Enticing Liam (Big Sky Royal 2)

“We’re happy to have you. Come on in. We’re pretty casual around here.”

“Ty’s about to put the steaks on the grill. How do you take yours, Ellie?”

“Oh, medium, please.”

I frown as we walk through the house to the kitchen that’s open to the living space.

I don’t know why it surprises me that they don’t have a chef. Sebastian and Nina don’t keep a chef on staff.

Most people don’t.

Suddenly, I discover that Liam was right. I’m overdressed for the occasion, as everyone else is in casual summer clothes, and I’m wearing a dress appropriate for a summer garden party.

“Mommy, can I please show Ellie my room?” Layla asks with pleading eyes.

“Sweetheart, let’s give Ellie a few minutes, okay?”

“I don’t mind,” I offer. It’s true. Layla is adorable. “I have a niece and a nephew. I like children.”

“Come on!” Layla takes my hand and pulls me up the stairs to her bedroom. It’s a big space with an en suite bath. The child wasn’t lying.

Her bed is shaped like Cinderella’s coach with flowy, white curtains hanging from the canopy. There’s plenty of pink in here, but the colors are muted and soft.

“This is a beautiful room, indeed. I can see why you love it so much.”

“Does your room look like this?” she asks.

“Well, it was similar to this when I was a little girl,” I admit. “Are those paper dolls?”

“Yeah, my aunt Jillian got them for me for my birthday.”

I sit on the floor next to Layla, and we get lost in the world of make-believe and paper fashions.

* * *

“I like them.”

It’s dark now, and we’re driving back to Sebastian’s house. We spent hours with Lauren and Ty and the girls, chatting and laughing. Eating delicious food. Watching the children and their antics.

“I do, too.”

“Did you see when Asa just climbed right up in my lap?”

“The kids took a shine to you,” he says with a smile. “In fact, I’d say they all did.”

“Well, the feeling is mutual. It’s nice to meet new people and make new friends. Lauren invited me to lunch, and she’s an author, Liam.”

“I know.” He smiles over at me.

“I love to read. She gave me this to start with.” I run my hands over the pretty book in my lap. “I’ll start it straight away.”

He parks his car and escorts me down to the boathouse.

I’m hoping, with all my might, that tonight is the night. Because he’s been nearby all evening, and I’ve had perpetual goose flesh. I want him to touch me and do things to me that I can’t even imagine yet.

“Would you like to come up?”

He pauses at the door, and just when I think he’s going to say no, he nods. “For a bit.”

Hello, butterflies. These are new. I’m rarely nervous around people, and certainly not around men.

But Liam is no ordinary man. He’s handsome and mysterious. And even though he laughed and was perfectly fine all evening, I could see the little bit of sadness still in his eyes.

I drop my bag on the kitchen table along with my new book and walk to the refrigerator. “Would you like something to drink?”

“No. Thanks.”

I fill a glass with water for myself. My stomach still can’t stand the idea of wine. But I need something for my suddenly dry throat.

I sit on the couch, expecting Liam to sit next to me, but he takes the chair instead.

“Thank you for allowing me to join you this evening.”

He’s watching me, his hands still on the arms of the chair.

Liam’s the most intense man I’ve ever met.

And my father is a king.

“What are you thinking?” I ask.

Liam’s lips twitch. He leans forward. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m wondering why you’re not sitting on this sofa with me.”

He licks his lips and then stands. With his eyes on mine, he slowly walks across the few feet that separate us. He doesn’t sit next to me. No, that would be too easy. Too ordinary.

And Liam is anything but ordinary.

This man takes a knee in front of me and reaches out to gently tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. His brown eyes are hot, traveling over my face. When they land on my lips, he takes a shallow breath and licks his own, making me long for him more.

His fingertips travel lightly over my skin, down to my collarbone, and then he cups my cheek in one hand and leans in to kiss me.

It’s over before it begins.

A peck on the mouth, and nothing more.

“I should go,” he says.

“Are you playing games with me?” I blurt.

He frowns. “No.”

“Liam, this is ridiculous. I’m not fifteen. I’m a woman, and you’re treating me like—”

“Like what, Ellie?” He leans in again, his eyes on mine. “How exactly would you like me to treat you?”

“You know what I want,” I whisper.

“And we’ll get there. But I’m not going to carry you into that bedroom, strip you bare, and fuck you into the mattress. You’re worth a hell of a lot more than that.”