Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
ANDIE
I s there no end to my humiliation when it comes to Layton Graham? Three weeks ago, he and I had hardly spoken a handful of words to each other. Since then, I almost asked him to be my fake date, called him out on flirting in the office, embarrassed myself in front of him by dropping from a window and tearing my dress, leaving me indecently exposed, and now this. I shouldn’t care but this is Liam’s brother and a work colleague whose office is just a few doors from mine. Not to mention the fact that, like Liam, Layton is a vice president in the company.
Liam and I immediately freeze in place as Layton quirks a questioning eyebrow and folds his arms across his chest. He kicks the door shut with his foot and tsks. “Not exactly something you see every day in the workplace. Andie, weren’t you the one lecturing me about appropriate office behavior just last week? I mean, I would expect this from Liam, but never from our sweet Andie.”
“He, I mean, I…Oh, never mind.” I blow a few strands of hair that have come loose near my face, but given that I’m frozen in a twisted army crawl, it only falls back in my face where it’s now tickling my nose. It’s useless to even try to explain, and based on the amused smirk on Layton’s lips, anything I do say will make me look and sound even more unprofessional than I already do.
“Why are you here, Layton?” Liam tries (and fails) to hide his irritation. “Did you forget something earlier?”
Layton chuckles. “Your assistant called me and said you might be having some… difficulty…with one of our employees. So, of course, I rushed right up to offer my assistance.”
“Of course you did,” Liam deadpans. “Well, as you can see, I have everything under control.”
“Really?” Layton cocks his head to one side. “Because from the looks of it, you’re in quite the twisted pretzel.” His eyes drop to mine. “Need a hand, Andie?”
“Nope. Nope, I’m good,” I attempt to wave my hand at him, but it’s difficult because it’s pinned beneath Liam’s knee.
“Well, I’ll leave you to it, then.” Layton starts to leave but glances back, a question in his expression. “One more thing. Andie, did Liam mention the fact that the two of you are secretly engaged?”
“It might have come up in passing,” I say.
“Good,” he nods. “Very good.”
“Layton,” I say, stopping him before he can leave. “Would you be so kind as to hand me Liam’s phone?”
When he shoots me a confused look, I nod with my chin to the phone, where it lays on the floor about six to eight feet beyond my reach. Layton nods and bends to pick up the phone.
“Don’t you dare hand her my phone,” Liam says, but Layton ignores him and sets the phone in my hand.”
“Will that be all?” he asks before raising an amused brow and turning toward the exit.
“Yes, thank you,” I say. And with that, Layton leaves us as he found us, and closes the door behind him.
Liam and I untangle ourselves from each other and lay on our backs, looking up at the ceiling. “Liam, as soon as I regain my strength, I’m going to strangle you.”
He laughs. “Just be glad it was Layton who found us and not my dad.”
I slap my palm to my forehead. “Oh my gosh. Kill me now.” I scramble to my feet and do my best to straighten my clothes and smooth my hair. I know it’s useless, but I have to try. I hand Liam’s phone to him, abandoning my attempt to contact Alex. It would no longer do me any good seeing as how I can’t remember why I was calling him in the first place.
Liam and I take our seats across from each other and he picks up the ring box.
“Listen, Andie,” he says, and I’m too winded to argue, so instead, I nod for him to continue.
“I have every intention of asking you to marry me. But not like this, because you deserve the perfect setting, the grand gesture, all those things they do in the romance movies you love to force me to watch with you. And sure, I would love for you to wear my grandmother’s ring, because the moment I saw it, I thought it was perfect for you, but I also want you to have the chance to choose your own ring when the time comes.”
“So, let me get this straight. You showed me the ring to make sure I like it before proposing?”
“Something like that, yeah. I mean, no? I wanted you to see it.”
“But you didn’t plan to propose to me.”
“Exactly. Er, no. That is, yes, but not like this.”
“Because you want to wait for the perfect setting and make some grand gesture when you do propose?”
Liam’s eyes flit from side to side. “Yes.” He shakes his head. “No. Dang it, woman, you’ve got me so flustered I’m like a blind dog in a meat factory. Isn’t the grand gesture and all that…” he wiggles his fingers, “stuff… what women want? ”
I lift a single eyebrow and give Liam a pointed look. “Do you not know me at all?”
“Of course I do. At least, I thought I did.” He rubs his hand against the back of his neck. “Hell, I don’t know anything anymore.”
“But you think I want a grand gesture?”
