Chapter 10
Dream Guys I was dead wrong.
Moving her into my house—into my bedroom—might be the dumbest thing I’ve ever done. I’ve spent the better part of ten years trying to resist the woman, only to go and invite her to live with us.
What was I thinking?
I even went so far as to move into the guest room so she could have the whole upstairs to herself. Now, I can’t help imagining what she looks like sprawled out on my mattress, all lush curves and golden hair.
She’s pretending like nothing happened the other night, but I still remember the feel of her skin beneath my palm and how her breath hitched.
Fuck. I’m getting hard again. Time for a cold shower.
I slump on the weight bench and unwrap my hands, my breathing ragged from the exertion.
A knock sounds at the door. I don’t bother looking up, assuming that it’s one of the guys coming to use the gym.
My buddies, Dean and Miles, come here regularly.
My home gym is a helluva lot better than the small, outdated one in town.
“Come in,” I call.
The door swings open to reveal a barefoot Ruby wearing a pair of cut-off shorts and a cropped tee. Her hair is in two braids, and she’s wearing her sunglasses on her head. “Hey, Liam. Oh—”
Her eyes rake over my naked torso, likely taking time to ogle every tattoo she can see from her vantage point. I grab a towel, run it over my face and hair, and drape it across my shoulders. “What’s up?”
“I was, um…” She clears her throat. “I was heading into town. Just wanted to see if you needed anything from the market. Or… wherever.” She tangles her fingers in the end of one of her braids, fidgeting with the strands. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this flustered. It’s cute.
“I think we're good, but thanks.”
“Sure. I guess I’ll just”—she juts a thumb over her shoulder—“go.”
“You settling in ok?” I pull a T-shirt over my head.
“Yep. All good.” She turns to walk away, but I stop her again.
“I heard you playing earlier. Sounded great. Is it new?”
She smiles, and some of the tension seems to evaporate from her. “Just something I’ve been working on.”
“It’s nice. Having music in the house again, I mean. I haven’t had much time to play since… everything.”
The conversation is stilted, almost like two people meeting for the first time. This isn’t us; we've always had an easy friendship, even when she was with Connor. The thought of my brother is enough to sober me. “I should go take a shower.”
“Right. And I have to…. go.”
She rushes out the door like a bat outta hell, and I realize I was too distracted by her body in those tight ass shorts to realize I forgot to cover my tattoo.
The tattoo.
Her tattoo.
Maybe she didn’t notice.
Ruby
Am I pregnant? I think I might be, my lack of a sex life notwithstanding.
Liam, shirtless and dripping in sweat, could definitely get me pregnant.
Fucking hell… biceps and triceps and whatever-other-ceps.
I think he has muscles I didn’t know existed.
His body is like uncharted territory. What I wouldn’t give for the chance to put on a tricorne hat and go exploring.
Snap out of it, Ruby.
Do I really need to go into town right now? There’s a perfectly adequate vibrator upstairs in the suitcase that might be able to satiate my hunger more than any groceries ever could.
“If you don’t go now, you’re not going to go at all. Food now, vibrator later,” I mutter into the empty hallway as I hop into my favorite leather boots.
I head out to the market with an ache between my legs and a hunger in my belly that no Froot Loops will ever cure. When I pull over to the curb on Main Street, I decide to forego the groceries and step into the diner for a slice of pie instead.
If I can’t have a creampie, at least I can have pumpkin.
The bell chimes above the door, and several people turn to look at me as I step inside. The locals have all started to ignore my presence, and it’s kind of nice to exist without any fanfare.
“Hey there, Superstar.” Rosie greets me with a kind smile and a wave. “Back for more pie?”
I giggle to myself internally as I stride to the counter—if she only knew. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Pumpkin?”
“You know it.”
The display case is lined with the most delicious treats imaginable, including cupcakes and macarons made by Olivia. She owns a mobile bakery now, but she still stocks the display case for her grandma.
Rosie serves me a way-too-big slice of pie topped with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar.
The first bite is almost orgasmic, the flavors mingling on my tongue. It’s the right blend of spice with a hint of sweetness from the whipped topping. I quietly hum around my fork, savoring the taste.
She huffs out a laugh. “That good?”
“You have no idea how bad I needed this, Ro.”
