Chapter Fifteen
Evie
The spaghetti was long gone, the plates stacked neatly on the counter, and the calmness of the evening had settled in.
Liam leaned back in his chair, a glass of wine in his hand, his blue eyes sparkling as he recounted a story about one of his sisters accidentally booking a goat yoga class for their mother. I couldn’t think of a better evening.
“And you should’ve seen her face when the goat hopped onto her back,” Liam said, laughing. “She tried to play it cool, but you could tell she was plotting my sister’s demise the entire time.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, picturing the scene.
“I think I’d pay money to see that.”
“Trust me, it was worth every penny of the class fee,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m still amazed she didn’t kick us all out of the family.”
“Well, that’s one thing I’ve never tried—goat yoga,” I said, leaning my elbow on the table and resting my chin in my hand. “But I imagine it’s a unique experience.”
“Unique is one word for it,” Liam said with a grin. “So, no goat yoga for you. What’s your thing, then? Besides wrangling horses and making world-class spaghetti?”
I smiled. “World-class, huh? High praise coming from someone who once fought an immersion blender and lost.”
“Ouch,” he said, raising his glass in mock acknowledgment. “But seriously, what’s your thing?”
I hesitated, suddenly aware of how little time I actually spent doing anything for myself.
“I guess… reading, sometimes. Baking, when I have the time. Honestly, most of my free time is spent with Hayden. He’s kind of my hobby and full-time job all rolled into one. I love it.”
Liam’s expression softened. “He’s an awesome kid. You’ve done an amazing job with him.”
“Thanks,” I said quietly, feeling joy spread through me at his words. “He’s my everything.”
Hayden appeared in the doorway as if on cue, his pajamas slightly askew and his hair sticking up in all directions.
“Mom, is it bedtime yet?”
I glanced at the clock and realized how late it had gotten.
“Yeah, sweetie, it’s about that time. Go brush your teeth, and I’ll be right there.”
Hayden hesitated, his gaze shifting to Liam. “Can Liam put me to bed too?”
My heart skipped a beat, and I looked over at Liam, unsure how he’d react. His smile didn’t falter, but there was a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
“I don’t mind,” Liam said, his voice easy and reassuring.
I bit my lip, torn between the desire to protect Hayden from getting too attached too soon and how Liam seemed to fit seamlessly into our lives.
“Hayden, why don’t you go get started? I’ll be there in a minute.”
Hayden nodded and padded off down the hallway, leaving us alone in the kitchen. I turned to Liam, my fingers fiddling with the edge of my sweater.
“You don’t have to,” I said softly. “He’s just… not used to having anyone else around.”
Liam leaned forward, his hands resting on the table. “Evie, I’m happy to. If it’s okay with you.”
I hesitated, and my mind swirled with a million what-ifs.
But the way Liam looked at me—calm and patient—made something inside me relax.
“Don’t mention the fact that I forgot to give him some apple pie,” I said finally. “But just this once. You won’t have to start driving over here every night.”
He grinned, standing and stretching before following me down the hall.
“Now, I’ll make damn sure I do an amazing job.” A playful smirk tipped his mouth as he brought his lips close to my ear and whispered. “And we still need a slice before I leave.”
I flashed him a wry smile.
Hayden was already in bed with his favorite stuffed dog, a well-loved toy he’d named Barkley.
His eyes lit up when he saw Liam. “Can you read me a story?”
Liam glanced at me, and I nodded, smiling as I leaned against the doorframe.
“Sure, champ,” Liam said, sitting on the edge of the bed. “What’s the book?”
Hayden held up a dog-eared copy of The Adventures of Barkley the Brave . “This one.”
“Solid choice,” Liam said, opening the book.
Lance walked past me and hopped on the edge of the bed, and for a brief moment, I let myself pretend that this was my life.
Liam read enthusiastically, making me pause in the doorway, my heart swelling as I watched them together. Hayden hung on Liam’s every word, his little face lighting up at the exciting parts and giggling at the funny bits.
When Liam finished the story, he closed the book and ruffled Hayden’s hair.
“Alright. Time to get some sleep.”
“Okay,” Hayden said, yawning as he snuggled deeper under the covers. “Thanks, Liam.”
“Anytime,” Liam said, standing and saluting him.
I stepped into the room and kissed Hayden’s forehead. “Sweet dreams, honey.”
As we left the room and closed the door behind us, I sighed softly.
Liam turned to me, his expression gentle. “That kid’s pretty great, you know.”
“Yeah,” I said, smiling. “He is.”
We walked back to the kitchen, the air between us feeling lighter somehow.
Liam stood in the kitchen by the table. “You okay?”
I nodded, meeting his gaze. “Yeah. Thank you for doing that. He really likes you.”
“I like him too,” he said simply, and the sincerity in his voice made me question everything.
For a moment, neither of us said anything, the weight of the evening settling over us. Then Liam grinned, breaking the tension.
