“You asked her to spy for you?”
“No, just to find out if you were home. And keep the rest of your family from showing up.”
“Why would you want that?” I really wanted some Winchester love.
“So I can have you all to myself.”
He moved from the doorway, making a beeline for me. Even though I was sleep-deprived, I couldn’t help but drink him in. I couldn’t decide what was sexier: those deep blue eyes, the stubble, or the stance of his shoulders.
“Liam...I don’t want to fight again.”
“That’s not why I’m here.”
“Oh.”
He was so close to me that I could smell his deodorant.
“Tess, the only reason I didn’t throw you over my shoulder last night and carry you someplace private was because you had customers.”
“How thoughtful of you,” I said with a small laugh.
“I didn’t think you’d forgive me if you missed your event because of me, and I didn’t want to give you more reasons to be upset with me.”
I clutched the string of lights tighter, waiting with bated breath for him to continue.
“I love you, Tess. I love you so damn much that I didn’t even hesitate to put you first when deciding my next steps. It felt natural to me. Was I wrong for not including you? Yes, I was. But also...not really.”
The corners of my mouth twitched, but I said nothing. For one, my heart just about jumped out of my chest when he said that putting me first was the only thing that felt natural to him. And I wanted to know why he thought he was wrong but also not. Sounded like one of my brothers’ lines—maybe that was why they liked him.
“You’d been in over your head for weeks with the store and everything else. I didn’t want any of this weighing on you. It was my mess to fix.” He took one of my hands in his and then reached for the other. “It’s the way I was raised. Solving problems, not talking about them.”
“But that’s not okay with me. I want us to communicate. No secrets, remember?”
“We’re very different when it comes to that...but I promise I’ll do better. I’ll try.” Swallowing hard, he added, “It’s not the only reason I didn’t tell you everything, though. I didn’t want anything getting in between the two of us. Just in case there was any chance this could drive us apart. Last night, seeing that wary look in your eyes, the anguish...it fucking slayed me. It was like my worst fear coming true, and I couldn’t take it, not even for a few minutes. And I won’t. I’m not leaving here until we figure this out.”
“We?” I whispered, smiling. I dropped the light strings, touching his face with both hands. His whiskers lightly scratched my palms. “I’m sorry I was harsh last evening. I just didn’t know how to react or how to deal with all of it. I’ve gathered so much tension over the past few weeks, and I was so afraid you were pulling away from me... I was putting you first too, you know. When I spoke to Becca, the first thing I thought was ‘I don’t want him to harm his own company because of me.’”
He kissed me the next second, hard and deep and with so much urgency that I couldn’t help but respond with all I had. I wrapped one hand around his neck, running the other through his hair. His body was vibrating lightly, or maybe it was mine; we were so entangled that it was impossible to tell.
He wrapped an arm tightly around my waist. I finally felt like I could breathe again. I never wanted to not kiss him again. And I had no idea how it happened, but I completely agreed with his view that he was wrong but also not.
“I still want to talk, but I can’t stop kissing you,” he whispered, trailing down my neck now. His arm was still firmly around my waist.
“Then kiss me. Do whatever you want with me.”
He groaned, moving his lips back up my neck and capturing my mouth. His kiss was even deeper than before, even more urgent. When he finally released the arm around my waist, it was only so he could lift me up by my ass with both hands. I wrapped my legs around him, laughing against his mouth.
“What?” he asked, pulling back just enough to look at me.
“Nothing. I’m just happy. That you care so much about me. That you spoke with my family just to make sure no one interrupted us today. You’re everything to me, Liam.”
He closed his eyes, pressing his forehead against mine. I loved feeling him this close, knowing he was mine. I loved him with all I had, and I never wanted him to doubt that.
“I love you,” he said.
“You know, you keep saying you do, but if you thought this problem was going to drive a wedge between us, then I have some things to prove as well,” I said.
His eyes were like fire as he traced the contour of my mouth with his thumb, parting my lips slightly. I leaned in, brushing my mouth against him. I did it slowly at first, just wanting to soak in his nearness, the fact that he was here. But before long, I grew too hungry for him. I kissed him, smiling against his mouth when he took control of the kiss. He walked me backward, right until we bumped into the box of decorations.