Page 35 of Falling For Liam
“Sure.”
Getting comfortable with the rest of the restaurant behind me, I stare out across the water. The moonlight shines in its depths and bathes everything in a silver glow.
I’m so lost to the tranquillity of this place that the presence of someone appearing at my side scares the shit out of me.
A little squeal escapes my lips as my hand comes up to cover my racing heart. Laughing to myself, I’m just about to apologise and order two glasses of wine when I look up.
My chin drops and my hand falls away from my chest.
“Liam?”
Liam
I knew something was off the second BJ said the taxi was outside. I can’t remember the last time I used one, seeing as all the places we go to drink these days are in walking distance. He and Dec had been acting a little shifty all night. I really should have seen it coming.
“What the fuck’s going on?” I ask when the taxi pulls up outside the fanciest restaurant this town has to offer. It’s the kind of place you take your missus for your anniversary, or when you want to pop the question. It wouldn’t be my usual restaurant of choice, but the sudden realisation of who I’m going to be spending the evening with doesn’t make it seem so bad.
“We’re running an intervention,” BJ announces.
“An intervention?”
“Yep. I call it ‘Mission; get Liam laid’.”
“Nice,” I say with a roll of my eyes. Apparently, BJ’s class ran out after his choice of restaurant.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” he asks as Dec opens the front door when he spots Nicole heading our way. “Go on,” BJ says, elbowing me in the ribs, “she’s waiting.”
I’m not sure if it’s nerves or excitement that erupt in my stomach, but whatever it is, it’s enough to have me jumping from the car.
“You can thank me later. I’ll put my music on so I can’t hear you getting some!”
Choosing not to respond, I turn to Nicole. “She has no idea, does she?”
“Nope. She looks gorgeous, though. You’re in for a treat.”
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. It was all BJ.”
“Really?” I ask, glancing back at my beaming best mate.
“Trust me, you can’t be as surprised as I was when he called for my help.”
Liv’s appearance has definitely had some weird effect on my best mate, that’s for sure, but I can only focus on that thought for so long because knowing Liv’s sat inside waiting for me, even if she has no idea, has my legs moving of their own accord.
“Have a good night,” Nic shouts as I make my way up towards the entrance. “The table’s under my name, but the maître d’ is expecting you.
As I follow behind the maître d’, my eyes dart around the restaurant, trying to spot her, but I come up empty. Please don’t tell me she’s clocked what’s going on and legged it.
I breathe a sigh of relief as we round a corner and my eyes land on her, tucked into the corner, staring out at the night beyond, looking like she has the weight of the world on her shoulders. She looks stunning with her curled hair pulled over one shoulder, her almost bare back on display. My eyes run over all her exposed skin and my fingers twitch to find out if it’s as smooth as I imagine.
The maître d’ gestures for me to join her before walking away, leaving us alone. I keep my eyes on Liv, taking in her beauty as my heart races. Crazy thoughts start running through my mind. Is she going to be okay with this? Does she want this?She was so keen to get away from me earlier that I’ve no idea where her head’s at. One minute I think she feels the same way I do, then other times I wonder if it’s just me getting carried away with myself and my fantasy of her being my perfect woman.
I can only stand and wonder for so long because the second I take a step towards her, she screams in fright, her reaction scaring the crap out of me at the same time.
Her eyes almost bug out of her head as she takes me in. I guess that answers my question about her expecting me.
My name is barely a whisper but something inside me knots. “We’ve been set up, haven’t we?”