“Don’t you?” Liam looks so adorably befuddled right now that I want to wrap my arms around him and kiss him silly. But I don’t, because let’s face it, I’m enjoying his discomfort far too much. Besides, Lord only knows who’s likely to walk in on us if I did.
“Andie, I’ve never done this before, obviously, and I have no clue how to do things the right way.”
“There is no right way, Liam.”
“I just don’t want to mess this up. You deserve to have everything you’ve ever dreamed of, and I want to be the one to give it to you.”
“And what about you, Liam? Don’t you deserve to have everything you’ve ever dreamed of?” I search his eyes with mine. “You’ve only ever wanted your freedom. I don’t want to be the one who takes that from you, only to have you resent me later.”
Closing his eyes, Liam gives his head an infinitesimal shake. “Do you remember nothing I said the other night?”
“I do. All of it.” I scratch the back of my head. “And I’ve been mulling it over in my mind ever since.”
“Stop mulling, Andie. Stop overthinking. And please stop doubting whether I meant what I said, because I meant every word of it. Yes, I value my freedom; I always have. But you’re the exception, not the rule. I have never wanted to be free of you. Not while we dated in high school, not when we were in college, and not while you were dating Derek the derelict dip-wad.” Liam bends his head toward mine and brushes a gentle kiss to my lips. “But I don’t want to rush a proposal just because Grams and Layton told my dad we were already secretly engaged. I want to propose when the time is right for us. And I want it to be special for you–the perfect setting, the grand gesture, all of it.”
I rest my palm against Liam’s cheek. “I don’t want a grand gesture, Liam. I don’t need the perfect setting or a public proposal or one that is captured on film and plastered all over social media. All I want is you, and to know proposing is what you want, not what others want for you. I’m content to wait until you know without a doubt that being married to me will make you happy.” I drag my hand down the length of his arm and fold my hand in his.
Liam picks up the ring box and flicks the top open. He lifts the ring out and slides it onto my ring finger. Surprisingly, it fits perfectly, as if it had been made just for me. And it’s so beautiful! So stunning! I couldn’t design a ring more ideal or one I could possibly love more.
“Oh, Liam!” I whisper. “It’s beautiful. It’s perfect.”
“This is going to sound really cheesy, but it’s perfect because you’re the one wearing it,” he says with his signature wink. He studies my hand for several moments. “I’m not gonna lie, Andie. I like seeing that ring on your finger.”
I tilt my head in a sideways nod. “That’s probably a good thing, because whether you propose today, next month, or next year, I’ve just decided that I’m never taking this ring off.”
Liam threads his fingers through mine. “Do you mean that?”
“I do.”
His eyes widen at those two words. “So, wait a minute. What are you saying? Does this mean we’re engaged?”
I toss my gaze to the ceiling and laugh. “It means whatever you want it to mean.”
“Truly, no grand gesture? ”
“Nope.”
“Or public declaration?”
“Absolutely not.”
“No–” I cover Liam’s lips with two of my fingers.
“None of it.”
He looks deeply into my eyes, his gaze filled with wonder. “How can you possibly be so perfect?”
“It’s a gift, actually, I come by it naturally. Did you forget I’m an expert in public relations?”
“And you’re serious about liking the ring?”
“No.”
Liam gives his head a quick shake, as if he’s not sure he heard me correctly. “No?”
“No.”
“But you said you–”
I press the same two fingers to his lips, cutting off his words. “Liam, I don’t like the ring. I love it.”
“Woman! You are making me crazy! You know, that, right?””
I laugh. “I do.”
I love messing with Liam.
“Come here.” He reaches for me, but I quickly stand and twirl away from him.
“Not on your life, Graham! We’ve tempted fate enough today. If you’re free after work, you’re welcome to come over for dinner. It’ll be ready at six, so if you plan on eating, don’t be late. Then we can watch a romantic comedy, and you can pretend you don’t enjoy it. I’ll even let you choose which one we watch.”
Liam folds his arms across his chest. “Fine, but just so you know, I plan on making out with you during the movie.”
“Oh, Liam,” I lift a brow, “Believe me, I’m counting on it. Why else do you think I would let you choose the movie?”
With a glance over my shoulder, I give him a wink and start to walk through the door, stopping mid stride when Liam says, “Hold up, a sec.”
“Yes?” I answer.
“You never answered my question.”
“Which question is that, Liam?” I blink at him innocently, knowing full well which question he means.
