Page 68 of An Inevitable Marriage

Without waiting for an answer, I grabbed a mop from the cleaning cupboard and returned to Rafe.

“You’re an angel, thank you.” A sigh of relief rushed out after his words.

I laughed. But then, just as I prepared to soak up the mess, somebody tugged the handle from my grasp and tossed it back to Rafe.

“Clean your own bloody mess, my wife is not your servant.”

Liam’s tone was hard, almost angry. I thought for sure Rafe would take offense or throw some smart-ass remark back. He didn’t. Grinning like the damn Cheshire cat, he yet again shared a look with Tristan that said way more than words ever could.

Unease slammed into me faster than I could blink. My heart raced; my skin prickled. I wanted to run. To hide in my room.

I want you to stay.

Liam’s words whispered in my ears. The butterflies living in the belly woke from their slumber. My world spun, every flutter of their tiny wings churning my insides and twisting my emotions.

He didn’t mean anything by it. I kept telling myself that because allowing myself to believe otherwise for even a fraction of a second could be detrimental to my already bruised and battered heart.

“Hey.” My eyes fluttered, and when my vision went from blurry to focused, Liam was right there staring at me with more concern on his devastatingly handsome face than he had a right to.

“You okay? You look a little…pale.”

I rolled my lips over my teeth. “Yeah. I…uhm…” Taking a breath, I silently begged my heart to stop jackhammering against my ribs. “I just need to get out of these heels.”

Liam’s gaze immediately dropped to my feet. His mouth twitched, and the muscle beneath the scruff on his jaw popped. Teeth digging into his bottom lip, he stared at my feet for a few more moments, then lifted his eyes to meet mine.

Were they darker?

“Get comfortable, we’ve got everything under control in here.”

The manners my mother drove into me demanded I stay and help. I couldn’t do that. Not when this man was making me feel things I was terrified of feeling.

With a quick nod of thanks, I spun around and hurried to the safety of my room. I leaned against the door and pushed a heavy sigh from my lungs.

Get it together, Evie. You can’t cross that line with Liam.

My brain knew this, but my heart? She was way too stubborn to get the message.

Chapter eighteen

Everlee

Isatatthemakeshift poker table in the living room, surrounded by Liam, Rafe, and Tristan. We’d been playing for a couple of hours now, peeking at the cards in my hand, I couldn’t help but grin.

It was a freaking great hand—a pair of kings and two aces.

Liam cleared his throat and shot me a sly smile. “You ready to fold yet, Snow?”

“Fold?” I shook my head. “I think I’ll raise.” Mirroring his smile, I pushed a stack of chips into the center of the table.

There weren’t many things I was good at, but planning events and playing poker were without a doubt my top two. Much to the dismay of the guys I went to college with.

I’d cleaned them out on more than one occasion.

I tapped my fingers on the green felt and flicked my gaze over to Tristan and Rafe.

They exchanged the same glance as earlier in the kitchen. Only this time, it didn’t make me uncomfortable. Somewhere between Rafe’s nonna’s chicken cacciatore and playing poker, I’d relaxed enough to really enjoy their company.

They might have had more money than they knew what to do with, but not one had the ego to match. They were down-to-earth guys who enjoyed good food, good drinks, and good company.