Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
“It’s so annoying that I always have to go home just because Gabby wants to act like a dutiful, perfect daughter,” I groaned into the phone as I drove home to my parents’ house. “I don’t see why I’m always required to go as well.”
“You’ll be happy to see your parents.” Alice laughed. “Plus, you might meet another guy and have another night of hot sex.”
“Yeah, sure.” I laughed. “Unlikely.” I flushed as I thought about my one-night stand. “Plus, I’m not going to make it a habit.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t even get his name.” Alice laughed. “I know I dared you, but I didn’t think you’d go through with it.”
“I didn’t sleep with him because you’d dared me, Alice.
” I giggled. “And I didn’t get his name because it didn’t matter.
It’s not like he wanted mine.” I thought back to Mr. Miracle Tongue and the fact that I had no name to match his gorgeous face.
“He made it very clear that it was just going to be a night of hot sex and that was it.” I pause.
“At least that’s what I got from what he didn’t say. ”
“I’m sure you could have stayed for a second night.”
“I’m glad I left.” I smiled into the phone. “If anything, I left him wanting more. If I’d stayed until he woke up and waited to see what he was going to say, I would have looked like a desperate loser.”
“No, you might have gotten morning sex.”
“I didn’t need morning sex. We’d had enough sex to last me for months,” I lied.
I would have loved to have morning sex with him. He was a terrific lover, and I’d spent every night of the week thinking about him and the things he’d done to me.
“It’s just sad. You can’t even contact him.”
“It’s better that way.” I sighed. “Alice, he said he wasn’t expecting anything to happen that weekend either. I think his life is complicated. I don’t think he was looking for anything other than a night.”
“Oh well. Sucks for him,” Alice said cheerily. “When are you back? Tomorrow night?”
“Yeah, I should be.” I sighed again, thinking about how I was going to have to act like I was happy always being the perfect daughter. “I just hope that Gabby doesn’t have more exciting news to share,” I groaned.
The last couple of times I’d been home, she’d gotten into a PhD program, she’d adopted a stray dog, and she’d won a local volunteering award. It was just too much to compete with. I had no such accolades to share.
“If she shares any more exciting news, you should share yours as well.” Alice giggled.
“What news?”
“The fact that you got laid last week to a very, very hot man.”
“Yeah, I’m going to share that.” I laughed. “I’d give my dad a heart attack.”
“It would be funny to see their faces though.”
“No, it wouldn’t be,” I groaned as I pulled up the driveway. “Hey, I’m home. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
“Sure, have fun,” Alice said and hung up as I turned off the engine and then got out of my car.
“Just smile, Liv,” I muttered to myself as I grabbed my bag. “It won’t be so bad. Who cares what great news Gabby has now? Grin, pretend to be happy, and leave as soon as you can,” I mumbled and walked to the front door.
“Liv, you’re here.” My mom opened the door before I could even ring the doorbell. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
“I’m here.” I grinned at her and made a face. “No need to sit around and wait anymore.”
“That’s not funny, young lady.” She shook her head. “Now, come in.”
“I’m coming.” I rolled my eyes, dropped my bag in the hallway, and took a deep breath.
I already knew it was going to be a long weekend.
My mom was wearing one of her Sunday church dresses.
That meant she was excited and that whatever Gabby had done must be special.
Maybe she’d saved someone from dying. Maybe she’d found a cure to the common cold.
Maybe she was moving to the North Pole. I grinned then. That would actually be amazing news.
“Are you listening to me, Liv?” My mom frowned as we walked into the living room.
“Of course, Mother.” I smiled at her and took a deep breath.
“I want you to meet our guest.”
She nodded toward the couch, and that was when time stood still. It literally stood still as I saw Mr. Miracle Tongue sitting on the couch with my dad, a cup of tea in his hand.
“Hello.” He stood up and smiled at me, as if he hadn’t just had a one-night stand with me the weekend before.
“Hello,” I said softly, my face red.
Oh my God, why was he here? Had he told my parents? Oh God, why me?
“Hello. Nice to meet you. My name is Xander.” He walked over and shook my hand.
“I’m Liv.” I shook his hand as if I didn’t know him, but I knew he must have felt the jolt of electricity that passed through us as we touched.
“Nice to meet you, Liv.” His eyes teased me.
I wanted to ask him why he was here, but my parents were there, watching us. I didn’t think they’d appreciate me asking him if he were some sort of stalker.
“You too,” I squeaked out.
“You have something on your ear.” He leaned forward, and I felt his fingers brushing the top of my ear. Then I felt his breath in my eardrum. “Now I have a name to put to the face when I think of our night together,” he said huskily, and I felt the tip of his tongue on my earlobe.
