Chapter 17
Charity
Sparks Fly – Taylor Swift
There were many things that surprised me in life. Men who wore socks with sandals, for instance—it shocked me that they thought it looked okay. Liam Brown singing along to Taylor Swift was, however, the biggest shock of all.
It was quiet, under his breath, but I could hear him singing the chorus of Sparks Fly, like he was a lifelong Swiftie.
“Why are you smiling?” he asked, glancing at me as he indicated to turn into the motel parking lot.
“Nothing. Just liking the fact that you’re loving my music.”
He scoffed. “Wouldn’t say love. I mean she has a good way with lyrics and there’s a catchy beat, but if I have to listen to breakup songs for fourteen hours, I’m charging you hazard pay.”
“Hah, you love it.” I poked his side. “I knew three hours of her would convert you.”
“Three hours! It feels like three years.”
“You picked the words up quickly, I must say.” Giggling, I felt lighter than I had in weeks. “You sure you’re not a secret Swiftie?”
“I have no clue what that even is.” He gave me the side-eye. “I have a good memory is all. And, like you say, it’s been three hours non-stop Taylor.”
“Whatever.” I leaned forward to look through the huge windshield at the flashing red and green Motel sign which boasted luxury rooms and an outdoor pool. “They have vacancies.”
“Yeah, I’ve never had a problem getting in here before.” He maneuvered his truck into a parking space. “It’s pretty nice as motels go.”
“Okay.” I stretched my arms above my head. “Must admit I’m ready to sleep.”
Liam cleared his throat. “Personally, I could go for a beer.”
“Is there a bar?” I scanned the outside of the building, noting the row of identical red doors with silver numbers on the front. The office was clearly marked but no sign of a bar.
“No bar,” Liam told me. “But you can buy alcohol from the front desk.” He flashed me a smile as he turned off the engine. “Snacks, too, if you want to grab some to take back to your room.”
Disappointment dropped like a stone in my stomach. I’d been hoping that maybe we could enjoy a beer together to wind down after the long drive. It appeared he wasn’t of the same mindset.
We grabbed our bags from the back seat of the truck, and I followed him across the parking lot. The strong aroma of disinfectant and a TV blaring from one of the rooms, did its best to distract me from watching Liam’s ass as he strode ahead, but it was too perfect to have any real competition.
As he stopped in front of the front desk door, I managed to drag my gaze away as he held it open for me.
“After you.”
When I walked inside, it was exactly what I expected. Faded carpet, flickering fluorescent lights and a clerk who looked like he’d just woken up in a hedgerow.
“Two rooms, please,” Liam said, pulling out his wallet at the same time I offered my phone. “Put it away, Charity.” His deep growl was no nonsense. “And don’t roll your eyes at me.”
He wasn’t even looking at me, so how the hell did he know?
The clerk who had barely looked up from his computer screen, sighed heavily. “Sorry, only got one left. Got a leak and there’s a Buffy convention in town.”
My stomach flipped. One room. With Liam. After the nearly kiss that he’d quickly drawn away from, making it clear that he wasn’t interested.
“That’s fine,” I heard myself say before Liam could respond. “We’ll take it.”
He glanced at me, something unreadable flickering across his face. “You sure?”
I shrugged. “It’s one night. We’re both adults.” I tried to sound casual, but my voice came out a little higher than normal.
Twenty minutes later, I stood in the middle of our shared room, trying not to focus on the king-size bed that seemed to dominate the entire space.
“I’ll take the chair.” Liam dropped his bag by a small table. “It reclines.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. The bed’s huge.” I sat on the edge of it, then immediately stood up again, too nervous to stay still. “Besides, we’re both exhausted.”
The silence that stretched between us, filled with everything we weren’t saying, and I could feel him watching me as I paced to the window, then to the small bathroom, then back again
“Sit down, Charity,” he said, his voice amused. “You’re making me dizzy.”
“I can’t, I’m too wired.”
“I thought you wanted to sleep.” He unzipped his bag and pulled out what looked like a pair of sleep pants. Instantly my blood heated up. The idea of him wearing them, in the same room as me, was… exciting.
I blew out a breath, trying to get my pulse under control, but when Liam stretched and showed a sliver of tanned stomach, it was pointless even trying.
He was far too distracting. Far too enticing.
And it had been far too long since I’d had any physical contact of the romantic kind, and I needed a distraction—like now.
“You ever done a dance for TikTok?”
“What?” He took a half step back, dropping his hands to his hips. “Do I look like I do TikTok on the regular?”
“Well, no, but I bet you could pull it off.” I moved to stand in front of him. “Want to try?”
A deep laugh, low and right from the pit of his chest set my soul on fire with the newness of it. He sounded free and relaxed. The way his eyes crinkled at the edges, and his teeth caught his bottom lip was beautiful. It was as warm as midday sun on a summer’s day.
“Are you on crack or something?” he asked.
“Oh, come on, it’ll help burn off some of the cobwebs of the journey. And you do seem to have gained a huge love of Taylor.” I pulled my phone from my pocket. “Because obviously it would be a dance to a Taylor song.”
“Obviously,” he said dryly, a glint in his soft green eyes that made my heart skip.
