Chapter Twenty-Seven
Heath Antiques smelt as dank and dark as it looked.
In the old converted mill, spindle-back chairs were stacked up to the ceiling next to rows of buffed Chesterfield sofas.
Mid-century coffee tables were next to Victorian bureaus.
It was dark, but when light did appear, it burst from murky skylights that hadn’t been cleaned in years.
Everywhere I looked, there was another token from the past – a gaudy neon sign or a dining table with swear words etched into the wood. I was in heaven. Liam was right.
My miserable haze was gone the moment I stepped inside.
‘Let’s pick out this dresser you keep harping on about,’ Liam said, his lips twitching. He raised a finger and bopped it on my nose. ‘And you are going to haggle.’
My mouth fell open. ‘I can’t. And I thought you said it was “impractical”,’ I said, impersonating Liam’s stupid voice.
Liam’s eyes twinkled. ‘Firstly, I don’t sound like that. Secondly, it is impractical. But for you, I will add a glass top, so it doesn’t get damaged. And thirdly…’ He stepped forward, his steel-capped boots meeting mine. His gaze simmered with determination. ‘You are going to haggle.’
I crossed my arms. ‘You’d do that?’
‘Make you haggle? Jesus, Red, the guy who runs this place is a softie. He’ll probably give you anything for free once he sees you in those jeans.’
‘What – no, I mean fit the glass on top –’ I glanced down at my outfit. Not particularly sexy, I didn’t think.
‘Of course.’ Liam pulled me closer.
He was so touchy-feely at the moment, and I kind of loved it. Most guys I’d dated in the past were against physical touch until I was in their bed.
Liam’s hands caressed down my arms and grazed along my waist. ‘I meant what I said.’ His thumb grazed my jaw. ‘Anything you want, you can have.’
‘Anything, huh?’ I grinned, looking up to find him staring down at me. He had a soft look on his usually hard features.
‘Anything,’ he said, his voice low.
I turned away, my hands on my hips, facing the warehouse. Liam cleared his throat, and I could feel disappointment rolling off him in waves.
Too much. It was too much.
Liam’s voice said from behind me, ‘Let’s test that haggling, huh?’
We spent an hour weaving through the rows and rows of furniture.
And while I wanted to take everything home with me, I hadn’t found the perfect dresser yet.
However, I had found a vintage Ercol dining table with matching chairs, an amazing old dresser that would be perfect for the hallway and glass whisky decanters I wanted to take home.
Each time, Liam pulled me gently away, reminding me to stay focused.
I tried my best even as the furniture chanted to me. Take us home. Take us home.
‘This was a mistake.’ Liam shook his head. ‘You want everything.’
‘I want everything.’ I mock-gasped. An antique gold cash till sat on top of a wooden table, the huge leaver you’d pull to open up the till still intact.
My hands ran over the metal numbers, pressing them down.
They still moved. ‘Oh my’ – I clutched my chest – ‘this would look so cool in your restaurant.’
Liam arched an eyebrow. ‘My restaurant.’
‘Yeah.’ I waved a hand. ‘When you get round to it. And finally speak to your brother.’
‘If you have anything to do with it, it’s going to look like the jumble sale at Abigail’s school.’
It didn’t escape me that he skirted around the mention of his brother.
I grinned. ‘You have such little faith in me.’
Liam huffed. ‘Trust me. When it comes to this stuff, I have complete faith in you.’
‘This stuff?’
‘I’ve seen your plans.’ He glanced at me. ‘They are good. I’ve worked with interior designers – some good, some bad. I can tell you’re talented, even if you need a dose of reality now and then. If I do open my restaurant—’
‘Oh—’
Liam held up a finger. ‘If. I said if. If I open the restaurant. You’ll be the first person I’ll call.’
‘To design it?’ I gasped.
‘Yep. Only the best.’
The heart flutters were back. He had no idea what those words meant to someone who doubted themselves on a daily basis.
I smiled. ‘Thanks. Sometimes I think about—’ I paused.
‘I think about doing this – as a job,’ I said in a rush.
‘It’s just a stupid idea, and I probably wouldn’t make any money.
Then I’d end up not being able to pay any bills, and then the bank would repossess my house, and I’d end up destitute.
Or worse, back living with my mum and Graham. ’
The corner of Liam’s lips rose. My face burned.
I turned away. ‘Forget it—’
‘No, no,’ Liam said and shifted my shoulders to face him. ‘Why would you think that?’ His gaze searched my face. ‘Why wouldn’t it be a success?’
