“I don’t know.” She sighed but edged nearer. Liam decided not to ask any more questions. Less chance of getting answers he didn’t want that way. Instead he undid a button or two of her blouse and slipped his hand inside. Tory moaned softly as he cupped one of her breasts through her bra, and she slipped an arm around his waist to tug at the tail of his shirt.
Liam knew what she wanted. He wanted it, too. Leaning back, he pulled his shirt up and over his head, then got to work on hers, struggling with her buttons for several minutes before managing to get it off. Tory made short work of her bra, and he pulled her close again, the sensation of her bare skin an aphrodisiac he couldn’t ignore.
Tory pulled a light blanket over them, and they got to work getting rid of the rest of their clothes.
“You sure no one’s going to come this way?”
“They’d better not,” Liam growled. He rolled to his back and tugged her with him until she sat straddling him, the blanket hanging over her shoulders. “You are beautiful, Tory Cooper. I could look at you all day.”
She squirmed a little at the flattery, a maneuver that revved him up even more, if that was possible, and when he lifted his hips, she rocked against him in a way that made him ache. Her breasts swayed mesmerizingly with her movements. Liam found himself sweeping his hands over her body in long strokes, wanting to touch her everywhere, blazing with need but wanting to take his time.
When Tory bent to kiss him, her nipples brushed his chest, sending fiery sensations deep inside him. Liam met her kiss for a long moment, then cupped her breasts and took her nipples into his mouth, first one, then the other. Tory moaned again. She was hot and slick with need against him, and he wasn’t going to be able to hold on too long—
“I want more,” she breathed against his neck. “Liam, I don’t want to wait.”
He didn’t need to be told twice. Liam gripped her hips, lifted them, positioned himself and slid slowly inside her, both of them breathing out with the wonderful sensation of it. Liam tangled one hand in her hair at the nape of her neck, kept the other on her hip and began to move inside her. It didn’t take Tory long to match his rhythm, and soon he wasn’t sure who was leading and who was being led in the endeavor.
It didn’t matter.
They were well matched, and the tension coiling within him didn’t let him think of anything else. Being with Tory was so easy—unlike most things in his life. She was worth fighting for with everything he had, he decided.
He never wanted to let her go.
When Tory came, tossing her head back and moaning aloud, Liam quickly followed, his release shuddering through him in pleasurable waves until he thought it would go on forever.
Sated, they untangled themselves and fell back among the covers.
“Those stars must see a lot of risky business,” Tory remarked.
Liam chuckled. “No doubt.”
“I could stay here forever,” she murmured, tucked once more in the crook of his arm, her head resting on his chest.
Liam didn’t move. He didn’t think she realized what she’d just said, and he didn’t want to ruin the moment. Tory Cooper, who swore she’d never settle down in Chance Creek, had just admitted she might like to stay.
“Me, too” was all he said.
He was still floating on air the next day when Uncle Jed confronted him outside his bedroom door.
“You’re a damn fool,” he said.
“Oh yeah? How do you figure.” Liam was determined Jed wouldn’t ruin his good mood.
“Met up with Virginia Cooper last night at the bingo hall. Guess what she told me?”
“What did she tell you?” Liam pushed past him down the hall to the stairs. He hadn’t slept much last night—hadn’t gotten home until well past four in the morning—and he needed food if he was going to get through his chores today.
“She told me Tory has a plan to win the Founder’s Prize.”
“Tory does?” Liam’s steps faltered. He turned to face Jed. “What plan?”
“She’s going to save the hospital’s dialysis unit. Virginia said it plain as day. Said she’d been working on it for weeks.”
“But—” That couldn’t be right. He was the one saving the dialysis unit. Tory knew that—
Had she stolen his idea? Kept him distracted all this time flirting with him?
Making love to him?
“Weeks?” he repeated helplessly.
“Weeks,” Jed said. “Stop thinking with your—well, you know. Start using your brain. For once.” He looked Liam up and down. “And you’d better hurry up and save the dialysis unit yourself, or you’re going to end up the loser—again. Only this time, we’ll all lose with you.”
“Linda’s Diner is hopping tonight!” Olivia exclaimed the following Monday as she and Tory approached the restaurant. Olivia had been waiting outside Jonah’s office when Tory got off work and invited her to dinner. Tory had accepted gratefully. Ever since her last evening with Liam she’d had trouble focusing on anything. She’d hoped he’d suggest another round of stargazing, but when she’d texted him these past few days, his answers had been vague.
She focused on her sister. “Should we pick somewhere else to go?”
“No, let’s see what’s going on.” Olivia picked up the pace. Inside, she left Tory standing by the door and weaved through the small crowd waiting for seats to talk to a waitress. “Over here,” she called back to Tory, who threaded her way through the crowd after her and joined Olivia in one of the booths in the back.
“How’d you score a table so fast?”
Olivia waved her question off. “It’s a meeting,” she said. “Something about the dialysis wing at the hospital. It’s shutting down, and people are upset.”
“I wonder if Liam knows about it.” She realized what she’d just said. “I mean—”
Olivia didn’t seem at all surprised to hear Liam’s name. “He
