Page 9 of Knot Really Engaged
Her eyes widen, a blush creeping up her neck. “I did not,” she protests, swatting at my arm.
I laugh, holding up my hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, you didn’t. But you did snore a little.”
She narrows her eyes at me, her lips pursing ina way that makes me want to kiss the pout right off her face. “I do not snore.”
“You were breathing so heavily the captain asked me to control you?” I joke.
She glares at me. “I. Do. Not. Snore.”
“Whatever you say, princess.” I wink, feeling the atmosphere between us shift from sleepy and comfortable to something more charged, more electric.
We stand, gathering our belongings in a comfortable silence that’s punctuated by the occasional elbow jab. Our hands brush as we reach for our bags, and I feel a spark of electricity shoot up my arm. I glance at Audrey, wondering if she felt it too, but she’s focused on making sure that everything she got out of her purse during the flight is back in.
“Ready to tackle the McCallister extravaganza?” I ask as we step into the aisle, my voice low and teasing.
“Anniversary. It’s my parents’ anniversary,” she corrects me, rolling her eyes. “And only if you promise to save me from at least three awkward conversations with distant relatives.”
“Deal. But I get to use you as a shield when my mom starts grilling me about my love life.” I grin, picturing the inevitable interrogation.
“Fair enough,” she laughs, bumping hershoulder against mine. The contact sends a shiver down my spine, and I have to resist the urge to wrap my arm around her. “Looks like we’ll be each other’s human shields against the onslaught of Aunt Mildred’s cheek pinches and Uncle Bob’s bad toupee jokes.”
“Don’t forget the ever-present threat of your grandma’s mystery casserole,” I add, shuddering at the memory of her culinary disasters.
“Oh God, it’s been almost ten years. I thought we agreed never to speak of that again,” she groans, covering her face with her hands. “I swear, I can still taste the burnt raisins and the unidentifiable lumpy bits.”
“We’ll pretend to eat it, and I’ll protect you from anything else,” I promise.
“You’re the best.”
“Don’t forget it,” I say, casually as I lean in close, my breath ghosting over her ear. “Besides, there’s no one else I’d rather have by my side, holding my hand through the week.
She shivers, and I can’t help but smirk, pleased with the effect I have on her. She looks up at me through her lashes, her hazel eyes sparkling with something that looks like anticipation. “Careful, Liam. Keep talking like that, and people might start to get the wrong idea.”
“Or the right one,” I counter, my voicedropping an octave. I hold her gaze, letting the moment stretch between us, heavy with unspoken possibilities.
She swallows, her tongue darting out to wet her lips, and I have to clench my fists to keep from pulling her into my arms and kissing her senseless. Thank fuck, before I can do something reckless, the line starts moving, and the spell is broken.
Chapter Five
Liam
I’msquished against the cab door, Audrey’s bags taking up half the back seat and most of the trunk. It’s like she packed for a monthlong expedition instead of a weeklong family celebration. I can barely move without knocking over a suitcase or two, but I can’t help but laugh at the absurdityof it all.
“Did you leave any room in your closet back home, or did you bring it all with you?” I tease, raising an eyebrow at the mountain of luggage surrounding us.
She’s laughing at what I just said, her eyes lighting up like they always do when she’s genuinely amused. It’s been years since we shared anything—let alone a taxi ride—but some things about Audrey never change. Her nose crinkles adorably when she laughs, and I feel a warmth spread through my chest at the sight.
“Can you believe Mrs. Henley still has that hideous flamingo collection on her lawn?” I quip, gesturing out the window as the cab rolls past the infamous yard. The plastic birds are faded and chipped, but they still stand tall.
“Liam, those are practically historical landmarks by now,” Audrey chuckles, shaking her head. Her laughter is infectious, and for a moment, it feels like we’re kids again, sneaking cookies from my mom’s secret stash. I can almost taste the chocolate chips melting on my tongue.
“Hey, remember that time we tried to repaint them?” I ask, nudging her shoulder with mine. The contact sends a spark through my body, and I have to resist the urge to lean closer.
“We? I remember that being totally a you, Ethan, Max, and Caleb situation,” she says, hertone playfully accusatory. She crosses her arms over her chest, fixing me with a mock glare that does little to hide the amusement dancing in her eyes.
“Hey, you covered for us,” I point out, holding up my hands in surrender. “That makes you an accessory to the crime.”
“I don’t think you’re right. But I only agreed because you bribed me with your leftover Halloween candy from that year,” she chuckles, the sound low and warm. I remember the way she’d haggled with us, driving a hard bargain for her silence. Even then, she knew how to negotiate like a pro.