I found the song and set my phone on the dresser. “My goddaughter taught me, her mom’s a college friend. They live in Chicago, but she sends them to me all the time. Just follow my lead. It’s easy.”
“I didn’t actually agree.”
“You know that you want to.” I grinned at him, daring him. “Come on, Liam. Live a little.”
Shaking his head, he flexed his fingers and moved closer—there was a synchronized flutter in my heart and stomach.
“If anyone ever finds out about this…”
“Your secret’s safe with me.”
“It better be,” he warned with a smirk.
Holding my breath in case he suddenly changed his mind, I tapped my foot as the music began and then started the simple choreography.
It wasn’t complicated, just arm movements and step-touches that anyone could follow.
Liam watched for a moment then started to mimic my movements, with the serious concentration he probably brought to construction blueprints.
“You're thinking too hard.” I laughed, reaching out to loosen his rigid shoulders. “Just feel the music.” His muscles relaxed under my touch, and something shifted between us. The dance became less important than the way he was looking at me, the way his eyes had darkened to a forest green.
“Like this?” he asked, his voice rough, distracted.
I nodded, suddenly breathless. We were still moving to the music, but it felt different now. Less like a silly dance and more like something intimate, the space between us thick with tension.
When the song ended, neither of us moved away. We stood, barely a foot apart, the silence heavy with possibility.
“Charity,” he said quietly, and the way he said my name, almost reverent, sent heat rushing through me.
I looked up at him, seeing something in his expression that made my heart race. The careful walls he always kept up were slowly eroding, and for the first time, I could see the want in his eyes. It was raw and honest and directed entirely at me.
“Yes?” I whispered.
His hand came up to cup my cheek, thumb brushing across my skin. “I can't stop thinking about things.”
“Like what?” I asked, fully aware of what he meant.
“Like this.” His thumb traced my bottom lip, and I felt sparks fly through my entire body. “Tell me to stop. Tell me this is a bad idea.”
But I couldn't. Because looking into those green eyes, seeing the vulnerability he was finally showing me, all I wanted to do was close the distance between us and find out what would happen if we both stopped fighting this thing that had been building between us.
“I can't. I don't want you to stop.”
Something flickered across his face. Relief, desire, maybe both.
Then his mouth was on mine and the world narrowed to just this.
He was gentle at first, almost hesitant, like he was afraid that I might change my mind.
But when I responded, when I pressed closer and slipped my arms around his neck, his restraint finally snapped.
His fingers tangled in my hair as he deepened the kiss with a hunger that took my breath away. This wasn’t the careful, controlled man who’d been keeping me at arm’s length. This was someone who wanted me as desperately as I wanted him.
“Christ, Charity,” he breathed against my lips, his voice rough with need. “You have no idea what you do to me.”
I could barely think past the sensation of his mouth on mine, the way his hands were roaming over my back like he couldn’t get enough. “Tell me,” I whispered.
He pulled back just enough to look at me, his eyes dark with desire. “You drive me crazy. The way you laugh, the way you care about everyone, the way you look at me like I’m worth something.” His thumb traced my jawline. “I’ve been trying so damn hard not to want you.”
“Why?” The question came out breathier than I intended.
“Because you’ve been the biggest surprise of my life. Because wanting you, wanting anyone, scares the hell out of me.” His forehead rested against mine. “But I can’t seem to stop.”
I reached up to cup his face, feeling the slight roughness of stubble under my palms. Relished the feel of it as I traced his cheek with my fingertips. “Then don’t stop. Not tonight.”
His expression changed, and suddenly his mouth was on mine again, more demanding this time. He walked me backward until my legs hit the bed, and we tumbled onto it together, never breaking the kiss.
His weight settled over me, solid and warm, and I felt like I might combust from the want coursing through me. His lips found that sensitive spot just below my ear, and I gasped, my fingers clutching at his shoulders.
“You taste so good,” he murmured against my neck, his voice low and gravelly in a way that made heat pool at my core. “Better than I imagined.”
“You imagined?” I managed to ask, even though coherent thought was becoming increasingly difficult.
He lifted his head to look at me, and the honesty in his eyes made my heart race. “Every damn night since that first day you showed up at my construction site.”
Before I could respond, his mouth was trailing down my throat, finding all the places that made me arch beneath him. His hands roamed everywhere—in my hair, skimming over my ribs, making me feel like I was burning on the inside.
“Liam,” I breathed, not even sure what I was asking for, just knowing I needed it.
Words weren’t necessary because he knew. His hands grew bolder. More certain. The careful gentleman facade was gone, replaced by someone who knew exactly what he wanted and wasn’t afraid to take it.
Just as his fingers found the hem of my shirt, a sharp knock echoed through the room. We both froze, breathing hard, staring at each other in the sudden stillness.
“Hey guys, it’s Larry from the front desk,” a voice called from outside the door. “Sorry to bother you folks, but we had a cancellation. Got a spare room if you want it.”
The irony wasn’t lost on me. Here we were, finally giving in to what had been building between us, and the universe was offering us an escape route.
Liam’s eyes searched mine, and I could see the question there. What did we want? Safety or this beautiful, terrifying thing we’d just started?
The decision felt monumental, like it would change everything between us forever.