Chapter 18
Liam
Walking up to the Emerald Eye in Larimar Square, the last person I expect to encounter at a happy hour with Madison is the owner of my hockey team.
“Hi, Liam.”
“Hi, Ms. Robertson.” Yeah, this is all kinds of awkward.
“Joslyn please, Liam.” Well, that’s not making it any less awkward.
“Um. Hi, Joslyn.” Yup, that’s as weird as I thought it would be. Joslyn just looks far too entertained and much more at ease.
“Maddie, your ride’s here.” Joslyn tells her, giving me a sly grin over the rim of her drink.
“Liam!” My name is a drunken shout, and I hide a smile. I have a feeling tipsy Maddie is going to be a handful.
“I’d ride that home. Or at home. Anywhere really.
” A girl with dark hair and icy blue eyes announces to everyone.
She looks disturbingly familiar, but I can’t place her.
My face heats as the entire table of women turn to check me out.
Except for Joslyn, thank God, because I’m not sure I could handle that.
“Oh my God! He can hear you, Lexi!” Mel is red-faced with embarrassment, but the black-haired girl just smirks and winks at me. She’s pretty, but I’ve only got eyes for my Mad girl.
“Hands off ladies. That’s my ride.“ There’s an explosion of giggles at Maddie’s comment. Her emphasis on “my” has my whole body jumping to attention. She might not mean it the way I want her to, but she did just publicly claim me. My dick is quick to let me know he’s so on board with it.
She sways precariously close to the edge of her chair as she tries to get to her feet. Ace nuzzles her leg and whines.
“I got her, Ace. Don’t worry.” I tell him as I reach out to steady her.
A dark green railing surrounds the patio they’re sitting at, but it’s only about three feet tall so I hop over it. Maddie’s a bit wobbly, and who am I to pass up a chance to hold her?
Looking around the table, I don’t think any of these ladies are even slightly sober. If I weren’t so concerned about getting them all home safely, I’d be enjoying the show, but I’m not leaving them here by themselves, even though it’s still early evening.
“How are the rest of you ladies getting home? No one is driving, right?” I catch Joslyn’s eye. She seems the most sober. She giggles as she sips her cocktail. So much for that theory.
“Oh, I’ve got a ride of my own.” She informs me with a mysterious smile.
“Oh boy does she!” says Joslyn’s daughter, Lily. She owns the financial firm that’s handling my investments. She stopped by and introduced herself during my meeting this afternoon.
“Lily! Discretion please.” Joslyn reprimands her.
“Whatever you say, Mom.” She sasses back.
“Aren’t they great!” Maddie whisper-yells next to my ear. I wince. “I had so much fun tonight.” She sighs and relaxes back against me. I wrap my arms around her to prop her up. It’s just an excuse to hold her, but I’ll take what I can get. I’m so glad she enjoyed tonight.
“They are.” I say with a straight face. I can’t wait to tell Walker about tonight.
“Someone call for a ride home?” A familiar male voice questions, and I’m relieved to see Damon standing on the other side of the railing near Joslyn. “Ah, Liam, I see you got roped into Uber duty as well.” He doesn’t seem to mind because he’s wearing a cheerful grin.
Before I can answer, a third man chimes in.
“That makes three of us.” I do a double take because standing behind Damon is Cam Harbough, quarterback for the Denver Eagles. Yes, I’m a professional athlete myself, but I’ll admit to fangirling over Denver’s newest QB. He’s a bit of a legend.
Apparently not to Damon, who greets him as if they’re old friends.
“Cam, good to see you. I don’t have to ask who you’re here for.” Damon says, ice-blue eyes twinkling with mirth.
“Damon.” He shrugs his shoulders. “I was already heading this way.” Cam responds, as he smiles and nods in my direction.
“Liam Ferguson.” I say as we shake hands. No lie, I can’t get the huge grin off my face.
“Good to meet you, Liam. Looking forward to seeing you play again this year.” Holy shit! Cam Harbough has watched me play.
