Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
"Wow, look at this place," Tori says as they drive around downtown Truth Harbor, searching for a parking spot. "I love it here. I feel like I've stepped back in time."
He grins. "I had a feeling it would appeal to you."
They have breakfast at a crowded café, sitting outside and enjoying the sunshine. Liam asks her all sorts of questions about herself.
"Hmm." She takes a bite of toast with jam, secretly pleased by his attention, though she'd never admit it. "Am I being interrogated again? Is this your special agent thing?"
"I just want to get to know you better."
"I thought I was the one kicking the tires and revving the engine."
He laughs. "You are."
"I don't think any guy has ever found me this fascinating."
He sprinkles hot sauce on his eggs. "Well, I hope by now it's obvious I'm not just any guy."
She picks up her coffee and eyes him over the rim of her mug. His hair is casual, the way she likes it, a lock of it falling onto his forehead. "I'm starting to think that's true," she murmurs mostly to herself.
He asks more questions and especially wants to know about all her jobs. "Why so many?" he asks. "You always seem stressed."
She explains how it happened without her planning it. She started by creating the website for Happy Pet Nanny. Then Blair wanted one for her bakery, and when Road heard about it, he hired her to work on his blog.
"His blog? You mentioned that before." Liam looks confused. "What does your brother do for a living?"
"He's a travel blogger."
"What's that?"
Tori explains how her brother travels and writes for his blog, Edge of Zen, selling travel merchandise. "He's an author too. I haven't mentioned that part. He has two bestselling books."
Liam appears stunned. "You're kidding me."
Tori laughs and pours more maple syrup on her oatmeal. "What did you think, that he did something illegal?"
"I don't know. Maybe. That guy was a real dick to me in high school."
She goes quiet. It pains her to hear this. "I really didn't know he was threatening you. I would have told him to stop if I had."
He shrugs. "Sure. It's no big deal now."
"You believe me, don't you?"
He smiles at her from across the table. "Of course I do. "
They go back to the previous subject, and Liam wonders if maybe her life would be easier if she focused on one job instead of four.
She plays with her napkin. "My friend, Fiona—she's a marketing expert—thinks I should focus on Happy Pet Nanny, that there's a lot I could do with it. I sell those snacks, but she wants me to branch out and create a whole line of products. She even thinks I could find an investor."
"That's an interesting idea."
"Yeah." Tori sighs and then laughs. "I guess I need enough nerve, you know? I've never done anything that bold."
"I think you'd be great at whatever you put your mind to."
"You do?"
"Absolutely. And I think your friend is right about Happy Pet Nanny. You have a real talent with animals."
She studies him as he goes back to focusing on his plate of food. A warmth blooms inside her. She can tell he means it.
Usually the guys she dates tear down her ideas. They're always finding reasons why she'd fail, then claim they're helping her by being "honest."
After breakfast they stroll around town together, holding hands and wandering through all the little shops. To her amazement, they come across one that sells nothing but thick, cozy sweaters. The exact kind she always imagined for those Christmas cards with Dr. Adrian.
Dr. Adrian! Tori wonders if she should feel bad that she hasn't thought of him in days.
She glances at Liam's handsome profile. Let's face it. Dr. Adrian has turned into a fuzzy memory.
"I have to buy one of these sweaters," Tori announces. "I have to."
Liam raises a brow. "It's eighty degrees outside. Are you sure you want to buy a winter sweater?"
"I don't care." She thinks about how much she wants that Christmas card, how she's been knitting all those sweaters for her dogs. She doesn't need a man. This year that card is happening no matter what .
They look through the store, and Tori finally settles on one that's white cable-knit cotton. It's thick and perfect. She imagines herself sitting by a fire with all her dogs, wearing this sweater as she reads them The Night Before Christmas .
Liam's been browsing through the men's selections. He comes over holding up a sweater similar to hers, except it's brown. "What do you think?"
"Um… it's nice."
"I'm going to get it."
"You are ?" Tori's eyes bug out. She can't hide her shock. "Really? Why would you do that?"
"I don't know. I've never owned a sweater like this." He tilts his head, admiring it. "I think it's kind of great."
She tries not to gawk at him.
They get in line to pay for their purchases. He wants to buy hers too, but she won't let him. "You paid for breakfast."
"Come on, Tori. Let me get it for you. I want you to have something to remember this trip by."
She stares at his brown sweater, still reeling from the fact that he's buying it at all. "Why is that?"
"Because"—his gaze softens as he leans toward her—"you're my vacation too."
