance to introduce Liam, Josh holds out his hand to shake.

“Liam, nice to meet you. I’m Josh Blackwood. This is my wife, Amabella, and our four sons.” He names each one of them, introducing Harper, too, and finishes with Daxton and Jordan.

Felix nods at Liam. “Some of us are already acquainted. Liam’s band often plays at my cocktail lounge.”

“Oh, lovely,” Mom says, not aware of the speakeasy. “Liam, we’ll have to organize for your band to play at one of the upcoming Forever Families benefits.”

“Definitely. We’re always looking for gigs.”

Liam wraps an arm around my shoulder, continuing to engage in polite conversation with everyone. My hands fidget behind my back, my palms sweating from Liam’s stance. To make matters worse, I can feel Dan’s eyes boringinto me. I steal a glance at him, but he doesn’t notice, too busy glaring at Liam.

“Ally tells us you play the double bass,” Mom says. “It’s so lovely she’s found someone with similar interests as her.”

Liam winks at me, teasing. “Yes, except Ally knows nothing about jazz other than a few artists from her coin collection.”

“Oh, The Greats of Music.” Mom gives an excited clap. “Did Ally tell you she almost has the complete collection?”

“Yes. I’m dying to see it. I have all the jazz artist coins except Gershwin.”

“Ally, bring your collection downstairs to show Liam.”

This whole interaction with my parents is downright humiliating, like I’m seven years old and they’re proud of showing me off. I’m bright red in the face, I can feel it, and escape for my bedroom immediately. When I return, Liam is sitting comfortably in an armchair. Without a word, I place my folder of coins on the coffee table for Liam’s viewing.

“Incredible.” He flips through the folder, pausing on the George Gershwin coin. “Man, I’m jealous.”

Mom has a gushing smile. “We spent years searching for Gershwin.”

Dan coughs. My eyes dart to him, and I realize he’s trying to hide a laugh. He mouths the wordsorryto me, then distracts himself with his phone. A moment later, I receive a text.

Dan

You sure you don’t want to stay at my place tonight? I’ll give you something real to blush over.

I delete Dan’s message, not wanting any evidence of this secret between us, and send him a blunt message in response, telling him not to send me texts like that.

Dan

Okay. I guess I can make a promise too.

My eyes flare wide at his reference to the promises I made, naked in the back seat of his car.I shove my phone in my purse, hearing another disguised laugh that gets beneath my skin, and close the coin folder. “We need to leave now. Long drive back to Liam’s home in the city. Mom, can you please put the folder back in my bedroom?”

“It was lovely meeting you all.” Liam rises to his feet. “And don’t worry, Mr and Mrs Blackwood, I’ll take good care of your daughter.”

“What the fuck is with that dress? Her tits are bursting out of it. They look like they’re about to suffocate her.”

I laugh into Liam’s chest, wrapped in his arms as we watchAmadeuson his couch. His commentary of the eighteenth-century style corset costuming is hilarious.

Cuddling with him is nice. He rents a place in Williamsburg in Brooklyn. The apartment is small but cozy, decorated with various jazz instruments strung on the walls. We finished dinner half an hour ago. The lights went off andAmadeuson, and Liam hasn’t let me out of his arms since.

“I know bigger is supposed to be better, but those tits are way too big for my liking,” Liam continues, stroking my hair.

“Are mine to your liking?”

He chuckles. “That’s why you wanted us to watchAmadeustogether, isn’t it? To get me thinking about your tits.”

“Stop.” I swat his arm, laughing. “You don’t normally think about my breasts?”

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