“You, too, Cam. You’re looking good this year. Played a great game Thursday.” I say.
“Thanks. It was a tough one, but we managed to bring home a win. You guys ever get a chance to catch a game?”
“Haven’t had the chance to go in person for a while, but we try to watch when we can.” I tell him.
“I get it. Hockey’s got a crazy schedule. I don’t envy you, man.” Cam says.
“I wish I could say we’re all used to it but that’d be a lie. No offense, Damon.” I say, shooting Damon a guilty look.
“None taken. I remember. Don’t miss it a bit.” Damon replies.
“I better get my sister home before Mom calls me again.” Cam says with an indulgent smile. “Ready to leave, peanut?”
“Stop calling me that, Cam! Why did Mom send you?” Mel, one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, is scowling at her brother and sounding more than a little annoyed. Sadly, she’s much too tipsy for it to have the desired effect on Cam.
“I volunteered. You’re too cute to pull off a glare like that, peanut.” He tells her with a smirk. I turn away, coughing so I don’t laugh out loud, because he’s not wrong.
“I need to pay for my drinks.” Mel continues to protest, grumbling to herself about irritating siblings.
“Already done.” Damon says. “You’re good, Mel. See ya Monday.”
“Hmmph. Fine. Cam!!!” she yelps as Cam hoists the petite brunette over the railing without a second thought. If Walker tried that, Maddie would punch him before he could even get her off the ground.
“Give me a shout about those tickets, Cam.” Damon says as Cam carries off a loudly protesting Mel.
“You ready to go home, Mad girl?” She’s making herself at home, snuggled up against me, and while I hate to ruin it, it’s time to call it a night. She’s been yawning for the last five minutes, so I know she’s tired. She yawns again and nods her head.
“You and Madison can head out if you want, Liam. I’ll take care of these lovely ladies.
” Damon tells me. I try not to notice how close he’s sitting to Joslyn, or that he has a protective arm over the back of her chair.
Joslyn doesn’t seem to notice as she continues her conversation with her daughter.
“Dad, can we drop Lily off in LoDo? She’s meeting some friends.” The dark-haired girl who introduced herself as Lexi asks Damon. Now I get the familiar features that puzzled me earlier.
“Of course. What are your plans tonight, honey?”
“Not a damn thing. This is the extent of my fun for the night.” She informs him, looking rather irritated at her circumstances for the evening.
“Okay, Jos and I will drop you off at home first. Sound good?”
Damon and Joslyn share a glance before she answers Damon’s daughter.
It’s a small gesture, but it confirms what I’ve been suspecting since Damon showed up tonight.
There are definite feelings between the two of them.
Maybe because of my own predicament, it’s easy for me to see that Damon is head over heels for Joslyn.
Until that glance, I wasn’t sure if she felt the same, but now I’m almost positive she does.
I school my features because I don’t want to put them on the spot.
It’s not my business and I intend to keep it that way.
“We’re gonna head out.” I say as casually as I can, leading Maddie out through the bar to the exit. Followed closely by Damon and his crew. There are drunken hugs all around before we each branch off to our own vehicles.
I’ve got Maddie tucked up against me and she fits perfectly under my arm. She spends the entire car ride home telling me about her night, and I soak up every second of it. There’s nowhere I’d rather be.
***
By the time we get back to Madison’s place, she seems to be a bit more sober, courtesy of a Taco Supreme, some Nacho fries and the bottle of water I had to bribe her into drinking.
“Thanks for the ride home, hockey boy.” She says far too loudly. It makes me appreciate that she doesn’t have neighbors, per se. I’m helping her up the stairs while Ace scrutinizes my progress with the intensity of a first-time coach.
“Anytime, Mad girl. I’ve got you.” I get the door open and maneuver her inside along with Ace, who finally seems convinced I’m handling the situation correctly.
“Bed or couch?”
