It never even occurred to me that Sarah might be his sister. She’s been coming to the program since I first started it over a year ago and we tend to chat before or after every session. She’d mentioned she had a big family, but I never knew that she came from such a well-known family and that Liam was her brother.
When I first saw him walk into the library with Christopher, I thought I was hallucinating. I had already been thinking about him constantly since last night.
Try as I might to forget about those eyes.
That smile.
That body.
I couldn’t so when he walked in it felt like I had conjured him up out of my imagination.
I’d convinced myself that the awareness and energy that swirled between us last night was my imagination. How can someone be so drawn to a person they just met before? So drawn to them that they damn near crave touching them and being around them? Turns out it is possible.
As we walk down the street towards the ice cream shop I’m just as aware of him now as I was last night. It’s insane.
“So, I think I passed the best friend test.” His deep baritone voice pulls me out of my thoughts.
Glancing over at him I find that he’s already watching me.
“Best friend test?” I ask confusion clear in my voice.
One side of his mouth kicks up.
“Yeah, I figured that’s what Jayden was doing. Filling me out. Trying to see how I would react.”
“Oh,” I say laughing. “Yeah, I’m sorry about that. I don’t know what got into him. He’s normally laid back and easy going.”
Liam shrugs one shoulder. “It’s alright. I’d be the same way if I had a friend that was dating a new guy that I’d never met before.”
I raise one eyebrow, my heart speeding up. “So we’re dating now?”
We’ve reached the ice cream shop and are standing by the door when he stops and looks at me with that same look of focused intensity, he bestowed on me last night. “If I have anything to say about it, we are.”
A shiver runs through me. God he’s so freaking sexy.
Without another word he opens the door and ushers me inside the shop.
Blue tables and an assortment of different colored chairs are set up on either side against the walls. The place has every type of ice cream and milkshake you could possibly imagine. It’s amazing.
We both order milkshake. Strawberry for me and chocolate for him before finding a booth near the back of the shop.
“So how long have you been running the reading program?”
“Just a little over a year now.”
“Yeah?”
Taking a sip of my milkshake I nod “Yeah, I interned at the library during college and I was lucky enough to snag a job a few months after I graduated. The lady that ran a similar program beforehand retired and they needed somebody to take over, so I volunteered.”
As I’m talking, I can’t help but notice how he watches me and really listens to what I’m saying. It’s refreshing, I’m not used to being the center of somebodies attention like this.
Especially since he never seemed to give a damn about anything I had to say. It was always all about him.
“That’s great. I could tell the kids loved you. You seem like a real natural with them.”
I feel my cheeks warm at the compliment.
“Thank you. I found that I really liked working with kids when I started volunteering at the hospital and it just kind of carried over to the reading program. I have to admit I never would have guessed Sarah was your sister and Christopher was your nephew.”
Liam smiles leaning back in his chair.
“Yeah, I love that kid. I’m surprised Sarah hasn’t blabbed about having six younger brothers before.”
My eyes widen. “There are six of you?”
“Yeah, I have two older brothers and three younger ones. Seven kids total. The one that rudely interrupted us last night was Levi one of my younger brothers.”
“Ahh,” I say smiling. “I thought you two looked a like.”
“Yeah, he’s a model but I’m still the sexiest one in the family” he says with a twinkle in his eye.
I can’t argue with that.
Liam winks at me and it sends butterflies swarming through my belly. “I knew you’d agree.”
My eyes widen. Holy shit I said that out loud. His shoulders start to shake in silent laughter.
“Oh my god, I said that out loud, too didn’t I?” I cover my cheeks. I know their flaming red.
“Aww don’t get shy on me now. I’ll let you in on a little secret I was going to wait to share with you later.”
“What?” I ask peeking up at him.
He leans across the table, his eyes holding mines captive. My breath catches in my throat from his proximity. The smell of mint, cologne and a scent that’s uniquely Liam fills my nostrils.
“When I first saw you across the bar, I thought you were easily the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen before in my life. Turns out I was right.”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. The most beautiful woman he’s ever seen? I want to believe him. God do I ever, but he’s dated freaking supermodels and celebrities. He sees beautiful women all the time.
I know that I have some good features. I’ve been called pretty and cute before, but beautiful? Me? I don’t think so. My doubt must show on my face because Liam’s eyes narrow.
“You don’t believe me?”
Shaking my head, I say, “well it’s just that…haven’t you dated supermodels and celebrities before? I find it hard to believe that I’m the most beautiful woman you’ve ever
