Page 37 of The Reno
“I deserved it,” Liam said, his eyes not leaving mine. I could feel my cheeks burning, but I wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t like Liam was flirting with me; he was just recounting our first meeting. But I couldn’t help but wonder if there was a charged undercurrent to his words or if I was just imagining it.
Dot clucked her teeth. “Your mum brought you up better than that, Liam.”
Liam nodded. “I know.” He glanced at me. “But in all fairness, I couldn’t help but want to get under her skin.” Liam’s lips lifted. “She made it too easy.”
“You sound just like your brother,” Dot said, shaking her head. “How is that troublesome brother of yours?”
The light left Liam’s eyes as he smiled tightly. “Last I heard, he was in Peru hiking Machu Picchu.”
Dot shook her head ruefully. “He needs to be careful. That’s dangerous business.”
“Ren will get it out of his system soon enough.”
“I used to teach them both piano,” Dot explained for my benefit. “Liam always practised his scales. You were competent enough.”
“‘Competent enough’, what a compliment,” Liam said, and I held back a smile at his tone.
“But Ren, well, sometimes he wouldn’t turn up. His mum would be so livid with him, and he’d bring me presents to apologise. Sweets or some flowers he’d picked. He was so much trouble but always loveable. Cheeky.” Dot smiled.
“Yep, that’s Ren,” Liam said, an edge to his voice. Did he not get on with his brother?
“How’s your mum?” Dot asked.
Liam took a sharp intake of breath. “She’s good. Still gardening.” A small, sad smile on his handsome face.
“Oh, good. I haven’t seen her in a long while.” Dot looked into the distance, as if trying to remember the last time she saw Liam’s mum. “After I stopped teaching the two boys, we became friends, Lily and I,” Dot explained. “We were thick as thieves. I’ll have to drop by and see her soon.”
“She’d like that.” Liam squeezed Dot’s hands. Liam’s eyebrows were pinched like he was trying to keep himself together. But then, with a deep breath, his face was wiped of emotion. He was back to his usual schooled face.
“Right, can I get you ladies a drink?”
“Oh, I couldn’t.” Dot changed her mind quickly. “Maybe a small glass of port.”
Liam laughed. “Okay, a port.”
Liam looked at me. “Guinness?”
“I’ll have a prosecco.” I glanced up at him. “Someone told me that it’s more ‘ladylike’.”
Liam held my gaze, and then his eyes flicked down me. He scannedmy body, lighting little fires along my skin.
“No one could say you’re not ladylike enough, Red.” Blood roared under my pale skin at his words. “Guinness?”
I nodded, glancing away. “Thank you.”
As he walked away, I was tempted to fan myself. Had he… had he been flirting with me? It was so hard to tell. He kept his voice so even and his face so schooled. I watched the muscles in his back flex as he reached up for the port on the top shelf behind the bar and poured Dot a generous measure.
I blinked.
Was I attracted to Liam?
I watched Liam prepare our drinks, and I couldn’t deny it. I’d never noticed because he got under my skin so easily.
“I give it a year,” Dot said, shifting my gaze away from Liam.
“A year?”
“Until you’re married.”
