“Yeah.”
“Well, your work with me is done. I’ll just ask them to put this in a paper cup, and I’ll go back to the brownstone.”
“Are you sure?”
Nodding, she rose to her feet. “You’re a great friend, Liam. Thanks.”
She made kissing sounds before leaving. I cocked a brow, and she pointed a finger at me. “No, you don’t get to take this joy away from me. I will forever remember this as ‘the day when Liam ordered the same drink as the woman he likes.’”
Better than “the day Albert showed up at the office.”
After she left, I sent David a message, asking where he was.
David: Recovering. I would have kicked your ass today.
Liam: I’m at the bookstore coffee shop. Come here when you feel human again.
David: Yes, boss.
I knew it would take a while until he came, but I wasn’t in the mood to go to the brownstone and get my laptop.
Instead, I called Tess. She answered after five rings.
“Hey!”
“You sound flustered. Were you hurrying from searching your phone again? Was it under a pile of panties...again?”
“Umm...no. I’m trying on bras right now.”
A visual of Tess in a mouthwatering bra popped into my mind. I barely stifled a groan.
“Tess, you’re going to kill me one of these days.”
“No, no, no. Not my goal at all.”
I grinned. “What is your goal?”
“Like I’m just going to tell you.”
“You’re determined to make me work for everything, aren’t you?”
“Well, to be honest, you don’t have to. But it’s so much more fun.” She said that last part in a lower voice.
“Why are you whispering?”
“I don’t want the sales associates to hear me.”
I felt even more relaxed than before. How could just hearing her voice affect me like this?
“I’m at the coffee shop where I took you for breakfast. I ordered your drink.”
I heard her suck in a breath before whispering, “Why?”
“I don’t know,” I replied, but that very second, it became clear why I did it. I missed her. I was searching for the right words to tell her, because I wasn’t used to expressing feelings. I’d been raised that way, and it was fine by me, but I wanted Tess to know.
“I miss you.”
“Oh, wow.”