Chapter 4
Chapter Four
LIAM
O kay, so today is not going how I expected it to. I had the day off after one of the longest weeks of my life, and I intentionally made today a lazy day so I could try to settle back into my routine. It’s noon and I was just heading out for the gym when I opened the door to see my mother and this angry little cactus standing on my front walk.
I’ll admit, I didn’t recognize her at first. Lark has grown so much in the last ten years since those family pictures were taken, and she’s fucking stunning . Her blonde hair is cut short and the hair around her face has been dyed a bright red that’s the same vivid shade as the poppies I planted last fall. I’m actually surprised they’re still in bloom this late in June, but I suspect it won’t be much longer before they’re gone for the year.
Shaking myself off the flower track before I get too distracted and make a break for my greenhouse, I tune back in to see my mom glaring daggers at me. My eyes widen in shock. “I’m sorry, I was thinking about my poppies. What did I miss? ”
Mom huffs in exasperation, but she knows how I am when it comes to social situations. When I’m feeling awkward it’s too easy for me to hyper fixate on my comfort activities and lose all sense of time.
“I was just explaining to our new friend that you have a room available for her to rent since her condo fell through last minute,” she says patiently.
My eyebrows do their best to reach my hairline as my jaw parts in shock. Lark groans, scrubbing her hands down her face. “Carol. I thought you said he was looking to rent a room out! Not that you were dropping me here like a baby at a fire station and forcing him into it!”
It takes a considerable effort for me to not snicker at her comparison, but only because she’s not wrong. Carol Blackwell is notorious for meddling in other people’s lives, and I’d be willing to bet wedding bells have been ringing in her head since the moment she met this feisty little thing.
Shaking my head, I sigh and address the beautiful disaster of a woman on my couch. “I do have extra rooms, and if you need one while you find a place of your own, consider my house yours. Anything for Keelan’s baby sister.”
I enjoy watching Mom’s jaw drop for a change, even though Lark is glaring at me like she’s considering finding a pair of scissors to stab me with. Knowing her profession? It’s likely she has a pair on hand and ready to go. That thought has me covertly hovering a hand over my lap.
Just in case.
“I’m not Keelan’s baby anything,” she all but growls at me. “He’s older than me by four minutes. FOUR! I was taller than him until we were thirteen, okay? Don’t let him fool you into thinking he’s all big bad brother. I still kill his spiders for him. ”
Raising my eyebrows, I bite my lip to hold back a grin. She’s cute when she’s all fired up.
Shit. Fuck. No. She’s your best friend’s sister and your new roommate. That’s way too many kinds of complicated and off limits to be thinking about how cute she is.
Holding my hands up in surrender, I accidentally let the grin I’d been holding back slip free, earning a huff from her lips that have been parted in indignation for the last five minutes. “Would you like to see the rooms? I have three I’m not currently using, but only one has an en-suite bathroom.”
Lark bites her lip, drawing my attention to the way the plump pink skin caves under her straight white teeth. She really is fucking stunning, and now that we’re up close and personal I can easily see the resemblance to my friend, right down to the little freckles all over her face.
Not that I think Keelan is hot, but, I mean…the man is a world-famous rock star, and talent alone only gets you so far in that industry. He certainly didn’t get a Calvin Klein billboard using his singing voice.
“Hey.” I carefully place a hand on her shoulder and duck so I can meet her eyes. “If you aren’t comfortable staying with a stranger, I completely understand. I can try to help you find a short-term rental and I’ll stay in a hotel until we can find you something safe.”
Her gorgeous blue eyes widen, sparkling in the sun and turning them a light shade that reminds me of Hydrangeas. She shakes her head as if coming out of a trance and smiles shyly. “No, no. Keely clearly trusts you, and he doesn’t trust anyone. If you’re really okay with me cramping your style for a few months, I would be incredibly grateful to rent a room.”
I don’t know why, but her agreement causes a tightness in my chest that puts me on edge. But this is a good thing, right? I’m helping my best friend’s sister out of a tough spot and packing on some extra good karma for the next time I inevitably fuck up.
Ignoring the blooming sensation of unease in my gut at the idea of changing my steady routine, I stand up and offer her a hand. “Can I show you the room?”
When she places her soft hand in mine, we’re hit by a bolt of static electricity and she grimaces. “Sorry, I forgot how damn dry it can get this time of year before the summer storms kick in.”
We shrug off the weird moment and head inside, my mom watching on in amusement. I let Lark walk ahead of me into the house so I can turn around and slice my hand across my throat in a “cut it out” motion. Mom just laughs, waving me off as she takes a seat on the back steps.
I come into the mudroom to find the little cactus staring me down with a single brow arched, making me grin. “So this is the mudroom. You can leave whatever you want in here. I usually use it to store my boots, beach gear, and a few toys.”
Lark’s other brow joins the first midway up her forehead in surprise. “You just leave those out in the open where anyone can see them?”
