Page 78 of The Wedding Engagement

He cursed himself for (a) being so slow on the uptake when itcame to his attraction to Liv that it had taken him more than a decade to realize she was right under his nose—what a dick; and (b) not going out on a limb that night on their blind date and telling her he wanted her, even though he was worried she didn’t feel the same way. What had he to lose? Just his stupid goddamn pride.

He had to make up for lost time and show her he was there for her. For her sake, his, and Jayce’s.

Chapter

Twenty

Liv climbed out of thecar and took a deep breath. “Come on. You can do this. You’re just a normal girl, coming to sit for her portrait. Not someone who can’t kiss the guy she desperately wants without having some kind of mental breakdown.” She looked around, double-checking that none of the neighbors had witnessed that little pep talk. Ironically it wouldn’t have helped her case in proving that she wasn’t having a breakdown. For a moment she could’ve sworn she saw the net curtains twitch in the house next door to Arran’s.

Once she rang the doorbell, she waited anxiously for him to answer. When he did, she had to reach out and hold the doorframe for support because, oh my God, if the guy hadn’t become an extra fifty percent sexier since the last time she’d seen him. How was that even possible when he’d already been one hundred percent sexy?

Arran Adebayo. One hundred and fifty percent sexy.

He smiled as she leaned against the doorframe, staring at him, trying to stand upright on her wobbly knees.

She cleared her throat. “Hi.”

Arran’s smile widened, making his eyes twinkle, and she thoughtshe might drop down dead. “Want to come in, or should I paint you on my doorstep?”

She straightened, managing to walk into the house and not outwardly react to his evocative scent. The memory of him grasping her red hood and pulling her close surfaced.“All the better to eat you with.”A shiver ran down her spine.

“Liv?”

“Mm-hmm?”

“Did you hear me?”

She paused in the hallway. “Er, no. Sorry. What did you say?”

He was still wearing an amused smile. “Do you want some tea before we start?”

“Oh, yes, please.” She removed her jacket and shoes and followed him into the kitchen, where she helped him make two mugs of tea, which they took into the studio. “Can I have a quick nosy?” she asked him. There were a few new pieces since she was last there.

“Be my guest.” He busied himself with getting some paints prepared, and it occurred to her that he was acting very naturally. Not like he thought she was unhinged and was keen to run a mile. She relaxed a little, remembering his comforting words at Neist Point. The studio lights were bright in the Saturday evening dusk, casting illumination onto the sofa where she would sit to be painted.

Moving over to it, she took a seat. “It was so cool of Sam and Maya to commission my portrait.” She sipped her tea. “Though a bit weird that I’ll have a picture of myself hanging on the wall.”

He smiled. “It’ll look beautiful.”

Her breath caught in her throat. He kept telling her that she was beautiful, and he made her believe it. Arran Abeo Adebayo was a very charming man. She sighed internally. He was also hot as fuckity-fuck. “At first I assumed you’d be painting me from a photo.”

He shook his head. “It’s better to have a live sitting. I only do itthe other way when the person wouldn’t be available to sit for long enough.”

She settled back into the sofa, watching him prep. “How long will it take?”

Arran paused what he was doing to run a hand over his hair. “Depends on how it goes. I’ve usually got a deadline to work to, so I ramp up my schedule to meet it. But if it’s not needed by a certain date, then maybe about six weeks.”

She sipped her tea. “Good thing I have no social life, then.”

He smiled gently. “I’m ready when you are.”

—

Liv tried to stop laughingbut it was difficult. “Sorry. I’m doing not well at sitting still.”

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “That’s okay. I love seeing you laugh.”

Her heart rate picked up. “Thank you.”

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