Page 62 of An Inevitable Marriage

“What?” I choked out. “Why would you think that?”

“You’re my best friend. Sometimes, I know you better than you know yourself. Iknowthere’s more.”

I wished I knew why I hesitated to tell her the entire truth. Especially since she kept me well-informed when everything went down with Zach. Not the intimate details, but just enough for me to know something was happening.

Heck, I still remembered her calling me from a hotel room in Spain when she’d realized she was sexually attracted to Zach.

I’d listened and given advice, and I knew she’d do the same for me.

The problem was, these feelings Liam had triggered were all new. I could honestly say, hand on heart, I’d never had the kinds of dreams like the ones I’d had about Liam. They’d never been as detailed or as vivid.

And to get turned on, I usually needed a lot of foreplay. Even the books I so loved to read couldn’t get me as soaked as one stare from Liam could.

Then there was the way my pulse would burn whenever he walked into a room. And every single time he looked at me, my poor heart didn’t know what to do with itself.

The biggest kicker of them all?

When Liam had wrapped his arms around me to keep me from falling, I’d felt the safest I’d felt in my entire life.

It scared the shit out of me.

“Evie?”

I blinked, then blinked again. Nat glared at me. She must’ve called me a few times while I’d been lost in thought.

“What did you say?” I asked in the sweetest tone.

Her blue eyes narrowed. “I asked you if anything else happened, and you nodded but didn’t say anything.”

“I nodded?” I swallowed hard. “You’re sure?”

“Yes.” Cocking her head, she narrowed her eyes even more. “You’re not denying it.”

“Okay. Fine.” I sighed. “He might’ve told me I smelled nice, and for some weird reason, he calls me Snow.”

Natalie’s response was not what I’d expected. She didn’t utter a single word, just stared and stared. And then stared some more. It was a little creepy. I was about to say as much when she suddenly clapped her hands together.

“Snow as in Snow White…oh my gosh, that’s so cute.”

Her squealed words drew the attention of a few patrons around us.

Shrinking back in my seat, I cupped my hand over the side of my face. “Could you be any louder?”

Nat covered her mouth and giggled. “Sorry, but it’s cute.”

“What is?”

Clearly, the two of us weren’t on the same page.

Nat pursed her lips. “Seriously?” When all I did was blink at her, she rolled her eyes. “Liam thinking you’re Snow White is cute.”

“You think that’s the reason he calls me Snow?”

Natalie stared at me. “Fair skin, long black hair, and your ever-present red lip stain.” Poking her finger in my direction, she gave me a look that said:You can’t seriously be that dense. “Snow White.”

Something warm, fuzzy, and very unwanted bubbled through my veins. I forced it away immediately. I couldn’t allow myself to believe that Liam saw me as anything other than a means to an end.

Let alone a fairy-tale princess.