Page 25 of Claiming Her Cougar
As I do so, Liam gets up and turns off the ceiling fan light so the living room is darker.I gasp at the warm, golden glow shining in the house.
I hold it up so I can appreciate it.“It’s beautiful.”
“Yeah, beautiful,” Liam agrees.
I glance up at him.He’s looking at me, not the house.I look at Daphne and find her looking at Liam with a matchmaking gleam in her eye and a small smirk.Oh no.
I put the house on the table and walk on my knees over to Daphne’s side of the coffee table to thank her.
“Not going to happen,” I whisper in her ear as I hug her.
“We’ll see,” is her whispered response.
9
LIAM
I’m living dangerously,getting Daphne involved in my pursuit of Mallory, but I’m betting I’ll need all the help I can get.I’m under no illusions that I am so irresistible that every woman wants me.I’ll respect that Mallory doesn’t want to date me, but I can’t know that for sure if we don’t hang out as friends first.If Daphne can help with this, I’m going to accept it.Who knows?Maybe when Mallory gets to know me better, her resistance to dating me will fade.
I don’t need to know her better to want her more.My interest in her is growing every moment.I don’t believe in fated mates.You choose who you end up with.It’s not fate.It’s not magic.It’s simply hormones and logic.We obviously have compatible hormones based on Vegas.Logic is showing we have things in common—we know the same people, like the same things, and for now, we work for the same company.She liked me before she knew I was a Morgan.Ironically, the thing that often draws women to me is a major point pushing her away.Fate.Ha.
“Did you still need us to leave so you two can talk?”Logan asks Daphne.
I try to stifle my snort-laugh at his bluntness.
Daphne looks to Mallory, who shakes her head.
“No, we’re good.Do you need to get home early, Mallory, or do you have time to play a game?We could play something simple like Uno or Phase 10.”
Mallory glances at the grandfather clock in the corner.“It’s only seven.I can stay a while longer.I just need to leave around eight thirty, so I’m home by nine-ish.”
Daphne pulls out a deck of Phase 10 cards when we all agree that sounds more fun than Uno.Logan shuffles and deals, starting an hour of the most cutthroat game of Phase 10 I’ve ever played.Daphne seems so sweet, but she’s ruthless.
Mallory looks at me with wide eyes.“Did you have any idea she was like this?”
Daphne dances around the living room, celebrating her victory, yelling out, “Booyah!”and “Suck it!”
“Only when she has more than one beer at Flyers’ games.I didn’t know she was like this in general.Popcorn?”I offer her the bowl sitting at my elbow.She takes a handful and eats it kernel by kernel as she watches Daphne’s antics.
Daphne finally stops dancing and drops to her knees next to Mallory.“Oh, yeah, the game!Mallory, did you want to sleep over tomorrow night?I figured Logan could drive me to work tomorrow, you could drive me home, and then we’d go to the game together.It’ll be close to midnight when we return, and then you’d have to drive home.Just stay here and go to work with me.”
“I don’t know…” Mallory starts.
“You’re welcome to stay at my place, Mallory,” I offer.
She shoots me a glare and turns back to Daphne.“If you’re sure I won’t be in the way, I’d appreciate staying over.Thanks.”
I’m impressed.She accepted gracefully.Considering she was trying to get out of going to the game once she found out who I was, this is amazing.
“You won’t be in the way at all,” Logan assures her.“We’d worry about you driving home that late, so you’re doing us a favor.”
“Wow.”Mallory laughs, smiling at Daphne.“He is charming.You weren’t exaggerating!”
“I told you!And he’s not even the most charming one.This one” Daphne gestures to me “is the real charmer.”
Mallory glances my way.“Thanks for the warning.”She stands up and says, “Well, let me head home.Thank you for dinner.I had fun.I’ll see you all tomorrow.”
I stand as well.“Thanks, guys.I’ll walk Mallory to her car and head out myself.See you tomorrow.”