Tori can't stop ruminating over Liam's words as they explore the town.
"You're my vacation too . "
She's never been anyone's vacation before.
Obviously he's hers, but that's different. She never goes anywhere or does anything. Despite his insistence that he's boring, Liam leads an interesting life.
"Do you have any hobbies?" she asks, taking a lick from her strawberry sorbet as they window-shop. "Besides baseball, I mean. Or do you even consider that a hobby?"
"Baseball will always be a part of my life, but it's strictly a hobby now. I also like to take photographs."
She nods, remembering the ones she saw during their afternoon of lust. "Did you take the ones of the Oregon coast in your bedroom?"
He glances at her with surprise. "You noticed those?"
"I did. I liked them."
He seems slightly embarrassed. "They're okay. I wish I'd brought my camera with me on this trip."
"You should have. Can't you just use your phone?"
"I can. You have better control with a camera though."
"Do you usually do nature shots?"
"Usually, or sometimes people. I took some of Fancy when we were at the dog park recently."
"Oh, how fun! You'll have to show them to me."
He nods and takes a bite of his maple pecan ice cream.
She's been taking photos since they arrived in town and has been sneakily putting Liam in most of them. "You know, we haven't done a selfie yet. Should we take one?"
He chuckles. "Sure, let's do it."
Tori holds her phone out, and he moves closer. She snaps a few photos of them smiling, but then to her surprise, he turns and kisses her cheek for one of them. It's so romantic, and she secretly lingers over it afterward.
"I'm going to take some too," he says, pulling his phone out from his jeans pocket. He puts their bag with the sweaters on a nearby bench. "Let's get some with our ice cream cones."
The two of them stand on the sidewalk together, taking silly photos of each other. At one point, Tori pretends to lick her cone provocatively while Liam crosses his eyes and tries to eat from the side of his mouth.
"You look so funny," she says, laughing afterward when they flip through the pictures. "There's ice cream on your face."
"I was being goofy." He grins, still looking through the photos. "But check out the ones of you." He waggles his brows, referring to the pictures of her licking the cone like a porn star. "I might have to save some of these for private use later."
"Very funny." She slaps his arm. "There's no way you're doing that."
He chuckles. "I'm not promising anything."
"I guess I'll know when you lock yourself in the bathroom with your phone, won't I?" As soon as the words leave her mouth, she wants to take them back. She nearly slaps her palm over her mouth. Heat spreads across her cheeks.
Her eyes flash to his face, but he doesn’t seem to notice her embarrassment and is still looking at the pictures.
Thank God.
They continue wandering around town, and when they come across a pirate museum, they decide to take the tour. It shows them about the town’s infamous history. As they're leaving the gift shop, Tori sees a small pirate doll holding a camera and gets it for him.
"You don't have to buy me anything."
"Well, maybe I want you to have something to remember this trip by too. Have you ever thought of that? I wouldn't want you to forget me."
His eyes hold that steady gaze on her where they look all sexy. "Tori, I'll never forget you. I couldn't even when I tried."
She's taken aback. "You tried to forget me?"
"Sure." He shrugs as the cashier wraps the pirate doll in paper before putting it in a bag. "I tried to forget the whole mess that happened in high school."
"I can't believe you tried to forget me," she says in mock indignation. "And here I am buying you a gift. I must need my head examined."
He slips his arm around her waist and pulls her close. "I'd like to examine a few other parts of you too," he whispers.
Her breath catches, and when she turns to face him, he kisses her. Kisses her right there in front of all the pirate dolls and summer tourists.
By the time they head back in his truck, she's glowing inside. Lit up like a star. The window's rolled down and her hair's blowing in the breeze. It isn't until she catches a glimpse of herself in the truck's side mirror that she finally understands it.
For the first time in a long time, she feels young, beautiful, and alive.
Meanwhile, she and Liam are in the middle of another dispute over whose playlist to put on first.
"Damn, I'm a pushover with you," he grumbles, giving in and letting her play her music. "It's pathetic. Better not let anyone on my squad see me like this."
"Oh, stop complaining," she says with glee, hooking up the USB for her phone. "I think you secretly want to hear my music because deep down, you know this country music thing of yours isn't healthy."
He rolls his eyes. "Give me a break."
"All those songs about being drunk and broke? Please. That can't be good for your psyche."
"That's ridiculous. Most country songs are love songs."
"You could have fooled me."
He starts naming every country love song he knows. It appears to be an endless list.
