Chapter 23 – Juliana
O ne time of walking in on Liam hugging Felicity? Okay, maybe they’re friends.
Two times? Yeah, I don’t like it. I didn’t like the way it made me feel. And what was that vague answer he gave me about her moving when the tension in the air indicated something bigger was afoot?
And, there I stood, all dressed up with his dinner in hand. Look at pathetic Juliana trying to impress the hot guy with a home-cooked meal as if that would be enough. I told myself I wouldn’t play the fool again, especially not with a player.
Surrounded by the busy club scene, I know I only walked out here because I was feeling upset.
This is what hormones do to us, I guess.
The nausea didn’t come calling today so, boom, a slice of horny did, but it wasn’t sex that brought me to the club.
The four walls of my home away from home felt empty with no Liam there.
I wanted to see him. I wanted to be with him.
“Hello, lovely,” a man’s deep voice says from behind me. “Can I buy you a drink?”
I turn to find a suave-looking gentleman in his fifties, wearing an expensive suit. He’s handsome, the hair turning gray at his temples only accentuating the fact. “Sorry, I’m not drinking tonight.”
Mr. Suave holds up his empty bottle. “It’s ginger beer. It’s got antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits, but it sounds cool, right?” I can’t help smiling at his playful delivery. “How many men here have already told you how sexy you look in that dress? ”
“You’d be the first, and thank you.”
“A travesty. How about a dance?”
“I’m not looking for company tonight either.”
He shrugs, holding out his hand expectantly. “Just one dance so I can claim I danced with the sexiest woman alive.”
Did anyone ever warn you about laying it on too thick? I think.
Before I can gracefully decline again, Liam appears, wrapping his arm possessively around my waist. “She already said no. Move to another target.”
“I didn’t actually hear the word no from the lady yet, kid.”
Liam tenses at the dismissive pet name and I’m finding Mr. Suave less appealing by the second. However, I don’t want Liam punching anyone tonight, certainly not a member of his club. “I’m saying no now. I’ve already got a dance partner as you can see.”
“Sure, sure. Maybe some other time, Birthday Girl,” the member says, walking off.
He recognized me from the auction night? My cheeks burn but Liam looks like he’s about to lose his shit. “Fucker. I should kick him out of the club.”
“Why would you do that? Come on. There’s music and I’ve already claimed you as my partner,” I say, trying to distract him.
He huffs again, but his expression mellows somewhat when our eyes meet. “I’d love nothing more than to dance with you, Juliana.”
His palm settles on my lower back, the warmth searing through my dress. I can feel every inch of muscle beneath his clothes as my body moves with his to the music and I know this is what I wanted tonight. Time with Liam. Time in Liam’s arms.
“Did you like that man? Is he more the sort of man you’d want?” he asks a few minutes later when I’ve nearly forgotten the matter.
Whoa. From anger to incredibly vulnerable, he’s making my heart beat all the faster. “No, I didn’t. Are you annoyed he called you kid?”
“I’m annoyed when my brothers call me that. I definitely didn’t appreciate it from that guy, but I was more angry that he was hitting on you.”
“Why would that make you angry? It isn’t the first time I’ve been hit on at Sable.”
“Yes, I’m aware.”
“Are you jealous?”
“Every time you set foot in this place, yeah. Not that you’ve ever noticed.”
My stomach flips and not with nausea. “Jealous because I’m pregnant now with-”
“Jealous because you’re you .” I blink up at him and he must see the doubt I fight against far too often.
“Juliana… I get jealous over you because I want you. For myself. And, I want to tear my goddamn hair out every time I see another man looking at you, not to mention actually talking to you. And, to think one of them might touch you? Why do you think I despise Dr. Quack so much?”
“That’s not… He’s my doctor ,” I stammer as if it should be obvious there’s nothing remotely sexual to that.
Liam literally growls. “It drives me nuts. If anyone had challenged my bid the night of the auction, I would’ve upped it a dozen times until I won you and, if I hadn’t, I would’ve stormed the stage and carried you off before they could’ve stopped me.
That’s how damn much I wanted to have you share a drink with me and no other man. ”
My core clenches at his possessiveness. “I didn’t realize.”
“Yeah, I know.” His head drops. “Believe me, it’s been painfully clear for three years now that you don’t see me that way and never will.”
Three years? Is he serious? “Liam, are you saying…”
His expression makes it clear he is. “Forget it. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“I can’t forget this. You’re my friend and that’s all I've seen for a long time but I have wondered…”
“Please, don’t give me pity disguised as feelings, Juliana. It would cut even worse than if you called me kid. ”
I close my mouth for a moment. It’s not pity disguised as feelings I’m experiencing, but I’m not certain what I feel precisely.
“I wouldn’t call you that,” I tell him. “ He called me that and I hated it in the end. We wouldn’t have done the things we did last time we were here if I didn’t see you as a man, a man I find incredibly attractive, Liam.
A man I desire very much. It’s just that… ”
The lighting is low so he can’t see me flushing, but his arms tighten around me and I can tell he’s hanging on my words. “That server thought I was your mother,” I finish quietly, needing to address it.
“No one who really looks at you would believe that, not remotely. She either needed glasses or was a complete airhead, Juliana.”
“The last time we were here a stranger called me a cougar because I was with you.”
Our gaze meets and his beautiful ocean eyes burn so fiercely.
“I think our age gap would need to be wider to qualify, but I couldn’t care less about strangers who want to label us.
I don’t care that you’re older than me. I care about you.
To me, you’re the sexiest woman alive. No other woman could hold a candle to you in my eyes. ”
It’s funny he said that. I didn’t believe the other man, but I believe Liam. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. I’m just scared to death you’re going to turn around and ask for space again.”
“I won’t, but I feel like I’ve been blind,” I admit, my eyes welling up.
He shakes his head, the pad of his thumb resting on my cheek, ready to brush away any tear that threatens to spill.
“He wounded me so deeply, Liam.” My throat grows tight and we don’t have to say his name for Liam to know who I mean.
“I know, baby.”
“I’ve long since lost all the feelings I once had for him but the betrayal... It’s taken me years to move past it and I wasn’t considering ever seeking… But, I’m considering it now. When I look at you lately, I don’t just see my best friend anymore, and th at’s the truth.”
Those gorgeous eyes sparkle with hope as he stares at me. “Are you saying…”
“Despite what happened here the night of the auction though, I’d have to go slow. So slow perhaps that you really will tear your hair out. We’ve got more to think of than just ourselves,” I add, taking his hand and resting it on my little bump.
His answering grin ignites something powerful but tender deep inside of me. For the first time in years, I wonder if I might be brave enough to truly risk it even if it might mean getting hurt again in the end.
Liam strokes my cheek, still staring at me like I’m his entire world. Why did I never notice that before?
With our hands still clasped, he raises mine to his lips. “Would this be slow enough?” The sultry, soft brush of his lips over my knuckles makes me shudder. How can a simple hand kiss be that wickedly good?
My free hand grasps his jacket, tugging him down for a real kiss. “Well, maybe not that slow.”