Love Profound (Cowboys & Angels 2)

I threw some money on the bar and reached for her hand. As we stood to leave, she said, “You better be able to deliver more than that before this night is over.”

Oh, yes. Amelia Parker was going to be a lot of fun.

My phone buzzed on the table and I glanced at it. Waylynn. Again.

Waylynn: So? How’s it going? Have you dusted the cobwebs?

Me: No. At dinner, still talking.

Waylynn: Hmm. Maybe he’s not into you. Dry spell continues.

Me: Fuck you.

Liam walked back to our table and set a beer in front of me. He pointed to the pizza and asked, “You want the last piece?”

I held up my hands. “No! Have at it. I’m good.”

He did just that. Where the man kept it all was beyond me. From what I could tell, he had a rocking body.

“I love the pizza here,” he said.

Laughing, I replied, “I see that. It was good, but my mother makes a better pizza.”

His eyes lifted. “Were you born in Texas?” He wiped his mouth and tossed the napkin on the table.

“Yep. My parents own a ranch. Been in our family for years.”

“Cows?” he asked with a snarled lip.

“Yes. Do you have something against cows?”

“I don’t eat meat.”

Oh, hell.

“Seriously? You just ate pepperoni!” I chuckled.

“Yeah, well, that doesn’t count. Bacon doesn’t either. Gave up the rest of it a few years back. Well, really I did it because Nancy ate that way.”

I lifted a brow. “Nancy?”

“My ex.”

“Huh. Sounds like Nancy had a lot of influence on you.”

He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his massive chest. “Not really. She ate that way, I tried it and felt better. So, I stuck to it.”

“What happened between y’all?”

He leaned forward, looking uncomfortable. Well, too bad. He brought Nancy up. If he thought I wasn’t going to ask, he was stupid.

“We were better friends than lovers.”

“Oh please,” I spat.

Liam raised his brows. “What?”

“Isn’t that code for ‘I’m cheating on you and don’t have the guts to tell you’?”

This time he pinched his brows together and studied me. “Well, neither one of us was cheating. It was Nancy’s idea to break up. In the end, it was best for our friendship. Doesn’t faze me when she brings someone home and the same goes for her.”

My mouth fell. “Wait. Y’all still live together?”

Liam smiled and my stomach pulled with desire. Geesh, this guy was even more handsome when he let that smile loose.

“Do you know how expensive it is to live in New York? Besides, Nancy has a killer place with views of Manhattan.”

“I’ve heard it’s pretty expensive,” I admitted. If I was looking for more than a simple hook-up, I might have been bothered by the fact that he still lived with his ex. But I wasn’t looking, so I wasn’t bothered.

Leaning close, Liam placed his hand on my bare knee, and I was a bit bummed not to get those butterflies in my stomach. “Where to now?”

I moved toward him. “My hotel? I need to work off the beer and pizza.”

Liam’s mouth rose at both corners. “And I need to fuck you.”

His dirty mouth made my libido shoot straight up and out the building. I gave him my sexiest smile and lifted my hand for the check. “A man who gets straight to the point. I like it.”

“I need to make a call,” Liam said as he stood. “Will you excuse me?” With a quick nod, I watched as he made his way out of the restaurant. I couldn’t help but wonder who he was calling.

The ex?

A friend, to cancel plans for later?

My mind raced as I pulled out my phone and sent Waylynn a text.

Me: Looks like the cobwebs will be wiped out this evening and I’m hoping the boy from down under has a big duster.

Waylynn: LOL! Glad we picked up the extra-large condoms! Have fun, baby sister, and be careful, okay? Are you going back to your place?

I watched as Liam talked on the phone. He threw his head back and laughed, then looked into the restaurant. When our eyes met, he smiled.

Me: Yes. I’ll text when I get back there.

Waylynn: Okay. Love you.

Me: Love you back.

Liam had left his card on the table, but when the waiter brought the check, I paid in cash. Grabbing Liam’s card, I made my way outside, my curiosity getting the better of me.

When I stepped outside, I instantly got a chill. It was still cold in New York City and I had opted to not wear a heavier coat.

“Right, Mum. I know. I won’t, I promise you.”

My heart melted. He was talking to his mom. Oh, my God. Sexy as fuck.

“What am I doing? Um…about to workout.”

I had to cover my mouth to hide my chuckle. When he turned and saw me, he shrugged, a slight blush moving across his cheeks.