"Just stop." She waves her hand. "That doesn't prove anything. All it proves is they sing about love while they're drunk and broke."
"For someone who dislikes country music so much, you sure think you're an expert on the subject."
"I don't have to be an expert to have good taste."
Liam chuckles, and they continue to banter. When "You Give Love a Bad Name" comes through the truck speakers, he objects.
"Not Bon Jovi," he says. "I've been tortured enough."
" What ?" She stares at him in astonishment. "Are you saying you don't like Bon Jovi?"
"No, I don’t. "
She scoffs. "I don't believe you. In fact, I don't believe anyone who says they don't like Bon Jovi."
He laughs. "That’s nuts."
"No, it’s not."
"Their songs have been played to death. I've heard this a million times."
"Well, duh. That’s because they’re like the greatest band ever." As they drive to the cabin, she plays a few of their less well-know songs for him. "Come on, they even sound kind of country sometimes."
"I guess that ‘Wanted Dead or Alive' song isn't half bad," he admits grudgingly as they pull into the driveway of the house. "But next time we go somewhere, we're listening to my playlist."
Once they're in the cabin again, Tori puts her cozy sweater away. After going to the bathroom and pulling her hair up in a messy bun, she changes into a white bikini with pink daisies on it. She finds Liam standing on the front porch, drinking a glass of iced tea while he gazes out at the view.
"I was thinking of going for a swim. Do you want to join me?" she asks.
He glances over, then does a double take when he sees what she's wearing. His eyes roam over her approvingly. "Damn, you look good enough to eat."
"Thanks." She smiles, pleased at the compliment. She doesn't have the most perfect body in the world, but thanks to a beauty queen mother, knows how to carry herself.
He puts his glass down and gives her a wolfish grin. "Why don't you come on over here?"
"Actually, that iced tea looks refreshing. Is there any left?
"There are a few bottles in the fridge. Help yourself."
Tori goes back inside. She gets a tall glass from the cabinet, fills it with ice, and then pours in the tea. When she heads back out to the back deck, she sees him through the screen door. He's leaning against the post in the same position as earlier, admiring the view .
She's admiring the view too. The rear view. The expression "a tall drink of water" was invented for men like Liam.
She opens the door to go outside.
That's when the oddest idea comes to her. She's not sure what possesses her to do it, but it's like she can't stop herself. She walks right up to him and, without a second thought, dumps her entire glass of iced tea over his head.
"Hey!" he shouts, jumping back from the porch rail. "What the hell!"
Her eyes grow wide at his strong reaction. "Wow." She takes in his drenched appearance. His flattened hair. Ice cubes still falling off him. She wonders if this is what she looked like right after he dumped that milkshake on her.
He wipes his face. "What is this?" He’s licking the corner of his mouth. "Iced tea?"
She’s still watching him with wide eyes. "It is."
"Did you really just pour that on me?" He seems astonished, gesturing to the empty glass in her hand.
She nods, trying not to smile.
"Why would you do that?"
"Because you said I could."
He's incredulous. "When did I say that?"
"You said I could pour a milkshake on you sometime so we'd be even."
He snorts and wipes tea off his face. His shirt is wet too. In fact, it looks kind of hot the way it's clinging to him. "I said maybe I'd let you pour a milkshake on me. This isn't a milkshake, and this is hardly me letting you."
She shrugs, unable to hide her grin. "Well, obviously I took matters into my own hands."
His gaze narrows, and for a moment, she sees the lawman behind those brown eyes, the one bad guys must see right before he slaps on the handcuffs .
It thrills her.
He takes in her smile and his mouth twitches. "You're quite pleased with yourself, aren't you?"
"I am." She beams at him.
He brushes off a few stray ice cubes still sticking to his shirt. "Well, you've forgotten one thing."
"I have?"
He nods slowly. "Payback."
"What do you mean?"
"When I dumped that milkshake on you, it was an accident. But you did this on purpose."
"Payback?" She's not sure if she likes the sound of that, or the way he's looking at her either.
"Yes." His eyes flicker down her body. "You've been a bad girl. I’ll have to punish you."
"Punish me?"
He gives her a wicked grin.
Uh-oh . He's right. She didn't consider payback. Not sure what to do, she does the only sensible thing that comes to mind.
She runs.
Straight down the steps from the back deck and onto the sandy area below. Unfortunately, Liam is right behind her. She could run faster if she wasn't barefoot or laughing so hard.
It only takes him a minute to catch up with her. The next thing she knows, she's plucked right off the ground and swooped into his arms.
