Page 7 of Had To Be You

Seconds later, waiters with white gloves place our meals in front of us. Beef tenderloin, roasted baby fingerling potatoes and grilled vegetables decorate the plate. It takes me a minute to unfold my napkin and remove the cutlery. That’s a minute too long for Liam, apparently.

“Everything okay? Do you need me to cut up your meat?” he asks, flashing me a cocky smirk.

My shoulders tense. I blow out a breath. He finally decides to talk to me, and those are the eleven words he chooses to say? I shouldn’t let him get to me. He knows exactly what he’s doing. He’s under my skin, where he likes to be. I retaliate, I can’t help myself. “How sweet of you to offer. It really is a wonder you’re still single.”

Liam just smirks and goes back to eating his meal, looking completely unfazed. He’s so hard to read. In that sense he’s unlike all three of his siblings. They all wear their hearts on their sleeves, but Liam is guarded. He’s so serious.

We finish our third course, doing a fantastic job of ignoring each other through the rest of dinner. Not able to take another second, I rise first from the table, excusing myself. At this point I’d rather be helping the kitchen staff wash dishes than sit next to him.

After dinner and a few speeches wrap up, guests are out of their seats and milling about. The guys have ventured outside for cigars and the girls are doing a round of shots at the bar - the latter organized by me, of course. Jules pulls Olivia away to introduce her to a cousin who’s flown in for the wedding and Kate takes off for the restroom. I strike up a conversation with a tall attractive guy who introduces himself as Logan. He has blond hair to his shoulders that he clearly spends a lot of time on. He tells me he grew up with Olivia and that their families are close friends. He’s a physiotherapist, so I assume he’s good with his hands. But as handsome as he is, his hands aren’t the ones that I find myself fantasizing about. He keeps on talking, but I’ve checked out. Seeing Liam again has reignited that spark in me that burns hot for him. It’s so hot, I’m sizzling. My nerves are fried. He’s all I’ve been able to think about tonight. And now I’ve gone from imagining Liam’s hands brushing over my shoulder blades to running over the curve of my hips and down to... speak of the devil.

Liam stalks slowly towards me, but stops several feet away. Is it just me or does he look bothered? Maybe even jealous. His hands are clenched, and his lips are pressed together in a straight line. I instantly feel satisfied that seeing me with another man is affecting Liam this way. I turn my attention back to Logan, gazing into his eyes, giggling at his jokes. Putting on a show. All the while I feel Liam’s stare blaze right through me.

Logan and I exchange numbers. I might not be feeling that connection I feel whenever I’m around Liam, but you never know. Maybe with a haircut and a little time, that could change. After a sweet kiss on the cheek, Logan politely leaves me to take a family photo on the patio. I eye the bartender for a glass of water.

I’m afraid to turn around because I can feel Liam’s eyes on me before I actually see him. But there’s no avoiding it. I turn to face him, my chest rising and falling, and his gray eyes instantly blaze into mine. It’s a sexy, assured, I don’t give a fuck look that excites me. My heart beats rapidly in my chest and a wave of heat tickles up my spine. He just watches me, his gaze sweeping over my entire body. And in this heart-pounding, spine-tingling moment, I forget how to breathe.

He moves closer and I can’t help but feel like I’m his prey. He stands beside me at the bar while I fight the overwhelming urge to look at him. He motions to the bartender and orders himself a drink. My feet are planted firmly to the ground, unable to walk away. My back leans against the bar beside him.

What is happening?

With ice clinking in his glass, Liam swirls his drink. He leans in closer, so close I can feel his warm breath on my ear when he says, “Who’s your date, Ellie?”

My skin prickles from the slightest touch of his breath on my skin, but I try my best to not show the effect his nearness has on me. I wish I knew why he sparks these sensations in me.

“Do you really think that’s any of your business?” I answer him, finally getting the courage to turn my gaze his way and face him.

“He has nice hair. It looks a lot like my sister’s. Was he asking for your number or hoping to borrow your hairspray?” Liam is smiling. He’s amused. I’m anything but. It feels like I’m a game to him. A game he’s used to winning. I hate to break it to him, but two can play his stupid games.

“You’re actually quite cute when you’re jealous. Like an oversized Bichon Frise begging to be petted,” I counter.

“Is that how Ellie Reeves flirts with a guy she’s lusting over? If you would like to pet me, feel free.”

“Compelling as that sounds, I’ll pass.”

“Are you sure about that?” Liam turns his body to face me, his eyebrow raised, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. His deep voice is the sexiest sound I’ve ever heard.

“You know what I really want?” I go for theatrics, really amping up the drama.

“To see me naked?” He cocks his head slightly to the side. His dark gray eyes are trained on me.

I roll my eyes. How do I even answer that? Hell yeah, I want to see him naked but there’s no way I’m admitting that to him. Instead, I square my shoulders and move towards him until I’m so close I can smell his scent. Like cedar and fresh laundry. Being this close to Liam is intoxicating, I feel like I’m under his spell. There’s a look in his eyes that I can’t put my finger on but it’s dizzying, it’s electric. My heartbeat threatens to burst through my rib cage.

“I think you would like that,” I answer him, my voice low and gravelly. I’ve never been so turned on in all my life, but I won’t give him the satisfaction of knowing what he does to me. So, I add, “but no thanks.”

“I don’t think you really mean that, Ellie.” He lifts his hand to my cheek, softly brushes his knuckles across my jaw towards my ear. He twists a loose strand of hair behind my ear and my body flames. I’m on fire. I feel alive. Everything and everyone around us fades to black, and it’s just him and I at the party. He takes one small step closer until his chest is almost touching mine. My lips part. For a second I think he’s going to kiss me. What’s crazy is that I want him to. Let everyone watch him claim me.

I shouldn’t be getting this close. I must be out of my mind. But I want him to stay and continue the banter that we’ve fallen into. I want him to touch me. Kiss me. Anything to ease this ache.

“I prefer men who are straight shooters, not ones who enjoy toying with me.”

“Good to know. But do you wanna know what I think?” he asks as my temperature rises, the scent of his cologne going straight to my head.

“I think you are going to tell me regardless, so I might as well listen,” I tease, holding his gaze, leaning in the slightest bit closer.

“I think you like it when I toy with you. Very much so.” he says, his voice all low and sexy as hell. Cocky bastard!

His quick wit is the biggest turn-on. It feels like I’m drowning in this man and I’m not sure that I want to be saved. I’m at a loss for words, for once in my life, but I manage to string three together. “Is that so?”

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