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“Oh yeah.” He takes a drink of his wine. “About four years ago.”

He and Mum both look at each other, laughing like a pair of co-conspirators.

“You’re mental, you know that?”

“What?” He lifts his hands, not bothering to hide his smile. “You needed a good kick in the ass.”

Shaking my head, I carry the dishes to the kitchen feigning annoyance with my old man. The truth is, I’d take the lie and the fucked up sleep schedule ten times over again if it meant having that chance run-in with Taylor.

Taylor

When Olivia invitedme out tonight, I was expecting a hole-in-the-wall, hundred-year-old pub with a few town locals nursing some beers in a dark bar.

The Saloonisa pub but the comparison ends there. A long cedar wood bar stretches the length of the back wall, while high-top tables and low-corner booths fill most of the main area. We squeeze past one hundred or so people who are already on the dance floor—my shoes only sticking mildly. Olivia takes me by the hand and pulls me up to the bar.

“What’s your drink of choice?” she calls out over the—is that country music?

“Tequila!” I shout. “But I think tonight, I’ll just do red wine.”

Olivia wrinkles her brow, studying me.

“I meant what I said earlier, I really do want to get up early tomorrow so that I can finally do my sightseeing.”

“Red wine it is then, I just need to find?—”

“What’s up, baby Browning?” A handsome man with blond hair throws a towel over his shoulder and leans on hisforearms against the bar. He flashes Olivia a very charming—okay, sexy—smile, and my god—she’s blushing.

“I’m not a baby, Liam.” She scowls at him.

Liam has no shame in the way he eyes her up and down. Direct. I like that.

“No. You definitely aren’t a baby anymore, huh?”

Her scowl slowly fades, the prolonged eye contact starting to make me feel like I’m interrupting something that I’m not supposed to be witness to.

“Right. Taylor,” she says, facing me. “This is Liam. He owns this bar. He’s also my brother’s best friend.”

Ooo, I love that trope.I smile and nod, extending my hand to his.

“Put her there, partner.”

He laughs, taking my hand, his smile turning more charming than flirtatious. “What can I get you girls? The band is starting in about an hour, so it’s best to get as many drink orders in now.”

“Irish mule for me and red wine for her.” Olivia throws a pointed thumb in my direction.

Liam makes quick work of our drinks and we take them with a ‘thank you’, heading off to find a table. “Enjoy your night, ladies!”

We find a high top, and before Olivia can even hoist herself up onto the tall seat I ask, “So, what’s the deal with you two?”

“Nothing.” She quickly takes a sip of her drink.

“It didn’t look like nothing.”

“Well, that’s probably because I’ve known him for almost my whole life. He and Knox were practically attached at the hip. And as you can see…” She waves a hand in his direction, not bothering to look at him. “He doesn’t see me as anything more than a baby.”

“Based on the way he was trying to undress you with his eyeballs, I think his thoughts might have changed.”

“He was not.” She blushes.