Page 16 of Liam (R.I.S.C. Delta Team #5)

The next morning…

Allison woke to the sound of giggles and the smell of freshly brewed coffee. She smiled, inhaling deeply before ever opening her eyes.

For a moment, her half-awake mind was convinced she was back in the little apartment in Nebraska. A cruel second later, the memory of her purposely trashed hotel made itself known, viciously ripping the lovely dream away.

She peeled her lids open, confirming they were no longer in Nebraska. This was Chicago. She was in Liam Cutler’s house. And not only that, but Allison also suddenly remembered…

I slept in Liam’s bed.

With a soft groan, she shifted from her side to her back. The movement carried with it Liam’s woodsy scent. As she’d done a few minutes before when she’d first smelled the coffee, Allison couldn’t resist the temptation to fill her lungs again.

The man smelled as good as he looked.

Not that Liam’s appearance or enticing scent mattered to her in the least, because it didn’t. It couldn’t. For a multitude of reasons. The fact that she and her baby girl were on the run from her monster of a husband was at the top of that list.

Allison stared blinking at the fan mounted high above her, listening to the sounds coming from the other room. There was more Maddie’s adorable, six-year-old laughter mixed with Liam’s deep, sexy-as-sin voice.

Her pulse quickened as she lay beneath the covers, mesmerized by the fan’s steadily spinning blades . Taking advantage of the safest, most normal moment she’d had in a very, very long time, Allison allowed herself a few more moments of peace.

Her attention moved slowly around the room. Liam’s walls were painted a rich navy blue, their trim a crisp, clean white. A few pictures she assumed were from the man’s military days hung in a well-organized cluster between the en-suite bath and the closet door.

A chest of drawers stained the color of walnut was against the wall directly across from where she lay. Above it was a silver-framed rectangular mirror.

Allison smiled to herself as she imagined Liam standing in front of the dresser, studying his own reflection as he got himself ready for the day. That led to the acknowledgement that she needed to get up and around, and that made the smile she’d been wearing fall.

She had no idea what this newest day would bring, and the unknown was what she’d come to fear most. Because when it came to Tommy, it wasn’t a matter of if .

It’s down to a matter of when.

With a frustrated breath, Allison threw the covers to the side. Doing her best to ignore the renewed wave of Liam’s tempting scent, she padded across the carpeted room to the private bathroom a few feet away.

It wasn’t until she caught sight of herself in the massive mirror to her left that she remembered Liam had given her one of his old shirts so she’d have something to wear to bed. The faded gray t-shirt hung down to her knees. Bold, black lettering spelled out “Army” across the front.

She looked so normal. Like a woman who’d fallen asleep in her man’s favorite shirt.

For that brief, stolen moment, Allison wondered what it would be like. To be Liam’s woman waking up every day in his shirt. In his bed.

Laughter sounded from the other side of the wall, shutting down the useless fantasy. Liam was her bodyguard, and that was all he’d ever be. With that in mind, she picked up the pace and got busy preparing to face the day.

She helped herself to the shower, making quick work of the shampoo and soap. Hating how much she liked the fact that she now smelled just like him, Allison got out, dried herself off, and redressed in the same clothes she’d worn the day before.

She spotted Liam’s brush on the counter next to the sink. Picking it up, she ran it through her towel-dried strands several times before calling it as good.

Out of habit, Allison got to work making Liam’s bed. A chore that Tommy had insisted she tend to. And if it wasn’t done perfectly…

Don’t think about that now.

Out of habit, she assessed her work, taking note of how well she’d arranged the bedding. Deciding she’d done an acceptable job, Allison went in search of her daughter and Liam.

The closer she got to the kitchen, the clearer their voices became. A moment later, she was standing in the archway separating the living room and kitchen.

She leaned her shoulder against the edge of the curved opening, crossing her arms loosely at her front. With one ankle casually resting over the other, Allison watched Maddie and Liam working together in the kitchen.

They were talking and laughing, teasing one another while Liam patiently assisted Maddie with cracking open an egg. Maddie was dressed in the same leggings and t-shirt she’d worn the day before, but Liam had definitely changed.

His hair appeared slightly damp, as if he’d showered immediately before the pair got started in the kitchen. The brown strands on top swept back in an almost haphazard way.

Liam’s Army green, long-sleeve t-shirt fit him like the best kind of glove, the soft material showcasing his firm and chiseled form. Allison’s gaze lowered to the jeans hanging low from the man’s narrow hips.

