Page 12 of Had To Be You

Something in me wants to go with him and see what it would be like to spend a day with him. There are at least a dozen reasons why this is a very bad idea, but I already know I’m going to ignore them. I want to spend the day with Liam.

I meet his eyes and nod, bringing the coffee cup to my lips to hide my smile.

“Is that a yes?”

“I must be crazy. It’s a yes.” My pulse races and I swear my heart skips a beat as Liam weaves his fingers in mine and pulls me out of my chair. I follow him out the door.

“Where’s your car?” he asks.

“I don’t have one.”

“Why don’t you have a car?”

“I hate to break it to you, Liam, but not everyone has a car. Reed Point is a small town. I walk or I ride my bike. Plus, there’s this revolutionary app called Uber.” He looks baffled. Of course he does. I shake my head, amused with him. He squeezes my hand a little tighter, leading me across the street. We stop in front of a shiny black sports car. Looking at the bumper, I see it’s a Porsche Taycan. I don’t have to know much about cars to tell it must have cost a fortune.

“Is this yours, Liam?” I ask, frowning at the ridiculously expensive car that looks like it barely has room for two people.

“I hope so. If not, the guy whose car we’re about to steal is going to be pissed.”

“Liam, I can’t go to jail,” I joke. “I would make a horrible prison wife.”

Liam scoffs and rolls his eyes. “Get inside, Ellie.”

Liam opens the door and I slip inside onto the warm leather seat. After closing the door behind me, he rounds the front of the car and slides in beside me. The engine roars to life and he quickly shifts the car into gear, pulling away from the curb. He’s put on a pair of black Ray-Bans and somehow he looks even hotter than he usually does. I’m not sure how that’s even possible. How the hell am I going to able to keep my hands to myself today?

“Are you going to tell me where you are taking me?” I ask. My window is down, the breeze cooling my skin. It’s helping to ease the butterflies deep in my belly. Being this close to Liam, just the two of us – it’s almost too much.

“Nope, but I promise it will be fun,” he says dryly, emphasizing the last word, turning his head to face me. He flashes me his cocky smirk, and I laugh. I’m enjoying this playful side of Liam way too much.

We drive in almost complete silence the rest of the way, until Liam pulls his car onto a rural gravel road. It’s lined with tall mature oak trees that seem to go on forever, with a rustic three-rail farm fence bordering the property. He slows right down, driving cautiously. I’m having an inner conniption that his Porsche is no longer on pavement, but if Liam is nervous he doesn’t show it. He actually seems more relaxed than I’ve ever seen him. The winding driveway leads to a charming country-style home with a wraparound porch and peaked roofs. To the right of the home is a yellow barn, and a handful of horses are grazing in the field just beyond it. It looks straight out of a movie.

“Liam, are you taking me horseback riding?” I ask, looking over at him and admiring the view. The sun casts a ray of light across his face.

“How would you feel about it if I was?”

“I would love it! My parents used to take me horseback riding when I was a kid. I haven’t been in years, but I always loved it,” I answer. “I might have underestimated you, Liam Bennett.”

“Your first mistake.” Liam’s mouth tips up into a gentle smile and my heart seizes. I force myself to look anywhere but his lips. Thankfully, he shifts the car into park and motions to step out, striding around to my side, cooling the heat that was rolling down my spine. He helps me from my seat, his hand resting at the curve of my back as he guides me to the stables. The sun is shining bright in the sky and there are perfect, fluffy clouds scattered across the horizon. We are greeted by Grayson, our guide, who’s tall and very attractive and looks to be around our age.

“You two looking to go for a ride?” Grayson asks. We both answer yes, and Liam steps forward to handle the details. He fills out the necessary paperwork and pays for our rides. Grayson walks us over to two Morgan horses, a breed meant for riders who are less experienced, and runs us through the dos and don’ts of riding. Minutes later, we are ready to get moving.

“Let’s get you up on the horse first, Ellie,” Grayson drawls, motioning for me to step beside the horse. He places his hands on my hips and with my right foot hooked into the stirrup, I reach up and grip the saddle. I haul myself up until I am straddling the horse’s back and then settle myself onto the leather. I reach for the reigns and I’m ready to go. “Thanks for the push,” I say with a smile.

“Anytime, Ellie,” Grayson replies, his voice smooth. I look over at Liam and notice that his jaw is clenched and he’s looking at Grayson with a pointed stare. He’s jealous. I sneak another glance to make sure I’m not just imagining it. He’s really effing jealous.

It’s Liam’s turn to mount the horse. He expertly hitches his foot into the saddle and throws one leg up and over the muscular black horse. His biceps flex under his short sleeve shirt, his flat stomach that I wish I could get a glimpse of is taunting me to reach out and touch it. He settles into the saddle, and he looks sexy as hell while he does it. He catches me eyeing him, a coy smile curving his lips. Our eyes hold just long enough to feel that unfamiliar tug in my chest again. He mouths the words, You okay? I nod with a smile. I am so way more than okay right now.

Grayson decides we are ready, so I gently give Shadow a kick with my heel and he jerks a few steps forward, then relaxes into a steady walk. His ears perk up, his head bobbing in time with his feet, his hooves clacking along the dirt path. I give him a pat on his mane, a gesture of gratitude for not tossing me straight onto my ass. I look over my shoulder to see Liam and his horse Whisper following a few yards behind. Whisper appears to be hungover or half asleep, walking at a pace slower than molasses. “Liam, your horse has the temperament of a Basset Hound.” I joke. It doesn’t seem to bother him, though. Liam is patient with the animal, rubbing his hand over the horse’s neck, telling him he’s a beautiful boy. It’s endearing and sweet and is working my ovaries into overdrive. At well over six feet tall with a hard broad chest and chiseled jaw and piercing gray eyes, Liam always looks gruff and commanding so seeing this softer side is making me dizzy.

“You live on the property, Grayson?” I ask, making polite conversation. Liam and Whisper have somehow caught up to us by this point.

“I do. Born and raised. My parents live in the main house up by the road and I built the smaller one down by the lake for myself.” He points to a beautiful new home down the hill with a porch swing and a postcard-worthy wraparound porch. You two live around here?”

“Not far. We live in Reed Point. I mean, not together… I… I mean we’re not together,” I say, choking on my words. “Sorry, never mind me.” It’s definitely not the most eloquent thing that has ever come out of my mouth, but Grayson doesn’t seem to have noticed. “I’m a city girl, I live in an apartment around the size of a shoebox. But I can see how a big home on this much land with a view of a lake would be appealing.”

“It’s all I’ve ever known, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It really is a lot of house for just me, but I’m hoping to find the right girl and settle down soon.” He looks me straight in the eye when he says it. “Happy to give you a tour if you’re ever back in the area, Ellie.”

I sneak a glance at Liam. His jaw is clenched, his eyes are narrowed and there’s a vein in his neck that’s pulsing. My heart pounds. He looks like he’s ready to knock Grayson right off his horse. He’s clearly feeling territorial. And I like it.

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