Page 40 of This Heart
“Aurora, I really do want your thoughts and opinions on things. Do you think I’m giving Kim the wrong idea by inviting her here tonight?”
She swallowed hard before answering. “I think the question you should be asking is do you?”
With that, she gently pulled her hand from mine and headed down the steps.
Aurora
I shook my hand as I quickly walked down the steps. What was happening to me? My entire body felt on fire when Liam took my hand in his. And that look in his eyes was…it was confusing. I knew a part of me was upset Kim was here. That much, I could admit. It wasn’t jealousy, or was it? Did the idea of her spending time with Liam bother me? I was certainly taken aback to see that she had dinner with them. But why? I needed to figure out why I was feeling this way and nip it in the bud.
The sound of Liam’s footsteps catching up to mine had me drawing in a deep breath. I needed to get my shit together before getting back downstairs.
I could hear Harper and Kim talking in the kitchen. The doorbell rang as I got to the bottom step, and I went to answer. The rest of the gang was here, and the sense of relief that filled me was almost palpable. Declan smiled, then looked over my shoulder. I knew he was looking for Harper.
“Harper is in the kitchen.”
He nodded and made his way past me. Cadie and Kian walked in next, with Cadie holding a giant tray of bakery items.
“That looks heavenly!” I kissed her on the cheek as she passed me.
Kian leaned down to place a kiss on my cheek. I shut the door and turned to see Liam taking the large tray from Cadie.
I followed everyone else into the kitchen.
“Harp,” Liam said, placing the dessert tray on the kitchen island as he took a pan and a dish towel from her hands. “You don’t have to clean up.”
“I don’t mind at all.” She was mostly done anyway, but still.
“I can finish in here,” Kim stated, not making a move to help Liam, and she obviously hadn’t been helping Harper from what I could tell when I walked in.
Liam smiled. “Why don’t you all head on into the living room? There is a bar cart in there. Help yourselves.”
Kian clapped his hands. “Now we’re talking!”
Harper and Cadie both laughed.
“I’m going to join them,” Harper declared, with Cadie making her way out of the kitchen as well.
Kim walked up to Liam and put her hand on his lower back. My brows rose at the intimate gesture.
“Let me help you, Liam.”
He turned, causing her arm to fall to her side. “I should have introduced you. I’m so sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”
“I can introduce her if you’d like,” I stated. Kim turned to me and smiled. “How kind of you, but I think it would be more appropriate if Liam introduced us.”
She took the pan and towel from Liam and handed them to me. “Here you go, Aurora, since you offered to help.”
I stared at the items she held out and tried not to give her the stink eye. It was becoming increasingly clear I did not like this woman at all.
Liam cleared his throat. “Nonsense, Aurora, just leave it all for me.”
Taking the pan and towel from Kim, I replied, “Don’t be silly. I don’t mind helping and I already know who Kim is.”
Unfortunately.
I swore her right eye twitched.
“You’re sure you don’t mind?” Liam asked. “I’ll be right back to help you.”