My mum’s voice echoed around me.
Don’t take risks. Stop being impulsive. Be sensible, Katherine.
‘I wasn’t brought up by people who took risks.
’ I bit my lip. ‘And I have a reputation for being… flighty. I’ve had some failed attempts at businesses before.
Stupid stuff, really. A jewellery business.
Candle making. Then, I thought I wanted to be a childminder. But all of them failed. Or I failed.’
Liam let out a deep breath.
‘Just ignore me. I’m oversharing.’
‘Hey,’ he said, his arms trailing down mine.
‘You aren’t oversharing. I asked, remember?
’ He laced his fingers through mine, walking us down the aisle with old wooden benches.
‘Just because someone else doesn’t like taking risks doesn’t mean you shouldn’t.
And those other attempts don’t mean you’ll fail again.
And if you do’ – he shrugged – ‘who cares? If you have about a million careers in your lifetime, who cares, as long as you are happy?’
I snorted. ‘Well, the tax man might be a bit concerned.’
‘If it means anything, I think you’d be amazing.
’ He glanced at me. ‘You’re incredibly creative and driven.
Your brain might be hardwired a bit differently, but I’ve seen the dogged determination when you face your problems.’ He smiled, shaking his head ruefully. ‘I’ve been victimised by it, remember?’
I rolled my eyes, my cheeks blushing at his words.
We stopped near some huge wardrobes that looked straight out of a C. S. Lewis novel.
Liam’s thumb grazed my jaw, forcing me to look at him.
‘I mean it, sweetheart. You clearly don’t hear it enough. You are incredible.’
Half of me wanted to make a joke, laugh it off.
But the other half wanted to press my face into Liam’s chest and pull him close.
I wanted to hear him say things like that again and again.
I wanted to bask in those words and ruminate if he really meant them.
I wanted to let him prove to me he did mean them.
But I couldn’t do that.
I couldn’t have him.
So, instead, I showed him. I was much better with my body than words. I pressed my palm against his chest, pushing him against a bookcase in the dark part of the warehouse somewhere that no one would spot us.
‘Kat –’ he said, and I watched his cocky grin morph into hot desire.
I was determined to make him feel something. I wanted to repay the debt of his sweet, kind words.
My hands roamed across his chest, and I leaned up to kiss him hard and fast. His tongue met mine, and he groaned. His hands came up into my hair, pulling gently.
‘What are you playing at?’ he murmured into my ear, kissing down my neck.
‘Oh,’ I said, trying to sound casual, but my voice was pure gravel, ‘I’m just getting my own back.’
I sank to the floor, on my knees, and started on the buttons of his jeans.
‘Kat –’ Liam’s voice was a groan and a warning in one.
‘You don’t – oh, fuck.’ I palmed him over his boxers, and his head fell against the bookcase.
I grinned, enjoying the power, even on my knees.
I touched him a few more times, feeling how big and hard he was.
I wasn’t sure I could take all of him in my mouth.
‘Are you just playing with me?’ Liam said, reaching into my hair and holding me there. His eyes were so fucking soft with desire, and I didn’t think anyone had ever looked at me like that before.
Liam’s thumb reached across my lips, and I opened my mouth instinctively. His thumb dipped into my mouth.
‘I’ve thought about this too many times,’ he rasped – molten hot desire. ‘You, on your knees. For me.’
I pulled him out of his boxers, rewarding him with a kiss for his confession. He flinched. His palm tightened in my hair. I took him with my mouth, looking up at his face, watching his eyes roll back.
‘Fucking hell,’ he said hoarsely, that soft accent becoming more pronounced.
I worked him in my mouth, moving my hands in tandem. Liam’s hands became gentler, weaving through the curly strands. I glanced up and found him looking down at me with a mix of pure lust and something else – reverence.
Liam brushed my cheek.
‘Gorgeous,’ Liam said, his dark eyes going hazy. ‘You have no idea, fuck, Red. You look so –’ He made a frustrated noise. ‘Those eyes on me are going to make me come.’
I moved faster until Liam gave a filthy swear.
‘Baby,’ he said, and I hated how much I liked the words from his filthy mouth, ‘if you don’t stop, I’m going to come.’
I hummed and kept going. I wanted to do this, to take him to the edge. Make him remember this, remember me, even if this strange arrangement was temporary.
Liam swore as he came, his eyes closing, his head back.
I weathered through it, taking him deep and tasting him on my tongue.
I grinned as Liam pulled his boxers up and breathed heavily.
He looked completely devastated, like his brain had been scrambled.
