Page 48 of Until We're More

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“Duh, that’s why I called you, remember?”

“And that’s why I’m going to take you home.” He stood and tugged me up with him, catching me when I stumbled.

Wow. I was more impaired than I realized while seated, and now the room was spinning. “Dammit, I didn’t mean to get this drunk. How’d it sneak up on me?”

“My guess? The scotch.”

“Dammit.”

“You said that already,” he said with a chuckle. “And it looks like I will be carrying you out of here. Don’t worry, it’s not flattery. Just necessity.”

“No, I—” The next instant he was carrying me, and I’d be embarrassed if I wasn’t so turned on by the way he scooped me into his arms and pulled me to his firm chest. But when I’d tried to make a move, he’d stopped me, which meant…ugh, I was probably going to regret everything in the morning.

Cool night air hit me, and Liam boosted me higher in his arms, making the world around us spin again. “Where’s your car?”

“In the parking lot.”

His low laugh vibrated through me, awaking every cell in my body. “Never mind, I see it.”

The next thing I knew, I was in my passenger seat, and Liam was getting behind the wheel.

“My car emphasizes how big you are. You look like one of thoseSpace Jamaliens, all crammed into such a small seat.” Another round of giggles burst out of me.

“Not really sure what to say to that. Guess I’ll add that to things to ponder about myself, right after my face.”

“Right?” A vague self-preservation instinct instructed me to zip my lips and not say anything more, but thoughts were so hard to keep hold of. The drive home only took a few minutes—or maybe my eyelids had drifted shut. Hadn’t I decided to flirt with Liam so I wouldn’t have regrets?

Or did I decide I’d regret it?

Dammit, I was never drinking scotch again. Plus, three margaritas. Or was it four?

“I can walk,” I said when Liam opened the car door for me. I took his hand, though, because I did need something to hold on to. Once I was on my feet, I hooked my elbow through his arm and leaned heavily on him as we climbed the stairs.

As soon as we reached my bedroom, I flopped onto the foot of my bed and dropped my head in my hands. “Driving made things too spinny. We should’ve walked.”

“Next time I’ll carry you the ten miles home.” He slipped off my heels. “Because you never would’ve made it in these.”

“Okay, that sounds good.”

He laughed, and I peeked through my fingers at him. The room was dim, only the light from the hallway spilling inside.

“I don’t want to end up a lonely cat lady with a bunch of regrets.”

“Oh, please,” Liam said. “You only have one cat.”

I stuck out my lips in a pout. “I think you’re missing the point.”

The bed dipped as he sat next to me. “Don’t worry. If you get another cat or two, I’ll stage an intervention.”

“Yep,” I said with a sigh, “you definitely missed it. It went right over your pretty head.” I froze. Earlier I’d said something about his face, and now I’d just called him pretty out loud.Just stop while you’re ahead. Or behind. Or before you get behinder.

That’s definitely not a word.

“Oh, so I’m just a dumb jock now?” He jabbed my side, and I jerked and scowled at him. “I know what you meant. But your worries are invalid.”

I tucked up a leg so I was facing him. “Oh yeah? Why?”

He brushed the hair off my face and secured it behind my ear, and his palm was so damn warm against my cheek I wanted to sink into it and fall asleep. And as my eyes began to drift closed, he said, “Because I’d never let you be lonely,” and suddenly I felt awake and turned on all over again.