OhGodOhGodOhGod. My stomach was full of butterflies as I heard heavy footsteps approach. I swear my heart stopped when he entered the back room.
He pinned me with those sinful eyes. Heat flashed through me, and he hadn’t even said anything. The man was simply delicious. He was wearing washed-out jeans, a black shirt, and leather jacket on top of it. His hair was disheveled, as if he’d run his hands through it.
“Hello, Tess.”
“Hi!”
He was carrying a paper bag.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Tacos. And your favorite champagne. We don’t have to go out to celebrate. We can do it here. That way I can also help with the boxes.”
“You want to help me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I’m a partner, remember?” His eyes were playful.
“That’s the only reason?”
That playful glint turned hot in a fraction of a second.
“And to claim all those kisses I negotiated.”
I gasped, covering my mouth. “I forgot to answer.”
He winked again. “I know. Lead the way, Tess.”
He shrugged out of his leather jacket, leaving it on the back of one of the armchairs.
Surveying the room slowly, he frowned at the pile of finished boxes.
“Tell me you didn’t make all of those on your own.”
“’Course I did. Easy-peasy. I just have to rotate my wrists a bit. They’re stiff.”
I flexed them, doing a bit of wrist gymnastics.
Liam put the paper bag on the coffee table in front of the armchairs. I thought he might start on the boxes, but instead he came right for me. He captured one wrist, then the other, pressing his thumbs exactly where I was sore. I closed my eyes, letting my head drop back a bit.
“Mmm, this is too good,” I murmured. My whole body was relaxing even though he was only working my wrists. With my eyes closed, my other senses became hyperalert. The faint aftershave smell was wickedly sensual. The heat of his body was just too much. I blinked my eyes open and almost whimpered when I realized how closely he was watching me.
“Better?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Let’s sit down and eat. Then you relax a bit, and I’ll get started on the boxes.”
“Oooh, I won’t say no to that. Let me show you exactly how I do it before we start eating.”
Liam gave me a half smile, pointing to the small piles of unfolded cartons.
I tried focusing on the box and not how close he was, or the fact that his lips would brush my ear if I leaned backward just a smidge.
I finished the demonstration as soon as possible, then watched him do the next