Page 39 of Persuading Liam

“You’re welcome,” I answer, just as we arrive at Redpoint.

“Marley!” Gus shouts from behind the bar, grinning widely. The entire place turns to look at us. “You came back.”

“That’s Gus,” I tell Fin, “She’s amazing.”

“Cider?” Gus asks, already pulling it for me as we sit at the bar.

“You know it.”

“I’ll take one too,” Fin says.

Gus brings two pints over to us.

“This is Fin,” I tell Gus. “She’s working at the Post with me.”

“It’s so nice to meet you,” she shakes Fin’s hand. “You let me know if you like that cider. If not, I’ll get you something else.”

Fin lifts the glass to her lips, takes a sip, and lets out a moan of satisfaction that silences the entire brewery.

Trace, the other bartender fumbles the pint of beer he was holding and dribbles it right down his crotch.

“I’m going to guess that you like it,” Gus says, amused, half watching Trace race off the men’s room with a bright red face.

“It’s so good,” Fin gushes, pulling her eyes from Trace’s receding form. “Like candy.”

“It’s been a big hit,” Gus agrees. She turns her attention to me. “You wouldn’t happen to know why Liam is in an exceptionally good mood today would you?”

NowIturn bright red. My stomach does an excited little dance knowing he’s just feet from me and in a good mood.

“You should have seen her this morning,” Fin tells her as if they’ve been friends for years. “Late, wet hair, all lit up like a Christmas Tree. And I kept hearing her sigh from her office.” She imitates it.

Gus laughs. “Oh my God, I like you. Liam has been the same way. Humming. Actually humming to himself. Do you know how often I’ve heard him do that in a year?”

Fin shakes her head.

“Zero. Never. I didn’t even know he knew how.”

Fin laughs and my blush deepens. Somehow knowing I put him in a particularly good mood makes me feel like I’m on top of the world. I can’t stop my eyes from flicking towards his office.

As if he sensed I was there, he steps out of said office, meets my gaze and the world stands still. My heart pounds heavily. My core fires up with need, and the grin he flashes—seals the deal. I am his and there is nothing I can do about it.

28

LIAM

The way my heart stumbles in my chest the moment I lay eyes on Marley should concern me. I’ve never felt it before and since I know I’m not going into cardiac arrest—I have a feeling it’s something a little scarier.

The odd thing though? It doesn’t scare me. Not really. All these years that I’ve purposely avoided relationships seem designed to bring me to her and that feels better than I expected.

The tiny voice in the back of my brain warning me that this could go very wrong is still there, mind you, but my heart beats too loud to hear. Especially when her eyes light up and she gives me a private smile.

My God, the way my mind races us right back to bed. I have half a mind to ‘show her my office’, but it’s not really my style. I’ll leave that to Max and Gus who think they are being covert but most definitely aren’t.

“Look who’s here,” Gus announces loudly as if the outline of my heart pounding on my chest and our heated gaze wasn’t proof enough that I saw her.

I tear my eyes away from Marley to address Gus. “I see that.”

“And this,” Gus waves toward the blonde sitting next to Marley, who I didn’t even notice until right this moment. “Is Fin.”

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