My head cocks without conscious thought, totally thrown by her words but also slightly irritated by the antagonistic smirk on her face. What the hell is she talking about?
Her grin only grows the longer I stare at her. Almost like she can see my brain working overtime to figure out the hidden meaning in her words. I hate when people make me feel stupid for not understanding something they think I should.
Growing up, I was a shy, awkward loner, and becoming a mildly sought-after tattoo artist hasn’t changed that. My dad was in the military when I was a kid so we moved around a lot and I never developed any solid friendships until I met Keelan at twenty-six.
Even now I spend most of my time working, and any time I don’t have my irons in hand I’m alone in my greenhouse with the plants. That kind of isolation combined with wicked social anxiety has left me a little… inept in most interactions.
It’s not like I’m a virgin or anything, but any sexual encounters I’ve had have required little to no talking beforehand. And I know, I know how awful that sounds, but it’s worked for me. I don’t have to open my mouth and risk saying or asking something stupid, and they don’t expect anything out of me past one night of fun.
A large yawn I’m not entirely sure is fake escapes Lark before she speaks again, thankfully snapping me out of my pity party. “I mean, I keep mine in my nightstand, but good for you! We love a sex-positive man.”
Still confused by her words, I meet her gaze and see the twinkle in her eyes grow exponentially brighter. “Huh?”
I run through everything we just said and flush when I finally catch the unintentional double entendre from my words. Stomping over to the built in cubbies under a bench, I yank out one of the drawers and point with a snarl. “ Children’s toys , Lark. I keep children’s toys in here for the rare occasion when my sister brings her kids to visit.”
The little demon loses all composure, laughing so hard she has to lean back against the wall so she doesn’t collapse to the floor in hysterics. I stew in my irritation while simultaneously trying to forget the image of Lark spread out in bed with her favorite toy , but it’s damn hard.
No pun intended.
Without another word, I turn on my heel and stalk up the stairs, coming to a stop outside her potential bedroom door. I’m sure the little nightmare will find me when she’s ready to stop acting like a child. Right on cue, quick footsteps follow my path to the second-floor landing and Lark startles when she sees me.
“You left me!” she accuses irritably. Every time her temper rises a deep flush surfaces across her cheeks and nose that rivals the red pieces in her hair, making her freckles stand out and distracting me with their patterns.
Smirking, I meet her glare head on. “If you were so busy mocking me you didn’t notice me leave the room, then maybe you need to reevaluate that little attitude of yours and think about being nicer to your new landlord, Red.”
One perfectly shaped brow raises as her cheeks flush even deeper and her glare turns positively glacial. Something I just said royally pissed her off. “Red? Also, I wouldn’t say you’re my landlord, Liam. So maybe you need to reevaluate that giant ego of yours before I tell Carol her son is being an ass.”
The smug little grin on her face pisses me off to no end, and my smirk turns into a sneer before I can school my expression. “Oh, right. You’re going to tattle on me to my mommy, Lark? I have to admit, I expected more out of someone who’s almost thirty years old. Maybe Keelan got all the maturity meant for both of you in the womb?” I shrug carelessly. “But what do I know, I’m just his best friend and the one who’s been there for him the last five years.”
Turning to point at the room behind me, I sweep my arm out in a mocking way. “Your room, Ms. Monroe.”
The spicier her attitude gets, the more she reminds me of a Red Grafted Moon cactus. Beautiful, but prickly as hell and painful if you get too close. I didn’t mean to let that little nickname slip, but if it irritates her half as much as she’s irritating me, then I’ll be using it as often as possible.
As quickly as I can, I point out each door and little things about the house. “Bathroom’s there, closet’s here. Another small closet inside the bathroom that should be stocked with towels and stuff. I’m not your keeper so I don’t care when you come or go, but I tend to run on weird hours so I’ll be as quiet as I can if I’m coming or going and I would appreciate the same from you. Other than that, just add whatever you like to the grocery list and let me know if you have any questions.”
Lark stands in the corner of the room looking part pissed, part shell-shocked, and I have to turn away to hide my smirk. We’re stuck with each other for the time being whether we like it or not, so she needs to know this bratty little attitude she has going on isn’t going to drive me away.
When I hit the doorway, I pause and glance over my shoulder. “Oh, and Red? If you don’t like the nickname, maybe you should stop acting like such a hotheaded little brat.”
With that parting blow, I close the door and make my way down the stairs, intending to finally get in my daily workout. A muffled scream of frustration follows me, making me laugh quietly. I have to say, Lark is much snarkier than I was expecting, but part of me loves it.
I just have to keep my distance and remember that she’s Keelan’s sister, and everything will be fine. She’ll stay with me for a couple of months, we’ll lead our separate lives, and I’ll forget this lingering attraction as soon as she’s gone and I’m back to my familiar routine.
Everything is going to be fine.