Page 18 of Made for You

“Right.” I start to walk out of the kitchen, “but not actual bells right? Because that sounds obnoxious.” Fuck that would grate on my nerves, even from her.

“No, just an expression, Liam. No bells I promise.” She rolls her eyes.

I nod and walk out silently leaving her and Hunter alone. Not the best decision on my part. The vein in my temple protrudes again. But I need a whole lot of space from her to prepare for her to be all in my space tomorrow.

Last night I tossed and turned the whole night. Every time I closed my eyes I saw Hunter and Violet, standing close, joking and laughing. It pissed me off.

I was always protective of her when we were kids, but now as adults, I want to protect her. I want to be the one she chooses.

I just need to tell her that. Maybe. What would I do if she rejected me? Women always choose my brothers over me. They’re fun, spontaneous, and happy. I’m stuck here, tied down by the inn, and I know I’m not easy to be around because of it.

I stop by the barn to gather the cleaning supplies tote I left here before heading to the inn to meet Violet.

Violet pulls in at the same time as me, parking next to the four wheeler. I take all the supplies I have and bring them inside to the kitchen before I go back out to help her.

“You know it’s customary to help females carry heavy boxes,” she huffs out as she places her box next to mine.

“I was coming back to help you, if you had patience.” I stare back at her with her hand on her hip.

“Listen, big bad wolf, you could have greeted me, and maybe relayed that information.” She scowls at me before laughing.

“Big bad wolf?” I raise a brow.

“It fits you. Lone wolf, grumpy, crotchety, muscular, furry.” She scrubs her hand over my facial hair that’s growing due to a complete lack of caring about how I look.

“I’m furry because it keeps my face warm,” I lie.

“Right.” She walks away laughing to her cleaning supplies and pulls out all kinds of bottles that I don’t recognize.

We decide to each start at opposite sides of the kitchen and meet in the middle. I have the refrigerator to clean out, and she has the oven. Seems fair enough.

This plan seems like it’s working in theory. Until we both got toward the middle and kept accidentally touching each other, and bumping into each other. She was cleaning the bottom of the cabinet and I was working on cleaning out the cabinet above full of all the coffee mugs and plates to go for a run in the dishwasher.

I was being so careful not to touch her, because it’s seriously testing my limits of restraint.

In an unfortunate turn of events when she spins around her face ends up directly at my cock. My cock, which is fully aware of how close she’s been for the last thirty minutes.

She slowly slides up my body, facing me. Her arms go around my waist, forcing a rare smile to spread across my face.

“You know, if you weren’t such a big bad wolf all the time, you’d smile more,” she whispers.

I return her gesture, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her into me. I nuzzle down into her neck and whisper in her ear, “Why? If I’m the big bad wolf I could eat you all up.”

A giggle bubbles up out of Violet. “Did you just make a joke?”

Fuck. That’s not what any man wants to hear when he tries to make a move on a girl.

I pull away from her but she grabs at my shirt, holding me in place. “I didn’t say I didn’t like it, it was just a little shocking.”

Before I change my mind, I use one arm to pull her to me, and place my finger under her chin to bring her face to mine. The moment our lips touch I swear it feels like everything is right in my world.

Much too soon the kitchen door swings open making Violet take a small step back. “Liam, where is the—”

Emma’s mouth drops open and she’s staring at our proximity. “Shit. I’m…uh… I’m going to…” Her brows furrow when she looks at me. “You’re smiling. Why are you smiling? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong. Can’t I simply smile?”

Emma runs over, clearly invading our space and places the back of her hand on my forehead.

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