“What are you doing here?” I said softly, a smile plastered on my face for my parents’ benefit.
Had he tracked me down because he wanted our time together to be more than one night?
My heart thudded as I wondered about his appearance.
Had I made that big of an impression on him?
Was he a stalker? Shit, had I been with a stalker?
I knew I had bad taste in men in the past but that would be the icing on the cake.
I could just imagine my conversation with the police.
No way I would tell them I’d called him Mr. Miracle Tongue.
The shame spreads through my bed and I have a feel my skin is cherry red.
“What would you like me to be doing here?” he asked softly, his eyes not leaving mine as he studied my face.
“I …” I stumbled as I stared at him, all of a sudden feeling faint and excited at the same time.
“Liv, I see you’ve met Xander.” My sister, Gabby, ran into the room, a huge smile on her face and her blonde hair bobbing around her shoulders. Of course, she looked as perfect as she always looked, not a hair out of place.
“Yes.” I nodded. “I’ve met him.” I smiled awkwardly and looked to the door and watched as another man walked into the room.
“This is Xander’s brother, Henry.” Gabby nodded toward the other guy, who looked like a handsomer and sweeter version of Xander.
“Hi.” I smiled at him warmly. “It’s nice to meet you, Henry.” Then I looked back at Gabby, confusion setting in. “Not to sound rude, but why are they both here?”
“Mom and Dad didn’t tell you?” Gabby looked excited as she grinned at me and then at our proud parents.
“No, that’s why I’m asking.” I was impatient in my confusion.
“I’m engaged,” she squealed and showed me her engagement ring on her finger.
A huge diamond sparkled on her finger, and I stared at it, feeling very impressed, if not slightly jealous.
“Congratulations.” I gave her a quick hug and turned to Henry. “And to you too. I’m happy to welcome you to the family.”
I grinned as I gave him a hug as well. I could feel Xander’s eyes on me, and my stomach flipped. Oh my, had I just slept with my sister’s fiancé’s brother? Oops. I flushed as I stepped back from Henry.
“Oh, no, the congratulations shouldn’t be to me.” Henry laughed. “I’m not the one who’s engaged.”
“What?” My face turned white as I turned to look at Xander. Oh my God, no!
“Henry’s not my fiancé, silly.” Gabby laughed, and I watched as she put her arm through Xander’s and grinned at me. “Xander’s my future husband-to-be.”
“Oh.” My eyes widened, and I took a step back as I felt the world spinning around me. Oh my God, it was worse than I’d thought.
“Yes.” Xander’s eyes searched mine. And my heart thudded. I felt sick to my stomach and a part of me wanted to throw up. “It was supposed to be a surprise.”
“Aren’t you happy for me, Liv?” Gabby bounced up and down, and I felt like I might vomit then and there.
I was a slut, a heathen, and an awful sister.
And what was worse was that Xander was just standing there, smiling at me in that way that made me think of all the ways he’d touched me.
This man had been inside of me. I was going to hell.
But I knew that he would be there before me.
“We’re all going to be one happy family. ”
“Uh, yeah.” I nodded demurely.
Should I tell her? My brain was screaming at me. What could I say? I had sex with your fiancé last week? Fuck, I wanted to do the right thing, but I didn’t know what the right thing was. Could there be a right thing to say in this situation?
“Congrats. That’s amazing news.” I looked back at Xander, and his eyes were still on mine.
I was now a liar as well as a heathen. I hadn’t been to church in a while, but I had an overwhelming feeling to go to confession.
I had a lot of sins to atone for. What sucked was that I didn’t even really think it was my fault.
It wasn’t like I’d known who he was. Would Gabby blame me?
“You were right,” he said softly as he walked over to me, and I glared at him.
“About?” I said softly as Gabby walked over to talk to Henry and my parents.
“You are trouble with a capital T.” He winked at me as his hand ran down my back and over my ass gently. “A big capital T.”
“Don’t touch me,” I hissed and stepped back. “You’re engaged to my sister.”
“It’s not what you think,” he said slowly, his eyes piercing into mine.
“I think you’re engaged to my sister. What part of that do I have incorrect?”
“Come to my room tonight, and I’ll tell you.” He smiled a confident smile and took a step back. “I’ll tell you all the things you want to know.”
My breath caught as he brushed my hair back and leaned forward.
“And I’ll show you all the things you’ve been missing since last week as well.”
“How dare you?” I gasped.
“I dare many things, Liv Taylor.” The smile was gone from his face as he stared at me. “You’ll see that this is just the beginning of the many things I dare to do.”