Page 87 of The Reno
Liam’s face flickered with surprise, shepherding me to the door with a hand at my lower back. Abigail ran to the car, herbook bag swinging from her hands.
He leaned in. “You look beautiful, by the way. Those jeans—” His voice lowered.
“Dad!” Abigail shouted, making us jump. “Hurry, we’re going to be late!”
I laughed as Liam’s eyes closed in a wince at Abigail’s piercing voice. We all piled into Liam’s van and dropped off Abigail at school first. She jumped out of the van, giving a wave.
“See you later, Kat!” she shouted and ran off to her gaggle of friends waiting by the school gate.
“She’s cute,” I said, turning to Liam.
“She can be.” His lips upturned. Proud. That was a proud dad face.
“You don’t have to come, if you don’t want to,” Liam said a few moments later. “To Abi’s match. Don’t let her twist your arm.”
“I’d like to,” I said. Even if it scared the shit out of me and it felt like we were teetering near “girlfriend–boyfriend” territory already. The line that I had set in the sand. “If that’s okay with you and Yasmin. I don’t want to overstep—”
Liam glanced at me. “If you want to be there, you’re coming.”
“Yes, boss,” I said, adding a flirty edge to my tone.
“Kat,” Liam warned.
“What?” I laughed.
“It’s been three days. Don’t push me.”
My cheeks burned.
Three days since Liam and I had made our agreement. Three days of missed opportunities. On Monday, Liam had set outearlier than me, flying off in his van to fix some crisis at the Joneses’ extension. On Tuesday, Sandra took me for lunch and then to watch Ray, the high-maintenance jazz performer, at the club. Sandra and I silently elbowed each other, our shoulders shaking with laughter, as Ray’s toupee flipped up as he stormed off in anger at someone talking too loudly during his set.
Then, last night, Liam helped Abigail with her homework and cooked dinner. I wanted to give them some space together, so I read my book in the annexe. Later in the evening, I got a knock at my door—Liam delivering a hot, lingering kiss and a foil-covered meal.
So we certainly hadn’t had time to fully… explore our new agreement. And the tension was painful. It was like I was aware of every breath he took and the moments he was watching me from the corner of his eye, his gaze dragging across my legs or my breasts. I noticed how easily he lifted shopping bags out of the car, his muscles flexing. I smirked when I saw his eyes lingering on my mouth as I finished my breakfast and at his warning glare when I took a bit longer licking the spoon.
Liam’s van came to a stop. I heard the creak of the brake handle. The click of our seatbelts.
Our lips met, and I gasped at the contact. Liam’s hands were back in my hair. It was hard and fast. Liam’s tongue stroking mine. Memories of Liam’s head between my legs resurfaced, as they had every moment since.
Then, he was gone.
“Sorry,” Liam said, his forehead against mine. “I’ve wanted to do that for three days.”
“You should have texted me.”
Liam winced. “Abigail—”
“Yeah, it’s weird,” I admitted.
“She’s back at Yas’s tonight.” He winced. “I don’t want it to come across like I want her out—”
“I didn’t think that, Liam.”
“She is my priority. Always.” Liam’s eyes flicked to me, serious. “I just want to say that upfront. She will always be my priority.”
My throat thickened. God, that was such a lovely thing to say. I knew the bar was on the floor when it came to fathers. They just picked their kids up, and it had everyone swooning. But it didn’t mean it wasn’t lovely to hear from Liam’s mouth. His expression was serious, like he was ready to jump into action for Abigail, no matter what. I knew from experience how lucky Abigail was to have a dad like that. I’d been without one.
“I know, Liam. I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