“Bed.” She responds with another huge yawn, and because they’re contagious, a yawn forms in my throat as well.
My day’s been a long one. I bite it back, steering her to sit on the side of the bed.
The minute I let her go, she’s flopping backward with a groan.
I chuckle as she glares in my direction.
“Time for bed.”
“I can’t reach my shoes.” She whines, trying to push her sneakers off with her toes, with little success. I chuckle as I grab a dangling foot to remove it for her. I get them both off, along with her socks, and she groans with relief. Tipsy Maddie is amusing as hell.
“Why does that feel so good?” she asks, wiggling painted pink toes while sighing happily. I shake my head, biting back my laughter. Ace takes that moment to let me know that it’s his dinner time by placing a paw on my knee.
“I’m going to get Ace’s dinner.” She mumbles what I think is agreement and rolls over, closing her eyes with a sigh.
Once I’m done with Ace, I place a large glass of water and a couple of ibuprofen on her bedside table. No one likes a hangover. She’s already snoring softly, and it’s way too cute. I have to take a minute to stare because she’s so damn beautiful.
Silky hair frames her face in a halo of gold.
She’s curled onto her side, hand cupping her cheek, lush pink lips turned up in a small smile.
Dark lashes fan out over the tops of her cheeks like bits of lace.
Her jeans are unbuttoned but not removed.
Her untucked blouse rucked up, showing off a pale strip of her stomach.
My hands twitch, aching to feel the softness of her skin, but now isn’t the time.
I debate removing her jeans. No one enjoys sleeping in jeans.
It’s so uncomfortable, but I don’t want her to freak out when she wakes up and she’s not wearing them.
Ace nudges me from behind with a whine before trotting over to the door.
I’ll take him for his nightly walk first and table the jeans decision until we get back.
Ace is quicker than usual, seemingly as anxious as I am to get back to Maddie.
By the time we get back upstairs, she’s under the covers and her jeans are in a heap on the floor next to the bed.
I get Ace settled. I steal a few more minutes watching her sleep because I can’t help myself and I don’t want to leave, but I’ve got no real reason to stay.
She gave Walker and me a key weeks ago after the night of the “almost break in.” I’ll lock up on my way out.
I move to give her cheek one last caress before I leave, startling when she grabs my hand.
“Liam.”
“What do you need, baby?” I ask, my breath catching with her touch. Her hand is warm against the skin of my arm.
“Stay.” She murmurs sleepily.
“Here? Tonight?”
“Mm, please?” she begs sweetly.
“Uh, okay. I can take the couch. I don’t mind.”
“No couch. Here with me.” Oh, wow. Shit, she’s been drinking. What do I do? Who am I kidding? I can’t deny my girl a damn thing.
“You sure, Mad girl? I don’t mind the couch.”
“No couch. Stay with me, Liam. Please.”
Fuck me. Yeah, my ability to say no has left the building because she’s giving me exactly what I want. Her.
“Of course, I’ll stay.” I assure her, stroking the soft skin of her face. God, I can’t get enough of touching her. I take off everything except my boxers and my t-shirt. I’ve got to keep at least one layer between us, or it’s going to be a miserable night for me, considering how badly I want her.
I slide in next to her on her queen bed.
It’s going to be a snug fit, and I reconsider the couch for a hot minute before she pulls me close and wraps herself around my chest. Yeah, this is going to be sweet torture.
My dick is hard and I can’t get comfortable, but her hair is silky against my skin, and she smells so fucking good.
I fold her into me, enjoying the warmth of her skin against mine.
She gives a sleepy sigh, wiggling her body until my hard cock presses against her stomach. Even tipsy, there’s no way she’s missing it. I tense waiting for her reaction.
“Oh!” she mumbles before giggling. “I’m so glad you like me, Liam. I like you too. So much more than I should.” I’m so startled by her admission that I say the first thing that comes to mind.
“Me too, Mad girl. Wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” I whisper as I kiss the top of her head. Looks like we’re both in deep.