Page 17 of The Science of Attraction

I snorted. “Yeah, good luck with that.” I nodded to his leggings. “But I’d suggest you don’t show up in those. I’m not sure his heart will cope.”

Liam laughed and ran both hands down his thighs and my tongue fell somewhere down the back of my throat. “I take your point. Now, is there something you came to ask or is this a social visit? I can grab us a beer if you want?”

“No beer, thanks. I’ve got some things to finish up in the shed before I call it a day. But I did have a question. An invite, to be specific.”

Liam’s brows peaked. “Now I’m intrigued.”

I held up a hand. “Don’t get too excited. I was just wondering if you’d like to join the team for a celebratory drink in Oakwood tonight? It would be a chance to get to know people a little more. Nothing big, just toasting the end of shearing, and considering the morning you had with my father, I thought you might appreciate a break from the station. Hit the town, so to speak.”

Liam’s eyes danced across my face. “Hit the town, huh? One pub and a couple of cafés, if I remember right?”

I feigned dismay. “Ouch. You do realise that around five thousand people call Oakwood home, so there are a few more social establishments than that. Not many, I grant you, but a few. But even if there wasn’t, Meg’s Place pours the best coffee in the Mackenzie, The Fleece has the cheapest beer you can find on tap on a Friday night, and The Barbecue Pit will have you drooling on your yoga mat. What more does a man need?”

Liam grinned. “I admit you make a good case. Sounds like fun.”

“Right? All the guys are going, and Zach and Luke will be there as well. You’re welcome to catch a ride with me, but Tennyson is also driving sober, so you can go with him if that suits you better.”

“I’m happy to ride with you.” Those hazel eyes locked on mine and I felt myself blushing... again.

I broke eye contact and checked my watch. “Okay then, I’ll swing by in about an hour. We can grab dinner at The Fleece. Nola runs a good kitchen. Simple pub grub but tasty.”

“I better jump into the shower then.” Liam got to his feet and waggled his brows. “This much handsome doesn’t come without cost.”

I laughed in that slightly strained way that shouted my brain had taken the imagery and run sideways with it over a cliff. Then I stood and absolutely didn’t watch Liam’s arse as he walked inside in those ought-to-be-illegal leggings and shut the door in my face.

Dammit.I fucking knew this was going to be a bad idea.

* * *

Bang on an hour later, I pulled up to Liam’s cottage and hit the horn. Punctuality was simply how I rolled and fuck anyone who thought fashionably late was a thing. It was an argument I’d had many times with past girlfriends and was very likely the reason they remained in the past. What can I say? You have watches, phones, and alarms—use them. It’s not rocket science.

I’d barely put the ute into park when the front door opened and Liam strode out with his jacket over his arm. He looked sexy as fuck in painted-on black jeans, those ubiquitous black biker boots that made my dick sit up and take notice, and a black-and-white sweater in a geometric design.

He trotted down the steps and jumped in the passenger seat smelling of vanilla and coconut and some beach under a hot sun that I’d planned a million vacations for and never gone. I threw the ute into gear barely thirty seconds past our agreed-upon time, and just damn. My heart kicked up a notch. Punctuality was indeed a sexy thing. Bonus points right there.

I looked Liam’s way, trying my best not to ogle when, in all honesty, ogling was the bare minimum of appropriate responses. “Ready to paint the town?”

He laughed. “Absolutely. But considering its size, I’m thinking artist’s paintbrush, not roller.”

“Cheeky fucker.” I headed down the lawn and then south along the gravel drive toward Tekapo.

Liam looked my way. “Just us then?”

I nodded. “The others left with Tennyson about ten minutes ago.”

He looked me up and down. “I don’t think I’ve seen you in more than your work clothes. You scrub up nice, Mister Lane.”

I hoped the dim evening light hid the rush of blood to my face. “Oh, thanks, yeah... um, you too.”

My grip on the wheel tightened as I remembered the number of identical pairs of jeans I’d considered then discarded before settling on a tight acid-wash that I usually avoided due to their propensity for ball-strangling, and a fitted long-sleeve black Henley that made my biceps look a lot more impressive than they actually were. I’d matched them with my black chukkas and a good dose of mortification at my own ridiculousness. I didn’t do that whatever-will-I-wear shit, not even for women. I was very much a take-me-as-you-find-me type of guy, except for when I wasn’t... like now... apparently.

Liam frowned at my obvious discomfort. “Sorry, did that make you uncomfortable?”

I kept my eyes on the road in front. “Not at all. I’m just not used to getting opinions on how I look—” I swallowed hard. “—at least not from guys. Except my brother, of course, since he can’t keep his mouth shut and has an opinion about everything. Although his aren’t usually compliments, more like a running commentary on the sad state of my wardrobe. Not that he’s a clothes slut or anything, far from it.” I knew I was rambling but couldn’t seem to stop myself. “But he wears most things well and has an eye for creating something out of nothing by just adding a trendy belt buckle or some other titivation I would never have thought of. I missed that gene. Or, most likely, it’s because he’s the better looking out of the two of us. Yeah, I think that’s it.”Jesus Christ.I snapped my mouth shut and focused on avoiding all the potholes that had multiplied over winter.

Liam took my word vomit in stride and simply said, “I think you underestimate yourself, and now I’m especially looking forward to meeting this brother of yours to ascertain the truth.”

Which was, of course, the perfect thing to say, and I blushed with the heat of a thousand suns.

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