Page 25 of Had To Be You

But for tonight, I just want to enjoy Liam.

* * *

Liam is wearing a white collared dress shirt and perfectly tailored navy blue dress pants, casually leaning against the side of his car. His left leg crossed over his right at the ankle, he looks totally at ease. He is the hottest thing I’ve ever laid eyes on.

He smiles my way, then his eyes stroll up and down my body. He takes in the form-fitted black dress I’m wearing that ends at the knee. His eyes then roam to the three-inch heels that I bring out on only special occasions, the ones that buckle with a slim strap around my ankle. Lastly, his gaze completes its saunter of my body at my hair, which is pulled back in a long, wavy ponytail. A wave shoots through me from the way his eyes appraise me. It feels like it’s lighting a fire straight to my soul. He likes what he sees. And I like that he does.

“Hey,” he says. His dark hair is styled tonight, short on the sides and pushed back off his face like he came straight from the barber - just the way I like it. His jaw is covered with a five o’clock shadow that my fingers are aching to touch.

“Hi,” I say, hoping it’s not obvious that I’m desperately trying to catch my breath.

He holds open the car door and I slide inside, watching him round the front of the car and slip in beside me. He is taking me to Catch 21, a hotspot restaurant which is always impossible to get into, unless you know people. Liam knows people.

The place is packed with Reed Point’s elite. We are seated at a table near the back of the restaurant- secluded, dark, private. I’m not sure it would matter anyways; when I’m with Liam, it feels as though we are the only two people in the universe. Everything else around us seems to evaporate.

Our waiter greets us at our table, taking our drink order. Liam orders a scotch for himself and a glass of rosé for me.

“You look beautiful, Ellie,” he says from across the candlelit table.

I feel my cheeks heat at the compliment. “Thank you,” I say, enjoying my view as well. The flicker of the candle on the table is casting a glow across Liam’s strong features. “And you look really handsome tonight.”

“Just tonight?” A devilish smirk crosses over his face.

“You want to know the truth?” I decide to give it to him straight, dropping the teasing banter that typically consumes our conversations. He nods.

“Always. You always look handsome. Sometimes it’s too much.”

“Is that so?” he asks, with a playful smile. I watch his eyes darken to resemble onyx as he stares at me. I swallow hard.

I bite my lip to cover my smile. “Very much so.”

“Good to know.” Our waiter interrupts us with our drinks, sliding Liam’s scotch to him, and then placing a wine glass in front of me before walking away. The heat between us cools, for now.

“How was your day?” Liam asks, laying the white cloth napkin across his lap.

“It was fine. Uneventful. How was yours? You seem happier than usual.”

“I had an exemplary day in court today. I’m expecting the rest of the trial to go the same way.”

“You really love your job, don’t you?” I ask him.

“I do. I like the challenge.” His eyes turn serious and I get the feeling that the courtroom isn’t the only challenge he’s up for. My pulse races beneath my skin. He’s always so intense. Being with him makes me feel more alive than I’ve ever felt before. I don’t want that feeling to end.

I decide to have a little fun with him. Raising my glass to my lips, I sip the rosé then set the glass back down. “I’ve wondered what it would be like to go on a date with you,” I tell him. The sounds of the restaurant - cutlery tapping against plates, guests chatting amongst each other, footsteps on the tile floor - all fade into nothing.

“You have?”

“For a long time,” I admit, then watch Liam’s serious face switch to a grin. He pins me with his dark eyes, causing tingles to sprint over my skin.

“Well then I hope our date is meeting your expectations. Is it, Ellie?”

“It is. You are, too.” I blush.

“Good, I’m happy because the feeling is mutual. I’ve had a really hard time getting you off my mind since the beach house. You left a lasting impression.”

I might combust. I might just die here right on the spot. I’ve been attracted to Liam for so long and it seems he’s felt the same way about me. The look in his eyes confirms it. And dammit all to hell, this feels too good to be true.

The air between the two of us is charged. I take a deep breath to even my breathing. I’m silently wishing he would kiss me senseless, but we have a dinner to get through, so I pull myself together.

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