Enticing Liam (Big Sky Royal 2)

“Yes, I know,” I say. “I’m sure you’ve missed him this week.”

“Yeah. We’re going out on the boat tomorrow. Do you like boats?”

I share a look with Liam, remembering the last time I was on a boat and how Liam had to rescue me from drowning.

“Honestly, I’m not the biggest fan of them, but I’m sure you’ll have a lovely time.”

Alex nods, and Willa ruffles his hair. “Come on, we’d better go get your dad. It was good to see you, Ellie. Callum.”

We wave, and Willa takes her son to place their order. I turn back to my brother, but he continues watching them. When Aspen laughs at something Willa says, Callum’s eyes go round in surprise and then in shock.

He hangs his head.

“Fuck.”

“What?” I turn in my seat, but I don’t see anything out of the ordinary. Willa and Aspen are just chatting and laughing. “What’s wrong?”

“I do recognize her,” he says. He clears his throat and glances back up. “I slept with her last summer after she brought breakfast to Sebastian’s home after the boating accident.”

“Callum.” I sit back and stare in horror at my brother. “You’re a complete arsehole. What is wrong with you?”

“It’s been more than a year,” he says defensively. He glances over at Liam and David. “Help me out here, guys. That’s a long time.”

Neither replies, and I fling my foot out under the table to kick Callum in the shin.

“Hey! That hurt.”

“You deserve more than that. For fuck’s sake, Callum, why do you always have to sleep with my friends? Can’t you ever keep it in your trousers?”

I sigh in exasperation.

“I mean, I understand that she’s beautiful, and that you’re a sucker for red hair, but she’s my friend.”

“It was just a misunderstanding. I’ll apologize to her.”

“No, just leave it be. You’ve hurt her feelings enough for one day.”

“Which is exactly why I have to apologize,” he repeats. As Willa and Alex leave out the front door, Callum gets up from the table and walks over to where Aspen is standing behind her counter.

I don’t want to miss a moment of this, so I stand and walk closer so I can hear every word.

“Aspen,” Callum begins. “I owe you a big apology. I just got off the plane after being up for thirty hours, and—”

Aspen holds up a hand, making Callum’s mouth stop moving.

Impressive. I’ve never been able to shut the man up.

“Was there something else you needed?”

“Yes, to bloody apologize,” he says, but Aspen shakes her head. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

“Let’s get something straight,” she replies. “You didn’t hurt me. It takes a hell of a lot more than an egotistical, full-of-himself prince to hurt me. Besides, you don’t know me, remember? What do you care?”

“Well, I—”

“That was a rhetorical question,” she interrupts. I want to applaud her. Aspen is what the Americans call badass. “Now, if there’s nothing more I can do for you, I’m closing early today.”

“We’re leaving,” I say, pulling on Callum’s arm. “Thank you, Aspen. Let’s get together soon, okay?”

She smiles at me, and I’m immediately relieved that my idiot brother didn’t just ruin a friendship that I’ve come to cherish in such a short time.

“I’d love that, Ellie. I’ll text you soon.”

“Lovely.” I push Callum toward the door. “Let’s go.”

Once we’re seated in the car and on our way back to the house, I look over at my sibling. He’s scowling at his shoes.

“You deserved that.”

“I know.”

“You’re still an arse.”

“I know.”

Chapter 14

~Liam~

“Someone could walk right up on us,” she whispers and then sighs when I lick along the ridge of her collarbone. Goose bumps break out across her flesh, begging for my tongue.

I’m happy to oblige.

We started out by taking a leisurely walk through the garden. It sits on the other side of the main house, and is one of Ellie’s favorite places, especially with the rose bushes and other flowers in full bloom. There are paths and benches to sit on, not to mention a beautiful water feature in the middle of the Aspen trees. Even I have to admit it’s a nice place to unwind.

Especially if I get to kiss the hell out of Ellie at the same time.

But that leisurely walk turned sexy when she gave me one coy look and drug her hand down my arm. That was all I could take.

Callum’s been here for three days, which means I haven’t had much alone time with Ellie in those seventy-two hours—something that is nothing short of pure torture. But he’s out on the boat today, and we finally have a few hours to ourselves.

“Aren’t there cameras over here?” she asks, glancing around.

“Of course,” I murmur, leaning in to lick her ear lobe. “But this happens to be another blind spot.”

“I don’t know that there should be so many blind spots in the security,” she says and steps to her left. “That just seems irresponsible. I thought you were better at your job than that.”