His hair was dishevelled where he’d run his hand through it.
‘You’re the devil.’ Liam picked me up, moving with remarkable speed for someone who had just come undone on their feet.
‘My turn.’ Liam smirked, hauling me to him, slanting his lips to mine.
‘Hello?’ A male voice echoed through the warehouse. ‘Is someone there?’
‘Fuck,’ Liam said, his hands moving quickly to button up his trousers. His hand ran through his hair. He turned to me. ‘Do I look like I’ve just had the best blowjob of my life?’
I barked a laugh, dissolving into giggles.
‘Oi, you,’ Liam whispered, a smile taking over his face, ‘I’m serious. You seduced me, and Antony is going to know.’
‘Now you know how I felt!’ I said, laughing indignantly.
‘Hello?’ The man’s voice was coming closer.
Liam grabbed my hand. ‘Come on, let’s show ourselves before Ant gets the exorcist over. Again.’
Liam was leading me down the aisle when something caught my eye. My hand fell out of Liam’s as I gravitated towards a sideboard in the perfect shade of warm brown – not too dark, not too light.
It was perfect.
I sighed lovingly. ‘This is the one.’
I ran my hand over the wood. It was a bit uneven in some places, but the wood’s gloss told me it had been sanded back and refinished.
‘Yeah?’ Liam gave me a small smile.
‘Yeah.’
‘Antony,’ Liam shouted, making me jump.
‘Kevin?’ Antony called back, sounding confused.
‘It’s Liam. I’m here with my –’ Liam’s eyes widened. ‘My friend. She’s looking at this sideboard.’
‘Okay, I’ll come over. Are you by Chucky?’
‘Chucky –’ Liam’s hand came to his chest. ‘Fucking hell.’ I followed his gaze to find a life-size version of Chucky brandishing a huge knife hanging from the rafters above us.
‘Was that there the whole time?’ I hissed.
A tall light-skinned Black man rounded the corner, an easy smile on his face. His eyes widened when he spotted me next to Liam.
Antony held back a smile and offered me his hand. ‘Antony. You can call me Tony. Nice to meet you, Liam’s friend.’
‘Kat.’
‘Kat,’ he repeated back to me melodically, still shaking my hand.
‘Tony. How much for this one?’ Liam said, his face still a little red. ‘We’ll take it today; I’ve got the van.’
Antony smirked, mock frowning. ‘Do you usually escort your customers around reclamation yards, Liam?’ He turned to me, holding up his hands. ‘This must be a new service.’
Liam sighed. ‘How much, old man?’
‘Hey’ – he smacked him over the head – ‘respect your elders.’ Antony turned to survey the furniture. ‘That’s four hundred.’
I coughed. Jesus, that was more than I’d expected. Liam turned to me, his eyebrows high.
‘Go on then. Name your price.’ Liam smirked.
My eyes widened. I could feel my face turning red as Antony and Liam stared at me expectantly. This felt like too much pressure.
‘Er –’ I stuttered.
Liam’s palm came to my back, touching gently.
Go on, it seemed to say, you can do it.
‘I could pay you two hundred.’
Antony scoffed. ‘Are you trying to swindle me, Kat? You know this is a completely unique sideboard. I sanded it down and refinished it myself. It took me hours. You won’t find one in better nick.’
‘Oh –’ I was about to take back my offer, but Liam’s hand came around my waist and squeezed as Antony exhaled noisily.
‘Wait,’ Liam murmured in my ear.
Antony clapped his palms together. ‘I can do three hundred. But no lower.’
I turned to Liam and grinned. He squeezed my waist again and winked down at me. I turned back to Antony, determined.
‘Two-fifty,’ I said back, trying to be as steely as possible.
‘You’re robbing me,’ Antony said, glancing up at the ceiling like he was praying. ‘Two hundred and seventy-five. Final offer.’
I glanced at Liam, who was silently laughing beside me. I turned back to Antony, nodding.
‘Deal.’ I held my hand to Antony like I’d seen businessmen do on Dragons’ Den. Antony accepted my hand and shook it.
‘I was swindled, but it’s a deal. Liam, get your girlfriend out of here before she repossesses my house too.’
‘Yes, sir,’ Liam said, smiling down at me. Pride shone on his face.
I beamed back. For the first time in my life, I didn’t feel like a fuck up.
I didn’t feel like I was one decision away from ruining my life or someone else’s.
I felt strong and capable. I felt motivated and driven.
And as we lifted the sideboard into Liam’s van, under his warm gaze, I felt like I could do anything.