Page 28 of Falling For Liam
“Well, what are you waiting for?” he asks, giving my shoulder a shove with such force that I stumble forward. Thankfully, Liv had already turned back towards the bar. It gives me time to take in what she’s wearing. The long cream dress is covered with blue and pink flowers and it has a slit up the side, which gives me an insane view of her bare thigh. I bite down on my bottom lip as I continue taking in her exposed curvy leg until I get to the fucking straps around her ankles once again. Fuck me. They’re not quite as sexy as the last pair but fuck if they don’t give me ideas that has my cock swelling.
BJ must get fed up of waiting because eventually the sound of his voice greeting both Liv and Nic filters through to me. “Evening, beautiful ladies. Looking good tonight.”
“Scrubs up pretty good, doesn’t she?” Nic asks.
“Yes, indeed she does. Liam, what are you thinking?” All heads turn my way and I try to pull my mind out of the gutter to answer appropriately.
“Gorgeous,” I mutter, keeping my eyes locked onto Liv so she knows I’m being sincere.
“Two pints?” Nic asks before turning her back to us to fetch our drinks.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” I say to Liv, and when her eyes harden, I realise that it was the wrong thing to say.
“Why? Thought I’d be hiding in my room?”
“What? No. I just…” I trail off, wondering how every single word that comes out of my mouth just pisses her off. “You’ve been busy today. The house looks incredible. You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know. I…uh…wanted to. It helps relax me.” She slams her lips together when she realises she’s opening up, and I hate it. The Liv I first met was so easy-going and seemingly carefree. I’m determined to fight to help her find that again.
An awkward silence descends on us and it’s not until Nic returns and places our drinks down on the bar that I feel like I can breathe again.
Nic and BJ managed to keep us entertained with bullshit small talk for the next hour or so, but I fucking hate it. I hate being stood next to her and not having her acknowledge me. It doesn’t mean I don’t feel her stare every few minutes. Her eyes burn into my skin and it’s almost painful not to turn and look at her, but I have a feeling she’d be pissed off if she knew I knew.
That is, until BJ excuses himself to chat up some brunette at the other end of the bar and customers descend on Nic, dragging her attention away from us.
The second I feel her eyes, I turn to meet them. Hers widen and I see her suck in a sharp breath at being caught.
“I can feel it every time you look at me, you know,” I whisper, leaning in towards her, ensuring only she hears. I watch her neck as the muscles flex with her swallow, and I fight to keep from running my tongue up the smooth skin. “Come for a walk with me.” It was meant to be a question.
“I…I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I’m not going to jump you.” She jolts back from me, and I instantly regret the words. “I’m sorry, I didn’t…shit. Fuck. Please, Liv. I just want to talk. I miss you, but you’re right here. It’s crazy,” I admit, hoping it’ll help convince her.
She stares at me, and I can see the war going on in her head. Luckily for me, I can see a lot more than she thinks she shows, and I know she’s going to agree.
Eventually, she slides from the stool and, with my hand on the small of her back, I guide her to the front door. Looking back when I hear my name called, I find Nic staring at me. I nod at her, letting her know that Liv’s safe, and continue to follow her out of the shack and into the silent night of the beach beyond.
“Now what?” she asks when we’re stood on the empty promenade.
“Walk on the beach?”
She doesn’t respond but, after a beat, she turns towards the gap in the wall and steps down onto the sand.
We walk side by side for a long time, neither of us saying anything. But as comforting as her presence is, I need more.
“Talk to me, Liv.”
“About what?”
As much as I want to know the truth about what happened with her boyfriend and his brother, I know I’m pushing my luck to ask.
“Anything. How are you finding being here?” I feel like a twat the second the question falls from my lips; it sounds ridiculous. She’s here because she needed to escape. It’s not like she’s here on holiday or anything.
“I like it,” she whispers after a few seconds. “I dunno, it’s weird…I feel like I belong.”
“You do belong. This little town might be quiet, but it’s pretty awesome. We’ve got everything you could need.”
“I’m beginning to see that.” She turns to me, and it’s the first time since she arrived that she flashes me with her stunning, genuine smile. It melts my heart the second it twitches at her lips.
