Page 22 of The Science of Attraction

“Mmm.” He nudged me again. “But I was right, in case you were wondering.”

“About what?”

His mouth curved up in a slow, sexy smile, and my stomach did an embarrassing swoop. “I was right that your brother might be cute and all, but he’s definitely not the best-looking one in the family.”

What?I stared at him, lost for words. What the hell did you say to something like that? I fumbled around in my stunned brain but... nope... nothing came to mind.

Liam smiled another of those devastating smiles that rattled my hormones and his eyes dipped to my mouth for just long enough to set my heart a-thumping. “You’re blushing, Mister Lane.”

And I so fucking was. Again. It had to be a record.

Liam was still looking at me, the rest of the table fading into the background as he added, “I think maybe you and I should have a conversation soon.” He clinked the neck of his bottle against mine and winked. “Maybe you should drink that before you break it.”

My gaze shot to the bottle I held in a white-knuckled grip.

“Hey, new guy,” Charlie called to Liam from the far end of the table, shooting him a wicked grin. “Come down here so we can interrogate and embarrass you.”

Liam laughed and headed for the far end of the joined tables, leaving me to ponder his words.

I think maybe you and I should have a conversation soon.

My heart galloped at the thought of what he might have meant. No. What Iknewhe meant.

Oh, fuck.

Oh, fucking fuck, fuck.

I downed half the bottle of beer in a single guzzle and slammed it back on the table.Holy shit.I wasn’t ready for this. Was I?

I looked to Zach, feeling the panic start to rise, but he was frowning at something behind me.

“Hey, Jules. Fancy running into you tonight.” A petite fair-haired woman slid into the seat vacated by Liam and kissed me on the cheek. Years rolled back as familiar notes of rosehip and lavender overtook the sharp citrus tang of Liam’s cologne.

“Laura?” I stared into the pretty blue eyes of my ex-girlfriend from a few years back and slid a little further down the rabbit hole. Synchronicity biting me on the butt. My past and present coming together in some weird game of whack-a-mole. “Wow. What a surprise.”

Laura positively beamed. “Isn’t it just?” Dressed in fitted jeans and a crisp white cotton button-down, she looked as lovely as always, her shrewd gaze scanning the group at the table, lingering on the new faces with obvious interest. “Hey, Zach.” She wiggled her fingers at my brother, then raised a curious brow at Luke who was sitting with his arm around his boyfriend. “Now,you’redefinitely new.”

Zach introduced them and Laura nodded happily. “Nice to meet you, Luke.” She looked back at Zach with a wicked gleam in her eye. “So, apparently the rumours are true. I did hear you had an...interestingyear. Well, good for you.”

Zach rolled his eyes. “I should’ve figured everyone’s second cousin twice removed would know by now.”

Laura grinned unapologetically. “Mum called the day after you moved onto Miller Station. So, you had like twenty-four hours of privacy. Seems about right. She filled me in on your boyfriend a few months ago.”

Zach shook his head. “Jesus fucking Christ.”

“And this must be Gil.” Laura beamed. “I’ve heard a lot about you as well.”

Gil turned a fetching shade of dusty pink and I let Holden make the introductions. While they were busy doing that, Zach nudged me under the table and flicked his head toward Laura in a don’t-you-fucking-dare look.

I ignored him. He’d always thought of Laura as a sweet but boringly safe choice on my part, but right at that moment, with Liam sitting just a few metres away and royally fucking with my head, boringly safe seemed a pretty damn good option.

Laura’s gaze swept the four men. “Jeez, you boys have sure been busy while I was away.”

I smiled because that was Laura all over. Open and friendly and always seeing the best in people. Not a homophobic bone in her shapely body. The six months we’d spent together before she left for a job up north had been one of the few long-term relationships I’d ever had, and we’d made a good team.

I saw Liam watching from the far end of the table. He caught my eye and quickly glanced away.

“So, how long are you home for?” Holden asked.

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