My One And Only (Very Irresistible Bachelors 5)
Page 102
Liam went on to explain some details about our collaboration. The whole conversation felt a little stiff and cold, at least compared to how we spoke to each oth
er in my family. The call only lasted five minutes, and neither Liam nor Ellen seemed surprised when it was over.
“What time do you have to be at your next dinner?” Ellen asked us.
“In one hour,” Liam answered.
“Oh, that doesn’t leave us much time.”
She started rising from the table, but Liam immediately gestured for her to sit down. “Don’t get up. I’m cleaning this up.”
I loved how he treated his grandmother.
“I’ll help,” I said.
Ellen smiled. “Well, then, I’ll just be a lady of leisure. Why don’t I pour us some brandy?”
“I’m your girl,” I exclaimed.
Between Liam and me, we managed to carry all the plates and saucers to the kitchen.
“Liam, does Ellen have plans after we leave?” I asked tentatively.
“No.”
My heart broke a little. I didn’t want to leave the poor woman alone.
“You think she’d like to come with us to Mom’s?” I asked just as Liam closed the dishwasher.
He straightened up, turning slowly toward me. His eyebrows were so high they were almost lost in his hairline.
“Umm...I didn’t want to cross any boundaries. Just thinking about her all alone made me sad. We don’t have to—”
“Tess, stop.” He closed the distance to me, brushing his thumb over my lower lip. “Stop always thinking you’re crossing boundaries.”
“It can happen, though. You told me that when we first met. That you have a very clear line...for everything.”
“Yeah. I did. Before I fell in love with you.”
My heart felt about to explode. Seriously. My pulse went from normal to haywire in a millisecond.
“You love me?” I whispered. My voice sounded a bit strangled.
He brushed his nose against mine. “If this surprises you, then I really have to do a better job of showing you.”
“Oh yeah. How?”
“I have so many things in my mind. None appropriate for this very moment.”
Slowly, I felt my mouth curl into a smile, then stretch into a grin so big that my cheeks were aching.
I pointed to my teeth. “See this grin?”
“Hard to miss it.”
“I love you so much, Liam.”
His shoulders dropped a little, as if tension just left them.