Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Liam
There’s something about this woman that sets me on fire whenever I’m near her.
I stand at the open door of my apartment and take it all in.
She’s beautiful. It’s not just Athena’s face that is striking. It’s everything about her.
The soft smile on her lips, the wisps of hair that are trailing across her cheek, and the subtle way she’s tilting her head as she rakes me from head-to-toe make her hot as fuck in my eyes.
I had no idea if she’d show up with the bouquet.
I placed the order online this morning, hoping that she’d get a laugh out of it. I half-expected her to send someone else to put the flowers in my hand, but I’m glad she’s here.
“You ordered a surprise them bouquet, so surprise,” she says with a laugh.
I glance down at the small blue-hued bouquet that’s sitting in a circular vase. Did she lug that here from her store? The woman is fearless if she took a breakable vase filled with water on a journey around Manhattan.
“I didn’t realize it came with that,” I point out, taking the flowers from her.
The vase has some weight to it.
“It doesn’t,” she says, edging a few inches to the left. “I didn’t know if you’d have anything to put the flowers in, so I threw it in at no cost.”
I owe her again.
I’m a lucky bastard.
I watch as her gaze flits from my face to the room behind me. She’s checking out my apartment. It’s not large, but it’s comfortable.
A one-bedroom with a view of the river was what sold me on the place.
“Do you want to come in for a bit?”
She studies me, her brow knitting in concentration. I admit I didn’t expect a pause, so I fill in the silence with a question. “Do you need to be somewhere else?”
A shake of her head confirms what I already suspected. “No.”
“I don’t have any alcohol to offer you, but I’ve got sparkling water.”
A half-step forward and a nod of her chin are all I need. I step aside to let Athena into my home.
I drape her leather jacket over the arm of the sofa as she stands at the windows that overlook the East River.
The small floral arrangement she brought with her has found its home on my reclaimed wood coffee table.
Athena took it from my hands when I stood in the center of the room silently debating where to place it.
I’m not a fresh flower kind of guy.
I’ve never lived with a woman, and since I’m not in the habit of ordering them for myself, flowers haven’t played a part in the décor of this place.
My home is suited to me. It’s simple and straightforward. The majority of my furniture is second-hand pieces I picked up in an antique shop an old friend owns.
I’ll take comfort over design any day of the week.
When Athena placed the vase on the table, she tilted her head to the left and then the right. That sent her ponytail swinging.
I was spellbound as I watched her twist the vase one way a quarter of an inch until a satisfied smile set over her mouth.
Silently, I move into the kitchen and pour two tall glasses of chilled water.
I used to be a fridge full of beer kind of guy, but alcohol only works for me in moderation.
I reserve that indulgence for when I meet someone for a drink or when my brothers drop by with a case of the imported beer they think I love.
I don’t.
It’s out of my price range, so I let them believe what they will. I’m not going to turn down expensive beer if they’re offering.
When I stroll back into the main living area, Athena’s moved. She’s standing in front of the sofa, staring at it like it’s done her wrong.
A scowl mars her gorgeous face.
“Are you alright?” I ask because I know a pissed off look on a woman’s face when I see it.
Skirting a hand over her brow, she sighs. “One of my suppliers is being a pain in the ass.”
“Bastard.”
Smiling, she looks down at her phone. “That’s exactly what he is and he’s proud of it.”
“Something tells me you can handle him just fine.”
With a half-shrug, she changes the subject. “You have a nice apartment.”
I’ll take the compliment and the opportunity to brighten her mood. “The flowers make all the difference. Feel free to use that as a new slogan for your store.”
She chuckles. “I’ll pass.”
I push one of the glasses of water at her. “Do you have a slogan for your store?”
Taking a sip, she shakes her head. “I think the name speaks for itself.”
I agree. It’s what drew me inside when I ordered the bouquet for Wren.
I met my sister, Nikita, for a coffee that day and then set off on foot toward the nearest subway stop. I passed Athena’s store on my way, and the name etched on the glass sparked something inside of me. I thought about Wren as I pulled on the door handle of Wild Lilac before I walked inside.
Now, I can’t stop thinking about the woman standing in my apartment.
“Do you want to sit down?” I tug on the front of the gray T-shirt I’m wearing.
She looks at my shirt and faded jeans. My cock has been semi-hard since I opened the door and saw her. If she notices the bulge in my jeans, she’s doing a hell of a good job hiding her reaction.
She lowers herself to the sofa, sliding her ass against the leather until she’s teetering on the edge. I get that she’s nervous as fuck right now. I am too. It’s a first for me. I’ve had women here before, but this feels different.
I don’t want to screw this up, so I take a deep breath and plant myself on the sofa too with some distance between us because I can tell she needs it.
She’s got to wonder what the hell I’m doing ordering flowers and requesting that she deliver them.
“How old were you when you got your first tattoo?”
The question is so unexpected that I turn and stare at her. I catch her leaning forward, her gaze trailing over my arms.
“Fourteen,” I admit.
“Fourteen?” she repeats back with a chuckle. “Isn’t that illegal?”
“My oldest brother’s friend knew a guy who knew a guy.” I smile. “It was cash in the back room of his studio at night.”
“Did you get in trouble?”
I like the innocence of the question. I appreciate that she’s interested in my ink enough to ask. Most women give my arms a second look, but it doesn’t go beyond that.
“It was here?” I pat my left shoulder. “I had to keep my shirt on at home for a few years.”
“How long ago were you fourteen?”
“Fifteen years ago. You?”
“I’m twenty-three,” she admits. “And I only have one tattoo. I got it last year on the day we launched Wild Lilac.”
That catches me by surprise. “We?”
I’ll take a step back if there’s someone in the picture. This flirtation has been fun, but I respect the boundary of a committed relationship.
“My brother is my business partner.”
Since we’re circling the question, I go ahead and ask it for clarity. “Are you involved with anyone, Athena?”
Her mouth pops open to form a sexy little ‘O.’
“You already know that I’m not,” I offer to pave the way. “I’m curious about you.”
Hesitation swims in her eyes. I doubt like hell I misread the sparks that have been flying between us since the night we met. If she’s taken, I’ll back off, but I want to know.
Her gaze drops before it settles back on my face. “You and Wren just broke up.”
“I’m aware,” I answer curtly. “My question wasn’t about her. It was about you.”
“I know.” Pushing to her feet, Athena glances over when I do the same. For a brief second our eyes meet and there’s no way in hell that she doesn’t feel the energy between us.
I lay my cards on the table before she can grab her jacket and head out of my apartment. “I’m not looking for anything serious. I like you. I’m attracted to you. I want to take you to dinner again.”
She mulls my words with a tap of her boot against the floor. “I don’t know, Liam.”
“We’ll have dinner,” I say. “We’ll hang out and see where it goes. No expectations.”
Silence swims in the air between us.
“I just got out of a relationship,” I point out. “I’m not looking to get into another if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Relief softens her stance. I see it in the way the corners of her mouth quirk up toward a smile. “We’ll keep it casual?”
It’s what I need. It’s exactly what I want, so I nod a little too vigorously. “I’m not looking for more.”
With a bite of her bottom lip, she tilts her chin up. “I’m free next Wednesday if that works for you.”
I’ll damn well make it work. “I’ll drop by the store at seven to pick you up.”
She reaches for her jacket. “I’ll see you then, Liam.”
Walking her to the door I realize that I won’t see her again until next week. I’ll use the time to calm the fuck down, so when I do pick her up, my body won’t be thrumming with the same need it is now.