Page 38 of Knot a Good Idea

“Oh.” I stop to admire a painting on the wall.

It’s a view of wooded hills illuminated in the sunset, intricate with detail. Little houses dot the scene with cream and white paints, and the sky is made of brilliant shades of pink and purple.

“This is gorgeous,” I say.

“Oh, thank you. I painted that,” Liam says, shrugging.

“Youdid?” I turn to look at him, my mouth open. “You’re talented.”

He blushes, and my heart stutters.

“Thanks,” he swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I, uh…I love to paint,” he offers sheepishly. “You’ll see some of my artwork around here.”

“How long have you been painting?”

“Since I was a kid. It helps me sometimes,” he says. “I can get panicky about things. And when I do, I’ll start painting.”

I blink. “Oh.”

“Sorry, that’s probably too much information,” he laughs awkwardly, turning to head down the hallway. “Come on. Your room’s over here.”

I frown, following him. “It’s not too much information at all. It’s art. I do the same thing with baking. Whenever I start to freak out, I’ve found that baking helps me stay focused and rational.”

It hasn’t helped in a while, though. Nothing has.

We stop at an open door, and he turns back to me, a soft smile returning to his face. “You want to bake this weekend?”

I pause.

Do I?

I haven’t been excited about baking since...

“Have you ever made a macaron before?” I ask.

He furrows his brow in confusion. “What are those?”

I can’t help it. I giggle. It escapes me before I can stop it, a sound of delight I haven’t made in months.

“Yeah. Let’s bake this weekend,” I say, surprised at how relaxed I am around Liam.

Yes, he’s an Alpha, made of lean muscle and a towering frame.

But he’s also gentle, with soulful eyes and a genuine smile.

I already know I have a friend in him.

His eyes light up in a lovely rich green, and my chest constricts.

“Hell yes,” he grins, then he motions to the room. “This is all yours.”

I step inside and shake my head as he follows behind me.

“This is too much.”

“Which part?” Liam sounds genuinely confused.

“Uh…all of it?”

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