Page 92 of Not Exactly Mr. Darcy
“It’s for our calendar. It’s our February shot. Drew thought I looked vintage enough today.”
“You look beautiful.”
She turned and faced him but this time didn’t obey when Drew told her to face the fountain.
Liam grew conscious of her nearness, her sweet scent, the way her eyes had widened, the faint freckles on her nose, the fact that he was but a breath away …
“Fine, that works too,” Drew called. “Just look romantic.”
Her lips tilted, and Liam was suddenly filled again with the desire to know their softness. To know what she’d do, whether she’d respond or draw away. Those darkened pupils had to suggest an interest equal to his. Didn’t they?
He leaned a little closer, her face tipped a little upward, and then, somehow, his hands were tracing the curve of her cheek, marvelling at the texture of her skin. Then the world faded, the edges growing blurry, and it was only Liv, only him. “You’re beautiful,” Liam murmured. “Inside and out.”
Her expression held doubt, and he suddenly wanted her to know, beyond mere words, what her coming into his life had meant.
“I wish you knew how much I appreciate you. The light, the life, you’ve brought into my world.”
“I’m glad,” she whispered. Her gaze dipped to his lips and then wandered back again, her scrutiny deep, like she could see inside his heart, see his hopes and desires.
Tingles flowed down his spine, as heat thudded in his chest. Would she resist or relish this?
Her smile was an invitation, so he lowered his face to hers, closed his eyes, sighed, and brushed his lips over her mouth.
It took a moment, and then her lips softened, clinging to his as her hands stole to his back. And he was kissing her, and she was kissing him, in a moment that felt just like a movie, just like he was Mr. Darcy and she was his—
“Cut!” Drew called.
Liv broke the connection and placed her hands to her flaming cheeks. “Oh my goodness.”
He was dazed but knew exactly what she meant.
Around them, volunteers and tourists stared, some with their phones out.
Uh-oh. So much for not having his face shown. What would the trustees say if they saw that?
Liv inched away. “I didn’t mean to do that. I’m so sorry.” And she stood and raced away.
Chapter 20
Liv touched her lips, trembling at what had just occurred. Hidden here in the tiny bathroom of the trustees’ office, she prayed that nobody would think to look for her here. She needed time to process what had just happened. Because … what had just happened? Yes, they’d been dancing around flirting for the past few weeks, ever since she’d hugged him when he fixed the fountain. But that kiss hadn’t been flirtation. It had been intentional, with Liam seeming to hold every bit of purpose and focus that she had.
Until Drew had made her realize this wasn’t the private moment she’d allowed herself to believe. And a rash of other problems made her realize this might not be a good idea. Workplace relationships rarely worked out. She was leaving at the end of the year. They were very different. And he had some pretty traumatic history that would make a new relationship hard. Did she really want to fling headlong into something that really could only be called a … fling?
A good half hour must’ve passed until she figured the coast must surely be clear. Only to exit and see her grandmother sitting at the table, arms folded, a crease deep in her forehead.
She pasted on perkiness. “Hi, Gran.”
“Olivia.”
Uh-oh. Was she upset? Why did she feel like she was a little kid about to get into trouble? “Is there something I can help you with?”
“You could start by explaining why you were hiding in the loo for a good thirty minutes.”
“I wasn’t hiding.”
Her grandmother’s forehead crease deepened.
“Okay, I was. Because I … I …” She shrugged. “I don’t know what just happened.”
