Page 21 of Had To Be You

“Where are you going tonight?”

“That’s none of your business, is it?”

She’s right. It isn’t my business. But I need to know. I feel like I’m losing it. My entire life is planned, controlled. But right now, I’m spinning. This has never happened to me before. No matter how hard I try to forget her, to resist her, I can’t.

Every part of me wants her.

Craves her.

I know with complete certainty that I want another night with her.

“Ellie, we need to talk.” I take a step closer and her citrus scent slams into me. Dammit, she smells fantastic. Her slow, measured breaths are the only tell that she’s struggling to regain her composure. She backs up.

Her breath hitches. “Liam,” she breathes. “Don’t do this. Please, not now.” She closes her eyes, swallowing hard. “Stop messing with me.”

My pulse throbs. Her chest rises and falls. It feels like a game of chess. Each of us waiting for the first move. I make mine.

“I don’t want to wait until the wedding to see you again,” I tell her. My stomach is one giant knot. I’m wound so tight it feels hard to breathe.

There’s a sparkle in her eyes and my skin heats all over.

“Me neither,” she says in a quiet voice. “What are we going to do about it?”

“Go out with me tomorrow night. I’ll pick you up at seven.” I try to read her. Does she want me as badly as I want her? Her eyes squeeze shut, and she blows out a deep breath. She’s thinking. I wait.

“Okay. I’ll go out with you. I’ll be ready at seven.”

A slow, deliberate smile crosses my face. “See you tomorrow, Ellie.”

“See you tomorrow, Liam.” She walks towards the front door, the roundest, tightest, sexiest ass rocking back and forth in time with her steps.

At the door, she pauses and turns back to look at me. She smiles, and just the sight of it knocks me off balance for a second. And then she’s gone. In a way, I am too.

Parker walks into the foyer seconds before the door slams shut. He looks in Ellie’s direction, then shifts his eyes to me with a grin.

“I see what’s going on here,” he says, waving his hand from Ellie’s direction to mine.

“There’s nothing to see.”

Parker claps a hand on my shoulder while passing me on his way to the bathroom. “You keep on telling yourself that.”

Chapter Ten

Ellie

It’s girls’ night so the obvious choice is Cocina Caliente. It’s our ace-in-the-hole restaurant that never disappoints. It’s where Olivia, Kate and I have always gone to celebrate life’s milestones and achievements, and now that Jules and Olivia are about to be family we include Jule’s too. Jules is great, and we’re all happy that she’s joined our little group. It’s never felt awkward… until now. Sitting across from Liam’s younger sister while the highlight reel of hot AF images of her older brother spin through my mind is not uncomfortable in the least. I’m being sarcastic, if it wasn’t already obvious.

Each of us are two spicy margaritas in when the waiter arrives with our orders. He sets my enchiladas with extra guacamole - obviously - in front of me. My go-to order. I’m a one-trick pony when it comes to Mexican food. I grab my fork and dive into the pulled chicken and cheesy goodness, chasing it with a forkful of rice.

Olivia nudges my arm with her elbow. “He is so your type.”

“Who’s my type?” I ask her, wondering how much of the conversation I’ve missed while I’ve been busy taking a virtual ride in Liam-land.

She shoots me a concerned look. “Our waiter. He looks like he’s fresh off the pages of Spanish Vogue. Where did they find him?”

“Hmm. I didn’t notice,” I say, bringing my spicy Marg to my lips and downing a gulp. It’s lime, not too strong, and doing its job taking the edge off. To say I’m hot and extremely bothered after my run-in with Liam earlier tonight is the understatement of the year.

“What is the matter with you? You would never miss ogling a guy that looks like that.” Olivia’s suspicious voice cuts across the table. “Are you sick or something?”

---