Page 67 of An Inevitable Marriage

He’d barely delivered his overdramatic words when Liam made an angry noise and shoved at his shoulder. “That’s enough.”

Tristan’s gaze traveled from my hand to Liam, then back to my hand again. A slow, easy smile spread across his face.

“All right, all right, no need to bare your fangs.”

Dropping my hand like it was on fire, Tristan took three big steps back. He glanced at Rafe over his shoulder, and the two shared a meaningful look.

Discomfort flooded my veins. I felt like an intruder in their tight circle. Like I didn’t belong.

Chest tightening to the point of pain, I stepped backward. “I’m just gonna”—taking another step, I threw a thumb over my shoulder—“go.”

Another step and another, then I turned and made my escape. I didn’t get very far. Strong fingers curled around my upper arm and spun me around. I blinked, and Liam was right there, pinning me in place with his deep-blue stare.

“You haven’t had dinner.”

I twisted the stud in my ear. “I had a late lunch with Natalie.”

One of the guys said something, but I couldn’t hear a thing. I was too busy trying not to think about how Liam’s hand slid down my arm to grip my wrist.

His hold was tight but not uncomfortable, and when his thumb slowly moved back and forth over my pulse point, I had to remind myself how to breathe.

“Tristan’s right,” Liam’s low and gravelly voice filtered through the fog. “Late or not, lunch isn’t the last meal of the day.”

“Besides,” Rafe chimed in, “you don’t want to miss Nonna’s famous chicken cacciatore.”

“Stay,” Liam rasped.

His gaze was still locked on mine. So intense, I couldn’t look away even if I wanted to. “It’s poker night,” I tried. “I don’t want to intrude.”

Tristan barked out a laugh. “All the more reason to join us. You can be my lucky charm. I’m kinda sick of your husband always taking my money.”

Liam’s grip on my wrist tightened. He took a step forward. Or maybe it was me. I wasn’t sure. All I knew was the distance between us was closing with every pound of my beating heart. And when I took my next breath, Liam’s woodsy scent enveloped me, filling my lungs and teasing my senses.

His lips parted, and when he spoke, it was a soft, almost intimate murmur meant solely for me, “Iwant you to stay.”

Five words, that’s all they were. And yet, they caused the same devastation as five wrecking balls. My insides were a mess. My head spun. Blood surged through my veins, fast and hot. And my poor heart beat to a rhythm ten times too fast.

All this just because he’d asked me to stay.

How freaking ridiculous.

I should have pulled free from him. I should’ve retreated to the safety of my room like I’d intended, but when I opened my mouth, “Okay,” was the only word that rolled off my tongue.

“Good.” The word rumbled through Liam’s chest. Stormy blue eyes captured mine, and with my next breath his beautiful face inched closer.

Unable to withstand the pull, I leaned in, too. So close, the warmth of his breath tingled my lips.

“It’s gonna be a fun night.”

Tristan smacked his hands together. The sound was so sudden my body jerked. So did Liam’s. He blinked then blinked again before he cleared his throat and dropped my arm as if his hand were on fire.

Another breath, and there was enough space between us to park a truck.

A strange sensation immediately washed over me. Almost like bereavement at the loss of his nearness. Ignoring the silly feeling, I swiped my clammy hands over my thighs and turned my attention to Rafe.

“Let me help with that.”

He was still trying to clean the spill with the dishtowels under his feet, but all he was doing was making a bigger mess.