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Nancy
I’d known this was going to be awkward. I couldn’t let him psych me out. Not yet, anyway. I stuck out my chin, crossed my arms over my chest, and stared him down.
“I was under the impression that you’d invited me, Liam,” I said.
“I did. Then you blew me off.”
His tone chilled me. “I did some thinking this morning and realized when I got to Enid and Peter’s place that I’d made the wrong choice,” I said.
“What changed your mind? Another ambush? Sniper fire? Arson?”
“I made a mistake,” I said crisply. “And I regretted it, almost immediately. Can’t a person make a mistake?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. People make them whether they’re allowed to or not.”
“Don’t be snide. I’m serious.”
He was grimly silent. “That’s what I’m afraid of, Nancy,” he said. “I think getting serious would be a bad idea for us.”
I fought for control of my face. Be a big girl. Be a sport. God knows, I’d had plenty of practice. Forget I ever said anything. Thanks for your help. Sorry for the bother. Sorry for the bruises. Have a nice life. It’s been grand.
It just wouldn’t come out. This was worth trying a little harder, damn it. I might end up looking like a pleading, bleating fool, but who cared? Only Liam would ever know.
I cleared my throat with a delicate cough. “So, Liam. Are you all done with the scolding and punishing part yet? Because it’s really boring. I’d like to skip it and move right along to the good stuff.”
The darkness in his eyes shifted, like clouds in a turbulent sky. “I’m not scolding or punishing you. Just trying to be clear.” He waited a moment, eyes narrowed, but he couldn’t help himself. “What exactly do you mean by the good stuff?”
Ahhh. Now I had him. I let my eyes drag slowly, appreciatively, over his gorgeous body—the open shirt showing off his ripped belly, cut pecs, that dark, silky treasure trail. “If you have to ask ...” I said throatily.
He started to speak, then stopped himself. “I’m not the kind of person who takes this kind of thing lightly,” he said.
“I know,” I said. “Neither am I.”
His eyes searched my face. “We’ll hit a wall eventually,” he said.
I ached to touch his face and smooth away that worried look. “You’re so sure?”
“I feel very strongly for you,” he said. “Even though we’ve only known each other a few days. But I see that wall, right in our path.”
Tears welled up, and I swiped them impatiently away with my knuckles. “Maybe,” I said. “Right now, I don’t really give a shit.”
A ghost of a smile touched his lips. “No?”
“Let’s just go for it. Top speed. We’ll hit that wall together.”
The wind whipped my hair around my face as we stared into each other’s eyes.
“Nancy,” he said. “If this is because of those assholes who attacked you?—”
“Actually, no,” I assured him. “And I’m glad you mentioned that. It’s a point I particularly wanted to make. I appreciate your offer to protect me. That’s really sweet and generous of you, and it melts my heart. But that isn’t what this is about.”
“It’s not?” He frowned. “Then what is it about?”
I took a deep breath, and went for it. Balls to the wall.
“Nope. This is about unbridled carnal lust, Liam. You rocked my world last night. I want more, like I’ve never wanted anything, ever. And I don’t want to wait. Not one more second.”
I held my breath and waited for the verdict.