“Does this mean we’re engaged?”
“Hmm,” I pretend to give his question serious thought. “You’re right, I didn’t.”
I close the door behind me, but not before I hear his frustrated growl.
Lacey: You’ll never guess what’s been trending on social media the past few days.
Me: KMN.
Lacey: Nah. I don’t want to kill you now. I want details, mkay?
Me: Ugh! Which social media post are you referring to? The one where I’m sporting my black panties or the one where Liam is standing over Derek’s body looking all hulked out?
Lacey: Ohhhh. I missed that one.
Me: Grossly exaggerated.
Lacey: Because Liam didn’t really punch Derek?
Me: Liam might have permanently rearranged Derek’s snout.
Lacey: Good. But no, I’m talking about the picture of you with Liam and some other guy, who, BTW is a major hottie.
Me: That would be Layton.
Lacey: As in Liam’s older brother?
Me: Yep.
Lacey sends a GIF of a sighing Courtney Cox from Friends with the caption, I just want to be you when I grow up.
Me: You really don’t
Lacey: Is he that good looking in person?
Me: Better.
Lacey: Why can’t I be you?
Me: Because you’re way too cool for that.
Lacey: Getting back to the social media posts. Please tell me how you managed to rip your smoking hot red dress. I’ve shed real tears, Andie. A whole river of tears.
Me: Such a drama queen.
Lacey: Don’t change the subject. Spill it or I’m texting Liam.
Me: My dress tore when I was climbing out of a window.
Lacey: Okay. That’s…unexpected.
Me: Exactly.
Lacey: Just asking for a friend here, but why?
Me: Liam and I needed some place where we could talk in private.
Lacey: Right. And I’m the Easter Bunny. But do go on.
Me: Okay, we needed a place where we could kiss in private. Happy now?
Lacey: I’m giddy with happiness.
Me: You’re welcome.
Lacey: That doesn’t explain why you needed to crawl through a window. Wait. Did things get so hot between you and Liam that the room ignited in flames and you were trapped and had to climb out the window? Please answer yes.
Me: Your imagination is terrifying.
Lacey: Am I wrong?
Me: Not totally wrong.
Lacey: I knew it!
Me: We lost track of time and I didn’t want to go back into the dining hall where people would see the disaster that was my hair.
Lacey: Yeah, the videos confirm the hair disaster. Was that all Liam’s doing?
Me: Possibly.
Lacey: So, why is his hot brother holding your hand?
Me: What?
Lacey: Oh. I guess you missed that post.
Me: I send a cartoon of a face palm. Layton saw me climb out of the window. He was attempting to walk me to Liam’s truck when Derek showed up. The rest is history.
Lacey: I’m so living vicariously through you. Some girls have all the fun. Others, like me, watch TikTok videos.
Me: I have more to tell you, but right now, I need to finish making dinner. Liam should be here any minute.
Lacey: It’s okay with me if you mention to Liam that he should set me up with his brother.
Me: Not happening. Trust me. He’s pure danger.
Lacey: I live for danger.
Me: Gotta run.
Lacey: This is’t over.
Me: k-bye. Heart emoji.
Staring into the pot of boiling noodles, my mind replays the conversation Liam and I had earlier, piggy-backing on our conversation at the realtor event a few nights ago. Did he truly mean everything he said, or was he simply caught up in the moment? He and I have always been attracted to each other, that was never the issue, at least as far as I was concerned. We simply wanted different things from life. But did we, really? Would things have been different if I hadn’t run away from him the night of his graduation?
When Liam and I were sitting in the hospital waiting room, anxiously waiting for news of Nell’s situation, Liam said he couldn’t remember why we broke up. He’d indicated it wasn’t something he’d wanted. Was I so insecure that I forced a unilateral decision on the two of us without even discussing it with him? He’d gone along with my plan for us to date other people while attending college, but would he have been happier had we stayed together? Or would we have broken up eventually? And if so, would our friendship have survived?
A knock sounds at the door. “Honey, I’m home!” Liam calls as he lets himself in. He and I swapped house keys after Derek and I broke up, but we haven’t actually had to use them. I still wait to be invited in at his house because he shares it with Alex and Bree, and I don’t want to invade their privacy. My townhome is another story. No one else lives here, so Liam has no qualms about walking through the door like he owns the place.
“In the kitchen,” I holler. A moment later, Liam’s arms wrap around me and he rests his chin on my shoulder.