"Hey, put me down!"
"Forget it. I've got plans for you."
"Plans? What kind of plans?" She hugs his neck as he carries her back up the porch steps. "Where are you taking me?"
"Bad girls aren't allowed to ask questions."
He pushes the screen door open with his foot and maneuvers her inside the house. She can't remember the last time a guy carried her anywhere, and she has to admit it's fun .
The bathroom door is open, and he walks toward the shower. "I don't want to get wet!" she complains.
"Stop griping. You're already wearing a bathing suit. I'm the one soaked in iced tea over here."
She giggles. "I guess I should apologize, but I'm not going to."
He gives her a stern look. "Still a bad girl, then."
"I guess so. What are you going to do about it?"
He doesn't reply, only pushes the shower curtain aside and steps into the tub with her. He lets her slide down his chest, one arm still around her waist. The other reaches behind her, and the next thing she knows, they're sprayed with cold water.
"Aaaah!" she squeals. "That's freezing!"
"It'll warm up," Liam says with a grin. He reaches behind his back and pulls his tea-soaked T-shirt off.
"I can't believe this!" She dances around as cold water streams down her neck and back.
He chuckles and unzips his jeans. Soon he's standing before her completely naked.
"Is this the payback you had in mind?" she asks, her eyes roaming lower. She can't help herself. He has a great body.
He pulls her close. "Don't worry," he murmurs. "I'm just getting started." And then his mouth comes down hard on hers.
She moans with pleasure. Wraps her arms around his neck and sucks his tongue, which tastes slippery and wet mixed with the cool shower water.
He unhooks the back of her bikini top and it falls away. Liam bends lower, licking and sucking her nipples, sending streams of pleasure through her.
She grabs his dark hair, holding him close, encouraging him. He draws back and then moves his hands to her hips. He hooks his thumbs into her bottoms, dragging them down her legs. She uses his shoulder for balance as she steps out of them.
Then he's back up and the two of them are kissing again. Deep tongue kisses. Kissing with lips and teeth. Everything mixes with the flowing water. His hard-on presses into her stomach.
"We don't have to keep using condoms," she says breathlessly, coming up for air. "I have an IUD."
"You do?"
She nods. "I'm always safe too. Are you?"
"I am."
The two of them study each other.
Drops of shower water cling to his skin. She holds his jaw still and kisses his beard stubble, his cheek next, licking it. "I think the tea is mostly gone," she murmurs. She slides her hand lower and wraps it around his thick cock.
Tori hears his sharp intake of breath.
"The water's finally warm," she whispers.
"Yeah" is all he says as she continues to stroke him. He has his hand against the wall for balance. She does it for a while, watching his face, his eyes hooded with lust.
Eventually he draws back and pulls her hand away. Reaching down, he cups her ass with both hands and lifts her. "I need to be inside you." His voice is rough.
She wraps her legs around him, her arms on his shoulders, and gasps when he slides home. Her eyes fall shut. It's all so good, saturating her senses. In the back of her mind, she knows she’ll have to start pretending soon, but for now she wants to enjoy it.
He takes it slow and steady. She moans every time he pushes up to the hilt.
"Open your eyes," he breathes. "Look at me, rubia. I want to see you."
She does, and the two of them gaze at each other, bodies coming together. Warm water flows around them.
"Don't fake it," he says. "Not this time."
Adrenaline shoots through her. She stares at him in shock. "I… I don't know what you mean."
"Yes, you do. Let's be honest with each other. "
Her breath shakes.
"I want to know you, Tori. The real you."
For a moment she's lost in his brown eyes. The way they're aroused but filled with kindness too.
She plays with the back of his neck nervously, finger-brushing his short hair.
He kisses her gently. "Please let me in."
He's already inside her, but she knows what he means. Not her body, but her mind and heart.
He's still moving his hips, sliding up all the way, and it's incredible. He’s touching places inside her, deep ones, exciting her. Despite her inability to orgasm like this, she enjoys sex. Enjoys the closeness, but also how great it feels with the right guy.
There haven't been a lot of guys who were right though.
It occurs to her that not having to fake it is a relief. She can relax, get into the experience without having to give a performance. And then there's the other part.
The intimacy.
She wants that. Hungers for it. Though she's scared too.
"Okay," she says nervously. "I'll be honest."
Something flames behind his eyes. "Good."
They continue to move together, and it's amazing. His body against hers, so much bigger and stronger than she is. She grips his muscular arms as waves of pleasure ripple through her.
