Page 20 of Made for You

She laughs, “You sure do know me better than anyone else in this world, don’t you, Liam?”

“Like the back of my hand, beautiful.”

She chews on her bottom lip, her eyes raking over my body, but she shakes her head, closing the tailgate on her car and walks around to the driver’s side. I sit dutifully in the passenger’s seat, not pushing that I should be the one driving instead of her. I don’t feel like that statement would go over very well with her.

I am going to try to not be the big bad wolf anymore. For the first time in a long time, it bothers me that someone thinks of me like that.

The kiss with Liam in the kitchen the other day has shaken me. I mean, I’ve daydreamed about him kissing me since the first moment I saw the man he became. But the reality was so much more delicious than I thought it would be.

All I can think about is the next time, his hands will roam my body, the rough calluses rubbing along the soft skin under my shirt. I'll be able to run my hands over all the hard muscles earned from chopping wood. He'll trail kisses down my throat, and across my collarbone.

I clench my thighs at the thought, and shake my head. This is not going to get me anywhereproductive.

I turn to the oven and take out the bagels I was making for the inn. I really don’t think Liam would be happy if I set off the smoke detectors because I was daydreaming about him. Or maybe he would. Either way I don’t know if I’m ready to find out.

“What smells so good in here?” Emma walks in still in her pajamas with a travel coffee cup in her hands.

She leans on the edge of the counter and sips from her cup.

“I made bagels for you guys. They freeze really well so you can put out however many you need and they won’t go bad.” I place the hot pan on the island.

She leans forward inhaling the fresh scent wafting off the pan. “Mmm. Can I eat one now?”

“I would definitely wait just a minute. Plus I’m whipping up some cream cheese flavors. How do you feel about a herb and garlic cream cheese?”

“I feel very, very good about that.” She licks her lips in response.

“What is that smell?” Liam comes barging into the kitchen.

“Food big brother. It’s delicious food sent by an angel. What a kitchen at an inn is supposed to smell like,” Emma answers him.

I see the moment the defensiveness takes over his face. He narrows his eyes and grunts in her direction.

“How about a real answer from you?” He nods in my direction.

“Just a simple bagel. And I’m making some cream cheese. Would you like one to go?”

“So I’m not welcome to sit here and drink my coffee and eat a bagel?”

I stammer, “Of course you are. It’s your kitchen. I just thought maybe you were busy.”

He leans into me, “I’m joking. A to-go bagel sounds perfect.”

Flustered, I pick up a bagel to slice and slather with cream cheese before wrapping it up for him.

“I didn’t know you could do that.” Emma eyes Liam over her cup.

“What?”

“Make jokes, flirt,” she answers flatly.

“Oh he can make some good ones.” My cheeks heat at the reminder of the joke he made right before kissing me.

Liam winks at me, taking his breakfast and leaving Emma and I alone in the kitchen once again.

She picks up a bagel off the pan and slices her own before putting cream cheese on top.

“So… want to share what’s going on there?” Emma bites into her breakfast and moans. “This is the best fucking bagel I’ve ever had.”

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