Faded denim stretched perfectly over his mouthwatering backside and taut, muscular thighs. Her fingers twitched with the urge to reach out and touch.

Refusing to embarrass herself in such a monumental way, she instead chose to stay back and take it all in. The beautiful kitchen. Maddie’s smile. How incredible Liam was with the naturally curious little girl.

How sweet and protective he’s been with me.

The entire, heartwarming scene was so perfect, she wished it could be captured and framed. It was almost like something out of a sweet, romantic movie. A snapshot of what she’d always wanted for herself and her child.

A life like the one she longed for didn’t include the constant fear of bruises and pain, but rather mornings filled with laughter and love. And everyday messes that didn’t send anyone into a violent, murderous rage.

Maddie’s sweet giggle tore through Allison’s spiraling thoughts, preventing the usual darkness from fully settling in. With a mental shake, she returned her focus to the actual present.

This wasn’t a movie, and as much as she loved the fantasy, Liam wasn’t hers. She was a woman on the run from the man she’d chosen to marry. And Liam was simply doing his job.

No sense wasting time and energy on dreams that will never come true.

It was the reminder she clearly needed, and one she’d do well not to forget.

“Mommy!” Maddie’s ear-to-ear smile matched the wide-eyed excitement when she spotted Allison hovering by the wall. “Look! We’re making pancakes!”

“I can see that.” She forced a smile back, pushing herself off the wall and stepping into the room.

Liam looked up and slid his mahogany gaze to hers as he stood in front of the stove. “Morning.” He flashed her one of his sexy, bearded smiles.

The sight sent a bolt of electricity rushing through her veins, and her belly filled with a thousand tingles.

“Good morning,” Allison slowly made her way further into the room.

Liam motioned toward the half-filled pot on the counter to her left. “Coffee’s ready if you want some. I hope fully loaded is okay. To me, caffeine-free coffee is like non-alcoholic beer.”

“What’s the point?” Allison quipped.

When he said those same words at the exact same time, they both began to laugh.

“Jinx!” Maddie announced with glee. To Liam, she added, “You owe my mommy a Coke.”

“I do, do I?” The attractive man grinned.

“Yep. That’s the rule. Isn’t that right, Mommy?”

“That’s right.” Allison slid a pointed look Liam’s way. “I do believe that is in the official Jinx rule book.”

Liam’s face dropped in a dramatic fall as he leaned down close to Maddie’s ear. With a look of exaggerated trepidation, he lowered his voice and asked, “What if I don’t have any Coke?”

Allison rolled her lips inward, doing her best not to chuckle again. Her amusing daughter took a moment to consider the man’s question before looking Liam square in the eyes.

“Do you have any Pepsi?”

Liam threw his head back with a laugh as Allison lost her own hard-fought battle. Maddie giggled as Liam tousled the hair on the top of her golden blonde head, and then the two partners in crime got back to work preparing breakfast.

While they finished cooking, she went in search of some much-needed caffeine. A few minutes later, their plates were filled, and the three of them had settled themselves around Liam’s dining room table.

“Wow.” She wiped a drop of syrup from her bottom lip. “Those are the best pancakes I’ve ever eaten.”

As planned, Maddie’s face lit up with relief, joy, and some well-deserved pride. “Thanks.” The energetic child swallowed another bite. “Liam did most of the work, but I helped.”

“Come on now, Mads.” Liam stabbed a generous portion with his fork. “Don’t sell yourself short. I’d still be in there slaving over a hot stove if it hadn’t been with your help.”

A smiling Maddie returned her focus to the on the food on her plate. As soon as she did, Liam shot another panty-dropping wink her way.

Nope. Not going there. I will not put my panties and Liam together in the same thought.

With what she hoped was a subtle shift of her gaze, Allison did her best to look at anything other than him. Something grabbed her attention from the corner of her eye.

She looked left, through the home's open floor plan to the beautifully rugged coffee table. More specifically, Allison zeroed her gaze onto the laptop and small stack of papers that hadn’t been there the night before.

“Were you able to find anything useful?” She turned back to him. “Regarding what we discussed last night?”

Liam followed her previous line of sight before bringing his stare back to hers. “Unfortunately, no.” He gave his head a quick shake. “I checked your phone for tracking software, but…it’s clean.”