At one point, Liam slips his hand between her legs and plays with her, but she pushes it away.
He eyes her questioningly.
"It won't work," she says. "I can't come like that."
He nods, his breath shaking. "Okay."
After a while, his pace quickens. He's getting close. "God, you feel good," he says. "So damn good."
"So do you." She gasps, clutching his shoulders, letting herself enjoy every moment.
He grips her ass, kneading her, the intensity building until finally he groans. Tori watches his face. His mouth is open, jaw flushed. It's so hot seeing Liam like this. She's awash in the pleasure of it, all her nerve endings lit up.
Afterward, he kisses her lips, then her cheeks before raining soft kisses all over her.
She sighs. "You can punish me like that anytime you want."
His large body rumbles against hers with his amusement.
Eventually she slides her legs down so she's standing in the tub with him. He strokes her face. "Thank you for being your honest self."
A strong emotion wells up in her, but she doesn't want to name it. Her eyes sting. She's not ready for this conversation. "I think the hot water is running out," she says instead.
"You're right," he agrees.
Despite the now tepid water, they take a shower together, scrubbing each other back and front, though Liam spends an inordinate time on her breasts and ass.
She bats his hand away, giggling. "Trust me, they're clean."
"I know." He tilts his head admiringly. "I just like seeing you all slippery with soap."
After they get out of the shower, Tori wraps a towel around herself, then gathers all the wet clothes. She puts Liam's in the small washing machine and then goes outside with her bikini.
It's late afternoon, and the lake dazzles against a blue sky. The summer air’s as warm as bathwater, luxurious on her skin. She hangs her wet bikini on the deck rail, then gazes out at the view filled with happiness.
That glow inside her is still there.
Liam joins her after a few minutes with a white towel wrapped around his waist. He's carrying a couple of glasses while also juggling a box of crackers, a knife, and the jar of peanut butter they picked up at the grocery store yesterday. He puts everything on the small table and takes a seat in one of the patio loungers.
"I brought you another iced tea," he says, "seeing as you had an unfortunate mishap with your previous one. "
She glances over her shoulder and smiles. "That was nice of you."
He opens the box of crackers and covers one with peanut butter. "Damn, I can't believe how hungry I am."
"Really? We ate not that long ago."
"I know." He pops the cracker in his mouth. "I guess punishing a bad girl uses a lot of energy."
She laughs and then comes over to join him, adjusting her towel before taking a seat on the opposite lounger and putting her feet up. He hands her the next cracker.
"Thanks." She takes a bite, her eyes wandering over him with admiration. Healthy and muscular. Liam is straight-up beautiful. "Your skin is naturally a tan color, isn't it?"
He nods, spreading more peanut butter on a cracker. "Yeah, I have a perma-tan. Elena and I both take after my dad."
"Lucky you. I think your skin looks amazing."
He glances over at her and seems pleased. "Thank you." He gives her a sly grin. "I like yours too."
"Really? I'm so pale." She holds up her arm and studies it. "The opposite of you. I can't tan to save my life, though I wish I could."
"My mom's coloring is more like yours." He gives her another cracker. "She always complains about it too."
Tori thinks back to high school, to that meeting they had with all their parents and the principal. "I remember your parents. Doesn't your mom have red hair?"
"She colors it red. I think it's light brown naturally."
"And you look more like your dad. I remember him too. He seemed kind of serious." She remembers his dad as being tall, dark, and intimidating.
Liam chuckles. "He's a good guy. That was the first time he'd ever been called to the principal’s office, I can tell you that."
"Did your parents believe you when you told them what happened?" she asks, curious.
"Of course."
"Really? No questions asked? "
He picks up his iced tea. "None. They believed me."
"Wow. You guys are really close, huh?"
He takes a long drink from his tea and puts it back on the table. "We are." His eyes rest on her, and she knows they're both thinking about the unpleasant history between them.
"If we keep seeing each other after this weekend, how's that going to work? Your sister hates me, and I imagine your parents won't be too crazy about me either."
His expression turns considering. "Let me worry about that. They just have to get to know you."
"They're going to think I'm one of your weirdo girlfriends, except we have a history that makes it even worse."
He spreads peanut butter on another cracker. "Like I said, once they get to know you, that'll all change."
She falls silent as she accepts the cracker from him. It's nice that he's optimistic, but it's already obvious how much his sister dislikes her. She highly doubts anything will change. And it isn't just his family they have to worry about.
It’s hers too.