Page 67 of Falling for Love

His eyes lit up when he saw Liam. “Can you read me a story?”

Liam glanced at me, and I nodded, smiling as I leaned against the doorframe.

“Sure, champ,” Liam said, sitting on the edge of the bed. “What’s the book?”

Hayden held up a dog-eared copy ofThe Adventures of Barkley the Brave. “This one.”

“Solid choice,” Liam said, opening the book.

Lance walked past me and hopped on the edge of the bed, and for a brief moment, I let myself pretend that this was my life.

Liam read enthusiastically, making me pause in the doorway, my heart swelling as I watched them together. Hayden hung on Liam’s every word, his little face lighting up at the exciting parts and giggling at the funny bits.

When Liam finished the story, he closed the book and ruffled Hayden’s hair.

“Alright. Time to get some sleep.”

“Okay,” Hayden said, yawning as he snuggled deeper under the covers. “Thanks, Liam.”

“Anytime,” Liam said, standing and saluting him.

I stepped into the room and kissed Hayden’s forehead. “Sweet dreams, honey.”

As we left the room and closed the door behind us, I sighed softly.

Liam turned to me, his expression gentle. “That kid’s pretty great, you know.”

“Yeah,” I said, smiling. “He is.”

We walked back to the kitchen, the air between us feeling lighter somehow.

Liam stood in the kitchen by the table. “You okay?”

I nodded, meeting his gaze. “Yeah. Thank you for doing that. He really likes you.”

“I like him too,” he said simply, and the sincerity in his voice made me question everything.

For a moment, neither of us said anything, the weight of the evening settling over us. Then Liam grinned, breaking the tension.

“So, do I get dessert now, or was that all just a ruse to get me to read a bedtime story?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Alright. You’ve earned it.”

The kitchen was quiet now, except for the faint refrigerator drone and the occasional creak of the house settling. Liam’s blue eyes fixed on me in a way that made my pulse do a little flip.

“Do I get to ask what’s next on the agenda?” he said, his voice low and teasing.

I chuckled nervously, wiping my hands on a dish towel. “What agenda? It’s a weeknight. Pretty sure bedtime for Hayden is the highlight.”

“That’s a solid highlight,” he said, his grin softening. “I think I might’ve nailed the bedtime story performance.”

“You definitely set a high bar,” I said, matching his playful tone. “But don’t get too comfortable. Hayden is finicky.”

Liam laughed, filling the space between us. “Good to know. I’ll prepare for the next round.”

I busied myself tidying the counter, not because it needed it, but because I needed something to do with my hands. The way he looked at me like I was the only thing in the room worth paying attention to made me feel both exhilarated and completely off-balance.

“So,” he said, his voice drawing me back. “Do I pass the friend-of-the-family test?”

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