It was practically impossible for me not to be in a good mood. Proof of that was the fact that even though I was bone-tired and mad at the furniture company for messing up, I was still grinning from ear to ear, watching him walk through the door with a seductive smile and a pizza. His coat was covered in pristine white snow, as was his hair. It had been snowing all day.
I sashayed to him, relieving him of the pizza box.
“Wait a second. I don’t even get a kiss?”
“Now that you mention it...”
I rose on my tiptoes, giving him a quick, chaste kiss, but Liam immediately turned it deep and dirty until I was breathless and squirming in my spot. I was blushing when we pulled apart, gesturing with my head toward the crew setting up the buffet for tonight. It was low-key, but we still wanted to offer something for everyone.
Liam shrugged, those smoldering eyes trained on me.
“We can eat in the back,” I said, leading the way. Usually, I liked to eat in the front, people-watching and enjoying the Christmas decorations on the street, but now it wasn’t too relaxing with the crew bustling about.
“Oh, I forgot I have napkins in the front. I’ll get them.”
We sectioned off the front, setting up tables against the wall next to the entrance. We left enough space for people to be able to move about. Since a lot of the furniture was missing, the store was half empty anyway. We had three mannequins we dressed up in nightgowns in the display and a few racks with lingerie in the center. I found napkins on the buffet table the guys had set up.
I heard the front door open and turned around. It wasn’t anyone I knew.
“Can I help you?” I asked.
“Tess Winchester?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Albert McDowell. I’m—”
“I know who you are. Liam told me about you. What are you doing here?”
I narrowed my eyes, inspecting him. He seemed a few years older than Liam, Becca, and David, or maybe his bald head just gave me that impression. His large green eyes scanned the room. Clearly, he didn’t like that I had company. By the way he swayed in his boots, I suspected he was a bit intoxicated.
“Where’s Liam?” he asked. “I saw him come in.”
He followed Liam?
“What are you doing here?” I repeated.
“Can we speak somewhere more private?”
“No. No offense, but I’ve just met you, and you don’t exactly come recommended. I don’t trust you.”
“You’re a piece of work, aren’t you?”
“Excuse me?”
“If it weren’t for you, Liam would have given me what I wanted.”
“Bad luck. I can’t help you.”
“Yes, you fucking can.”
“You don’t come inside my store and talk to me like that.” I pointed to the door, barely able to keep my temper in check. “Out.”
Footsteps echoed behind me.
“Babe, what’s—what the fuck are you doing here?” Liam bellowed the second he noticed Albert.
“I want to talk to you.”