Page 71 of Honey Bee Library
He jutted out his bottom lip. “You want to get rid of me? Honey, we just started.”
I glared at him, but then Breia cleared her throat. “So yes or no to the menus?”
“No.”
“Yes.”
I glared back at Liam. He just shrugged. “I’m starving. Plus, if I drink coffee on an empty stomach it makes me all jittery.” He shifted his shoulders for emphasis.
“Well, I’m here for a coffee. Anything more, and you’re doing that alone.”
He grinned at me, which just made me more irritated. “That’s what you think. Just wait. Women find me irresistible.” His wink was smooth, and if I’d blinked, I would have missed it.
“Are you incapable of having a serious conversation?” I hissed as Breia grabbed two menus and motioned for us to follow her through the diner.
“What?” Liam asked.
I could feel him lean closer to me, and a shiver rushed across my skin. I clenched my jaw, refusing to let myself get carried away with thoughts of Liam that didn’t include getting himoutof my life. There was no way I was going to let his flirty antics work on me.
Breia led us to a table along the far wall, right next to the couple that had been waiting at the stand when I’d walked in. I slid onto one booth seat while Liam took the other. Breia left us with the menus and told us she’d be back to take our drink order. I was busy looking at the menu in the hope that Liam wouldn’t try to engage in conversation if I looked like I was busy.
He was shifting and moving in his seat like he was trying to look at something behind me, so I finally set my menu down and looked up at him. “What are you doing?” I asked as I glanced over my shoulder.
Liam snapped his gaze to me. His eyebrows were drawn together like he was confused. I raised my eyebrows, expectantly.
“I thought…” He frowned before he shook his head. “Never mind. I thought I saw someone I knew.” He laughed as he picked up his menu and ran his gaze over it. “That would be crazy.”
I sighed. It was probably one of his conquests. Of course.
Breia returned as promised. She pulled out her order pad and jotted down my coffee with creamer order and Liam’s Coke, hamburger—hold the onions—and fries order.
We both handed her back our menus, and suddenly, I had no barrier between me and Liam. I entwined my fingers and rested my hands on the table for a moment before I moved to drumming my fingertips instead.
Liam looked relaxed as he leaned back against the booth. I hated that he bothered me so much while he looked completely at ease around me. I wished he would just get what he wanted from the library and leave me alone.
“So…how long do you think you’ll be in Harmony for?” I asked, keeping the conversation basic.
Liam studied me for a moment before he shifted his weight so he could lean over the table. His half smile was ridiculous as he grinned up at me. “I’m not sure. Why? Are you scared you’ll miss me?”
I pulled back. “What? No.” Then I glared at him. “Are you incapable of having a normal conversation?”
“Normal conversation?”
I sighed. “Yes, normal. One that doesn’t have flirty undertones.”
“Flirty undertones?” He focused his attention on me like he was truly curious.
This was a fun conversation. I sighed as I brushed my hand across the top of the table a few times, desperate for something other than Liam to focus on.
“Listen, I don’t know what you want from me, but I’m trying to start over. I don’t need…” My voice trailed off. What was I doing? Why was I telling him these things? The last person I wanted to open up to was this man.
When I glanced back up, Liam was studying me again. His flirty smile was gone, and for the first time since I’d met him, he looked…serious. Well, that was a good sign. Hecouldpick up on my tone and could act accordingly.
“You’re starting over? From what?” he asked. He glanced over at Breia, who dropped off our drinks and left without lingering.
I was grateful to have my coffee cup in front of me. It was the distraction I needed. I wrapped my hands around the sides, reveling in its warmth. I hoped he bought my concentration instead of realizing that I was procrastinating answering his questions. I wasn’t sure I wanted this stranger to know that much about me. About Trevor. About Samuel.
Constantly dredging up the past is the last thing a person who is trying to move on with their life should do. I needed to put on a smiling face and move forward. Wallowing wasn’t going to put food on the table for Samuel or a roof over his head.
