Page 72 of Bound by Love
She looked him over. “You’re too damn slick.”
He frowned slightly. “And you were able to make that assessment sitting over there in the corner?”
“It’s all about the body language.”
Lea wrapped her hands around Liam protectively. “Don’t go insulting him, Mary. Liam’s perfect in every way.”
Mary gave Brie a sideways glance and threw back her drink.
Brie was surprised to see Mary acting like the old “Nemesis” of her past, but Brie did her best to play it off, saying, “Liam, you should be honored that Mary’s trying so hard to win you over.”
Mary shrugged, glancing at the bartender and giving him a flirtatious wink. “Hey, big boy, could you get me another one—but make it a double?”
“Sure thing, gorgeous, and consider this one on the house.”
Lea shook her head, telling Brie, “I don’t know how she always does that. One little wink and, boom, the guys fall all over her.”
“It’s a talent I was born with,” Mary said nonchalantly as she took her free drink and held the glass up to Lea.
“Wink at me, pussy cat, and I’ll get you a drink,” Liam told Lea.
“Oh, God, he’s already given her a pet name,” Mary muttered.
Lea stuck her tongue out at Mary. “Jealous.”
It was Mary’s turn to laugh. “Nowthatwas actually funny, Lea.”
“Why did I invite her?” Lea asked Brie.
Brie wrapped her arm around Mary, imitating Lea and Liam. She looked at Mary with adoring eyes. “Because this woman is my hero.” Of course, Brie totally meant it, but Lea didn’t know that—no one did.
Liam stared at Mary with the same intensity he had Brie. “I was just trying to figure out how I knew you, and I think I’ve got it. You’re that girl in the documentary who’s dating the famous producer.”
“Iamthat girl,” Mary answered smugly. “You got a problem with that?”
It was obvious to Brie that having Mr. Holloway’s name come up was making Lea nervous. Wanting to keep things light, Lea blurted, “What do you call an incestuous nephew? An aunt-eater!”
Mary and the bartender groaned, but Liam laughed, giving Lea a peck on the cheek. “Damn, you’re funny.”
“You are as hopeless as she is,” Mary stated.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Liam answered, smiling at Lea proudly.
Lea beamed at Brie. “See why I love him?” she said, her voice all bubbly and cute.
Wanting to know more about Liam, Brie asked them, “How did the two of you meet?”
Lea grinned. “Well, I was sitting at this very bar, chatting it up with some of my Training Center buddies. I told the girls I had the feeling I was being watched, and then this hunky stranger comes up behind me. In a sultry voice, he says, ‘Hey, you’re pretty and I’m cute. Together we’d be Pretty Cute.’ When I turned around and saw those gorgeous eyes, well…I was a goner.”
“Seriously, that pickup line worked?” Mary scoffed.
Liam shrugged, chuckling. “What can I say? She’s the first.”
Brie laughed, holding up her water glass. “Here’s to bad pickup lines and the girls who fall for them.”
“Cheers!” Lea cried, clinking everyone’s glass, including Mary’s.
“So, Brie, you asked how Lea and I met. Tell me, how did you meet the infamous Thane Davis?” Liam asked her.