She pats the top of my hand. “Sometimes a girl just needs something sweet, huh? Must need an awful lot of sweetness to take the edge off when you’re living with that hunk of a man.”
“I—um…”
Words, Ruby. You should try using them.
She chuckles in that all-knowing way of hers. “How about I pack up the rest of the pie for you?”
I open my mouth to deny the insinuation, but release a resigned sigh instead, stabbing another forkful of my pie. “That would be great.”
“Well, if it isn’t the ever elusive Ruby Lynn Hayes. I heard you were back in town.”
I spin on my stool, coming face-to-face with one of Liam’s close friends, Paige.
I played at her wedding as a favor to him a few years ago.
She’s radiant in a black floral sundress with her long brown curls cascading over her shoulders.
The bodice hugs her curves and flares out at the hips, flattering her pear-shaped figure.
“Paige! How are you?”
“I’m great. How have you been? Liam treating you well? If he’s not, I can send Cade over to kick his ass.”
My thoughts momentarily trail back to the sweaty man in the gym, and how his breath fanned over my lips the other night when he rested his forehead against mine. I sigh. “Liam’s a gentleman, as always.”
She smirks. “That’s a shame.”
The door chimes, and Paige’s husband, Cade, strides in with a toddler in his arms. She looks strikingly like her mom with dark curly hair framing a chubby face.
“You’ve successfully cloned yourself, I see,” I say.
“Hopefully twice.” Cade wraps an arm around Paige and plays his hand over her belly.
She backhands his chest. “It’s supposed to be a secret,” she says through gritted teeth.
I keep my voice low. “Shut up! You’re pregnant?”
She nods, a bright smile lighting up her face. “Just hit the second trimester. Don’t tell anyone.”
Probably not the best place for Cade to be opening his big mouth, but I don’t call him on it. I have little doubt that Rosie heard every word. All the same, I mime zipping my lips shut. “Is there something in the water in Oak Ridge? Asking so I can avoid the same fate.”
“Why? Planning to get some while you’re home?” Paige says with a teasing lilt to her voice.
“Nope.” I exaggerate the pop of the P. “Painfully single. Currently in a toxic relationship with this pie.”
“Can’t say I blame you. It is good pie.” She leans in conspiratorially. “Probably not as good as that man waiting for you back home, though.”
“Stop meddling, Sunshine.” Cade kisses her cheek and turns his attention to me. “We’re having a backyard bonfire at the cabin next week. You should come, bring Liam and Aiden… or pie.”
Rosie comes back with my takeout container and sets it on the counter. “Impeccable timing, Rosie.” I hold it up like I’m making a toast. “My date for the foreseeable future. I should get back to the house before they send out a search party.”
“Come back when you need another hit,” Rosie says with a not-so-subtle wink.
“What are you, a pie dealer now?” Cade teases her.
She shrugs. “I get my kicks where I can. See you later, Superstar.”
“It was great seeing you,” Paige says. “Please come next week! We’d love to have you.”
I nod, but I don’t confirm or deny if I’ll be there. Liam and I are in a weird place right now, and the last thing I want is to make things even more awkward by inserting myself into his friendships.
I give them a backward wave and head out onto the street, breathing in the distinctive scent of early fall.
A smattering of leaves crunches underfoot as I walk to my truck, glancing around at the storefronts filled with fall decor.
God, I love small towns this time of year. There’s nothing quite like it.
Dolly’s engine lets out a soothing purr as I pull out onto the street with my thoughts straying back to the sweat-soaked hottie in the gym. Is he still shirtless? Or better yet, naked in the shower with water cascading down his rippling ab muscles.
I mutter a curse under my breath as I pull away from the curb. How the hell am I going to survive living with this man?
Liam
The cold shower did nothing to ease the growing desire for the woman living upstairs—my nanny, my brother’s ex-girlfriend, and a woman so fucking off-limits she might as well be living on another planet.
Even if I could set aside the fact that Connor was her first love, there are still far too many obstacles in our way.
For starters, she’s a goddamn country music icon.
She could have any guy she wants. Why the fuck would she settle for someone like me?
I heard her come home a bit ago, but she hasn’t reemerged from her room and didn’t stop to put any groceries away. It’s a bit odd. Maybe she needed something else from the market. Medicine maybe? Is she not feeling well? I should probably check on her.