“What’s cookin’ good lookin’? Whatever it is, it smells great.”
“Creamy peanut-lime chicken linguine.” I tap my wooden spoon on the edge of the pan and set it in its holder. “Hopefully.”
Liam reaches for the pasta spoon before I can. He gives the noodles a stir, and setting the spoon aside, he turns me in his arms to face him.
“Hi,” he says, and dips his head for a kiss. It begins sweet, but quickly escalates into something more heated. So much so that I’m tempted to forget about dinner altogether. Who needs food, anyway?
Liam slows the kiss, and hums as he brushes his lips gently against mine. “I’ve been thinking about doing that since the minute you left my office today.”
“Better not let the boss hear you say that,” I tease.
“He’d be on my side,” Liam says with another brush of his lips to mine.
I push against his shoulder, and he reluctantly backs away, giving me enough room to maneuver. “Care to make yourself useful?” I ask.
He feigns a hurt expression, clutching his hands to his chest. “I thought that’s what I was doing.”
“Later, lover-boy. Save it for when we’re watching the movie. In the meantime,” I pat his cheek with my hand, “grab the salad from the fridge, and set it on the table.”
Liam and I enjoy our meal, which, I might add, turned out pretty near to perfection. Conversation flows easily between us, which it normally does, unless I’m purposely messing with Liam’s mind, because, let’s face it, it’s fun to rattle his cage every once in a while.
I’m surprised and a little bit (a lot) worried when Liam chooses a documentary instead of a romance for us to watch.
“Okay, I’ll bite. What’s up with the documentary?”
Ignoring my question, Liam begins the program, turning the volume down to just above a murmur. “I have it on good authority that relationship experts recommend watching documentaries. Supposedly, it brings couples closer together.”
I raise a skeptical eyebrow. “Which experts would that be?”
Liam waggles his eyebrows at me. “Nell and Larson.”
Chuckling, I retort, “That certainly explains why Nell came home from her honeymoon with two babies in her belly.”
Liam chokes on his drink. “On second thought, I’ll find us a romantic comedy to watch.”
“Don’t bother,” I say, turning up the volume a smidge. “I’m quite fascinated by the mating rituals of manatees.”
Liam’s gaze darts to the TV screen. “What? That’s not what I–” He turns to me, arms folded across his chest. “Okay, you little minx. You’ve been messing with me all day.”
“As is my prerogative, now that you’re no longer my fake boyfriend.”
Liam reaches over and grabs me by my waist, laughing as I try to squirm away from his grasp. “Come here,” he commands, his voice low and menacing. And holy cow so, so sexy. He lifts me onto his lap. “As your real boyfriend, it’s my prerogative to do this.” He leans forward and begins trailing kisses from beneath my ear along my neck and across my collarbone.
“Yes,” I whisper breathlessly. “That is definitely the prerogative of my real boyfriend.” Shifting, I twist so my knees straddle the sides of Liam’s thighs. I lean my head back, giving his mouth full access to my neck and collarbone. “And as you’ve previously noted, only real girlfriends should sit on their boyfriend’s lap like this.”
Something between a groan and a growl escapes as Liam takes advantage of the access I’ve granted, dragging his mouth along my exposed skin. It’s a good thing his arms are holding me so tightly or I might float away. Digging my fingers into his hair, I guide his mouth to mine. He slides his hands up my waist and cups my face in his palm and begins to deepen the kiss.
Without pulling his lips from mine, he guides me down on the couch, and we stay like this for who knows how long before we break apart to catch our breath.
“Wow,” he whispers against my mouth. “I am a huge fan of the documentary.”
“You did promise we’d be making out tonight, did you not?” I’m still breathless, but too eager for Liam’s kiss to care. Air is overrated.
“Why did we waste so much time when we could have been doing this?”
“Guess that means we need to make up for lost time.”
Liam brushes his fingers across my cheek. “Are you ready to answer my question now?”
“Which question would that be?” I tease, knowing exactly what question he means.
“Don’t mess with me, woman!” He threads his fingers through my left hand and lifts our hands between us. “You said you were never going to take off this ring. Does this mean we’re fake engaged? Or real engaged? Or that you’re ready to think about a real proposal? Or that you will be at some point?”
“That was a lot of options.”
“Andie,” Liam growls, the frustration showing on his face.
“I need you to agree to five things before I’m ready to think about proposals or whether or not we’re real or fake or otherwise engaged.”