“So, do I get dessert now, or was that all just a ruse to get me to read a bedtime story?”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Alright. You’ve earned it.”
The kitchen was quiet now, except for the faint refrigerator drone and the occasional creak of the house settling. Liam’s blue eyes fixed on me in a way that made my pulse do a little flip.
“Do I get to ask what’s next on the agenda?” he said, his voice low and teasing.
I chuckled nervously, wiping my hands on a dish towel. “What agenda? It’s a weeknight. Pretty sure bedtime for Hayden is the highlight.”
“That’s a solid highlight,” he said, his grin softening. “I think I might’ve nailed the bedtime story performance.”
“You definitely set a high bar,” I said, matching his playful tone. “But don’t get too comfortable. Hayden is finicky.”
Liam laughed, filling the space between us. “Good to know. I’ll prepare for the next round.”
I busied myself tidying the counter, not because it needed it, but because I needed something to do with my hands. The way he looked at me like I was the only thing in the room worth paying attention to made me feel both exhilarated and completely off-balance.
“So,” he said, his voice drawing me back. “Do I pass the friend-of-the-family test?”
I glanced at him, one eyebrow raised. “Friend-of-the-family?”
“Yeah,” he said, taking a slow step toward me. “You know, the one where I’m good with kids, handy around the house, and charming enough to be tolerated.”
I snorted, trying to ignore how my heart raced as he closed the distance between us.
“Tolerated is a strong word.”
“Oh?” He took another step, and suddenly, the room felt smaller. “What word would you use, then?”
I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out.
My brain short-circuited as I realized just how close he was now. Close enough that I could see the faint stubble on his jaw, close enough to catch the faint scent of cedar and something warm and familiar.
He tilted his head slightly, his smile fading into something intense, more serious.
“Evie,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Am I reading this wrong?”
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. “Reading what?”
He chuckled softly. “You.”
I froze, caught between the instinct to step back and the overwhelming desire to close the gap between us.
“What about me?”
“Everything about you, Evie. You’ve got this way of making me forget every reason I should take things slow.”
I felt my breath hitch, the air between us charged with something electric.
“And what are those reasons?”
His smile returned, a little lopsided and completely disarming. “Honestly? None of them hold up anymore.”
Before I could think, before I could overanalyze the situation, he leaned in. His hand gently brushed my cheek, and his lips fell to mine.
The kiss was soft at first, as if he were waiting for me to pull away.
But when I didn’t—when I leaned into him instead—it deepened.
The world around us faded until there was nothing but him. His hand slid to the small of my back, pulling me closer. My body buzzed with a desire I didn’t even know possible. There was heat and need running through every cell in me. The sweetness of his lips, the confidence in his kiss…his hands.
My fingers found their way to the front of his sweater, clutching the threads as if it could anchor me in this moment.
I let out a little moan as his tongue did a little twirl, and his kiss deepened.
When we finally broke apart, his forehead rested against mine, his breath warm against my skin.
“That,” he said softly, “was even better than I imagined.”
I laughed nervously, my cheeks flushing. “You’ve imagined this?”
“Only about a hundred times,” he admitted, his grin returning. “And now I’m kicking myself for not doing it sooner.”
I shook my head, unable to stop the smile spreading across my face. “You’re impossible.”
“And yet, here you are,” he teased, his hand lingering at my waist. “Still putting up with me.”
I loved how we had inside jokes, how he looked at me as if I mattered, as if…
“Don’t get too cocky,” I said, though my tone lacked any real bite.
“Tell me when you’ll say I’m possible.” His eyes stayed fastened on mine as my breathing quickened. “That we are possible.”
He pulled back slightly, his gaze searching mine. “Tell me I’m not imagining this.”
“You’re not,” I said quietly, my voice barely audible.
His smile widened, and he brushed a strand of hair behind my ear.
“Good. Because I don’t want to stop.”
I bit my lip as my mind raced. I knew I should say something, set boundaries, and protect myself. But the way he looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered made it impossible to think straight.
“You don’t play fair,” I said finally.
“I never said I would,” he replied, his grin turning mischievous. “But I’ll make you a deal.”
“What kind of deal?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I’ll do my best to play fair,” he said, his tone softening. “If you promise to stop running.”
I hesitated, the weight of his words settling over me. “I’m not running or afraid.”
“No?” he asked, tilting his head. “Because it feels a lot like you are. And I never said the word afraid.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but the words caught in my throat.
He wasn’t wrong. I’d been putting up walls, convincing myself that this—whatever this was—wasn’t worth the risk. But standing here with him, I couldn’t remember why I’d been so scared.
“I don’t know how to do this.” My voice was barely above a whisper.
“Neither do I,” he said, his thumb brushing against my cheek. “But I’m willing to figure it out if you are.”
I nodded slowly, my heart racing. “Okay.”
His smile returned, bigger and brighter as he leaned in to kiss me again.
This time, I didn’t hesitate.
I didn’t think.
I just let myself fall.