Page 2 of Booked for the Holidays
Liam must notice the way I’m looking at him with hearts in my eyes.
“Uh, yeah, well it’s for everyone.” He motions toward the house behind me.
“Right. I know.”
Basking in the alone time with Liam, I stare up at him as every coherent thought in my brain refuses to make the connection with my mouth.
After an awkward pause, his brows lift. “So, is Jasper around?”
I have got to get a grip, or I’m going to embarrass myself. More than I already am.
“Uh, yeah.” I motion toward our living room off the foyer. “Right this way.”
As soon as Jasper and Liam spot each other, they fall into an easy, breezy, beautiful bromance. It makes me feel even sillier for being an inarticulate mess. But to be fair, I don’t want a bromance with Liam, I just want him to see me as more than Jasper’s little sister. And then fall desperately in love with me. Oh, and there’s sex, too. Lots of toe-curling sex. That’s how it would be with Liam, I imagine.
“Hey, man, why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” Jasper asks, standing to greet Liam with a hug.
“Wasn’t sure of my plans until this morning when I got on the plane. I hope the invitation still stands.”
“Of course it stands. I’m just surprised you showed.”
“You said tonight was going to be a rager, and you know I can’t resist a good party.”
Jasper laughs. “It’s got nothing on Elton’s party, but we’ll try to show you a good time.
“You remember my sister, Juniper.” Jasper motions to where I’m now leaning against the doorway watching them.
“Of course, I remember June Bug.”
My face scrunches at the nickname. Again.What does a girl got to do to grow up around here?
“She’s opening a bookstore soon,” Jasper says.
“A romance bookstore,” I add because I love Jasper, but he doesn’t know all the details of my vision. “I just signed the lease for the space last week.”
Liam nods at me. “Congratulations. It must be in the Jensen blood to be an entrepreneur.”
Jasper chuckles. “Yeah, but I told her I’m shit with the business side of things, and she should talk to you.”
“It’s fine.” I throw out a dismissive wave. The visual of me rambling on about my romance bookstore dream while Liam politely nods enters my head. “I’m sure you have a million other things to do.”
When my eyes find Liam’s again, I swear there’s something in them that wasn’t there a moment ago. Like he might be looking at me differently. Like I’m a grown woman with passions and desires that intrigue him.
“Never too busy for Jas’s little sis.”
Or…maybe not.
Jas’s little sis?Ugh. That’s worse than June Bug.
“Let’s find some time to chat tonight.”
Disappointment is crushing my throat, so all I can do is nod.
At that moment, my mom walks into the living room, a gasp of excitement leaving her mouth at the sight of Liam. “Oh, Liam. You flew all the way from London for our Christmas Eve party? We’re so honored.”
My mom might be just as obsessed with him as I am.
“I didn’t make it home to London. I was in Vancouver visiting a friend, then came here.”