Liam drops his head to my chest and groans. “You’re overcookin’ my grits, girl.” He exhales a deep sigh. “What five things am I agreeing to?”
I hold up a finger. “First, you have to agree to back me up if I’m ever in a bar fight?”
Liam beats his head against my shoulder. “Andie, I’ve known you for seventeen years. When have you ever been in a bar fight?”
“I’m just saying, this is important to me.” It’s totally not important to me, because he’s right. I’ve never been in a bar fight, nor do I ever plan to be.
“Fine. I can safely agree to back you up if you’re ever in a bar fight. Next.”
I hold up another finger. Not that Liam can tell because his head is still buried against my shoulder. “You have to agree to let me win at least three quarters of our arguments.”
Burying his face into my neck, Liam says, “Darlin’, I’ll let you win a hundred percent of our arguments. Next.”
“Really? A hundred percent? That doesn’t leave you any room to negotiate.”
He takes a deep breath. “Can we get back to making out? Please?”
“You’re the one who demanded an answer to your question.”
“I take it back. I take it all back. In fact, I don’t even remember what my question was.”
“That’s okay, honey. I remember. ”
Liam chuckles. “Of course you do. Fine. I will let you win ninety percent of our arguments.”
I nod, biting back a laugh. “That’s much more reasonable. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he says, his voice muffled by the skin at my neck, which he has suddenly begun kissing again. Oh dear. This list might have to wait. “Next.”
“Mmm, it can wait.”
He nibbles gently on my neck. “Out with it, Andie. What’s number three?”
“You have to agree not to become the CEO of your family’s company unless it’s exactly what you want.”
Liam stills. After a beat, he raises up on his elbow and looks me in the eye. “Where’s this coming from?”
I reach up and drag my fingernails against his scalp, eliciting a moan. “I want you to do what you love and to love what you do. I don’t want to watch you die a slow death because you’re doing what someone else expects of you.”
“It’s not that simple, Andie.”
I lean up and press a kiss to his mouth. “You don’t have to agree to it right now. We have plenty of time.”
He nods. “And fourth?”
“I want no less than two, but no more than five children. Give or take.” I add that last bit just to murky the water a little.
Liam’s lips quirk at the edges as he tries to bite back a grin. “Done.”
I nod. “Good. That one was really important to me.”
Liam chuckles. “Yes, I have no doubt it was.” He gives me a long, lazy kiss. “And number five?”
“Crud. I’ve already thought of a sixth one. You have to agree to give me two more.”
Liam’s head drops to my shoulder again. “Okay.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. ”
“Fifth,”
“Technically, this is number six. Number five was me agreeing to give you two more demands.”
“Very astute of you, Liam. Okay, sixth, you have to agree to make out with me at least once a day for the rest of our lives.”
“Done.”
“You’re so agreeable. I really expected you to put up more of a fight on that one. I mean, you know, you might not be in the mood one day, or you might be away on business, or you might have a nasty flu bug–” Pausing the narrative while Liam cuts me off with a searing kiss.
After who knows how long, Liam ends the kiss. “And lastly?”
“How do you expect me to think straight when you kiss me senseless like that?”
Liam grins. “Hey, these are your demands, not mine. Now let’s have it. What’s your final demand?”
“Demand is such a harsh word. I really do prefer the term agreement.”
“Fine,” Liam gestures with his hand for me to continue.
“This is really important to me, Liam, so pay attention.”
“I’m all ears.”
“Promise me you will never stop flirting with women.”
Liam rears back. “Come again?”
“Liam, you are a sweet flirt. You always make women smile. I don’t want you to stop being you because you’re afraid of hurting my feelings, or because you’re afraid of other people’s censure. I love you exactly as you are, and I never want you to change because you think it’s expected of you.”
“What if I don’t want to flirt with anyone but you?”
I shake my head. “Let me rephrase. You must continue to be the sweet flirt you are with everyone else. But with me? I reserve all rights and privileges to all other types of flirting, because I want naughty Liam all to myself.”
Liam barks out a laugh. “Why are you so perfect?”
“I don’t know, but that’s the second time you’ve asked me that today.” I glance at the television. “It appears our manatee mating rituals documentary is still going. You know what that means, don’t you?”
Liam gives me a very wicked, very naughty, grin. “Yes ma’am, I do.”
I smile to myself because I know it won’t register in Liam’s brain until long after he’s gone to bed tonight that I still didn't answer his question.
And that’s exactly as I intended.