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Chapter 16: Liam
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one night stand. Chapter 17: Liam
For three solid weeks, I've been trying to evict this woman from my head, and I haven't been able to do it. She refuses to budge.When she doesn't resist, I tow her toward me until her warm breath can feather across my lips. The way her eyes flare and the panting little breaths that escape from her drive me crazy. Memories of all the delicious things I did to that lovely mouth of hers explode in my brain."Liam," she pleads, "Please..."The shiver that threads its way through her voice isn't fear. There's too much arousal stirring in her eyes. Even though she doesn't want to feel it, it's undeniably there, surging through her.Even though she's doing her damnedest to resist the attraction tugging at her, it's there. My grip isn't one that is punishing. I'm merely holding her in place. The last thing I would ever do is deliberately intimidate a woman. I could never hurt one either. I have a younger sister who I'm protective of. I would wipe any guy off the face of this earth
one night stand. Chapter 18: Gia
"Well, well, well...what do we have here?" Harper saunters into my classroom with a can of Diet Cherry Coke dangling from her fingertips and her lunch packed in a stylish hot pink cooler. Unable to wait, I've already spread out the contents of my lunch on the horseshoe shaped table I use when working in small groups with the kids.I give her a-I-don't-want-to-talk-about-it look, which she promptly dismisses. "I see that you're not-so-secret admirer has sent you yet another gift." A sly grin spreads across her pretty face.Instead of commenting, I focus my attention on twisting off the cap from my bottle of water.When I remain silent, she forges ahead with another question. "So, that would make every day this week that you've received something?"I don't know why she's bothering to ask. We both know the answer without me having to admit the truth. If she's attempting to make a point, I don't know what it is. She settles across from me before pulling out a small salad, sandwich,
one night stand. Chapter 19: Gia
It's quarter to six and Liam should be arriving in fifteen minutes. Even though I'm showered and have shaved to an inch within my life, my hair is straightened, makeup is perfectly in place, and I'm dressed, I'm still not sure if I'll go through with this date.I hate to sound like a broken record but...What's the point?We're either going to walk away at the end of the night and never see each other again or-My brain shies away from considering the other possibility. I'm scared to death that this date will go well. What if we have a nice time?What then?The age difference between us feels insurmountable. If we were both older, and in the same place in life, it would be a different story.But we're not.If I've learned anything over the years, it's that relationships are hard. What's the point of investing time in one when we both know it's not going to work out in the end?I spend the next fifteen minutes torturing myself with indecision. Vacillating one way and then the othe
one night stand. Chapter 20: Liam
As soon as she opened the door and my gaze slid over her, my heart stuttered before beating into double time. And-if you can believe this-my palms broke out in a sweat.I know, right?Completely ridiculous.I don't think a chick has ever tangled me up like this.It only makes me realize how much I want her to give me a chance. I don't want this to end before it even begins. After sending her gifts all week long, hoping to ensnare her attention or-at the very least draw out her curiosity-I don't have any other tricks up my sleeve unless I want to scare her with some borderline creepy behavior.Now that her hand is secured in mine, there's no way I'll let it go. I've been thinking about Gia since I saw her last Friday afternoon."Let me grab my purse and lock up before we go," she says.Does that mean I have to relinquish her hand in order for that to happen?Because she's staring at me like it does.Fine, I'll let her go. But as soon as I hear the lock click into place, I'm stealin
one night stand. Chapter 21: Liam
The night I took her home was a hookup, pure and simple. Neither of us were looking to jumpstart a relationship. I settle against the chair as her comments circle through my brain."It might have started out that way, but I'm interested in more. Haven't I made that clear?" Before she can open her mouth to respond, I continue in the same lazy tone, "And I'm an observant guy. I've already figured out a number of things about you."One skeptical brow rises as she stares at me from across the table. The challenging look she aims in my direction prompts me to say, "I know you teach second grade at North Hill Elementary. And, if you decided to go into education, then you must like children. No one in their right mind would agree to spend their entire day around kids if they didn't have an affinity for them. How am I doing so far?"My words do exactly what they're meant to which is bring a slight smile to her lips and a softening to her eyes. "All right, you caught me. I enjoy spen
one night stand. Chapter 22: Gia
He gives my hand a gentle squeeze. "I had a really good time tonight."Liam has had my fingers ensconced in his larger ones all evening. Someone needs to explain how it can feel so natural when this is the first time we've been out.We slept together a month ago...And then I fled the scene of the crime. This should feel awkward. Oddly enough, it doesn't.Liam is so open and affectionate. Kind of like it's no big deal. Even though I try not to, I can't help but compare him to my ex. Tyler was definitely not into public displays of affection. We never held hands when we were out and about. It's only now that I realize how much I like the feeling of my hand being buried in his larger one. The instant connection and intimacy it invokes.Or maybe it's just Liam.I don't know."Me, too," I admit.We're standing on the tiny covered front porch outside my house.Tonight has been surprisingly...nice.Better than nice, if I'm being honest with myself. I haven't thought about the diff
one night stand. Chapter 23: Liam
I glance at the bottle in my hand. I know zilch about wine. The best I can hope for is that the dude at the liquor store didn't steer me in the wrong direction by recommending this particular brand. As I reach out to ring the bell for a second time, Gia opens the door. The breath gets knocked from my lungs as our gazes collide. It's like this every damn time.I take her in, starting at the top of her head to the tips of her toes. Tonight, she's left her inky black hair long and loose. It cascades in glossy waves past her shoulders. It reminds me of the first night I saw her at O'Brien's.I'm considering the merits of dropping to my knees and thanking whoever designed the sweater she's wearing because it hugs her body in all the right places as it showcases the amazing curves of her breasts, making them look even softer than I remembered.It's probably not a good time to dwell on her pink-tipped nipples. Somehow, I doubt that popping wood within the first few minutes of her op
one night stand. Chapter 24: Liam
"I've never heard anyone describe wine as full of vigor," she says with a laugh. "What, pray tell, does that mean?"My lips tremble. It would appear that the jig is up. I shoot her a superior look. "Apparently, you don't know as much about wine as you thought you did. I hear vino described that way all the time." A giggle escapes from her before she calls me out. "Liar." Gia moves across the room before opening the fridge and pulling out a green bottle of beer along with a water. "I'm afraid these are your only options."Without a second thought, I nip the beer from her fingers. "Sold."An easy grin lights up her pretty face as we stare at each other. The moment stretches and lengthens. When she blinks, the energy that had been gathering strength between us shatters.She breaks eye contact, quickly moving away to peek in the oven. "The salmon should be ready in about fifteen minutes."A small pot boils away on the stove. My guess is that it's the quinoa. Not that I woul
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