“I told you my so-called friends were trying to manipulate us into that situation,” I agreed. “But they don’t know our history. They don’t get how impossible it all is. Stay at the house.”
“We can’t put you out.”
“Liam.” I stood and put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing lightly. “Ask anyone in this town and you’ll learn I rarely do anything that will put me out. Itisa big old house. I have two spare rooms—plus a bedroom that’s a gym, and one that’s an office. There’ll be no chance of accidentalfa la la-ing. Everything will be fine.” I smirked. “Unless you think you’re incapable of resisting my charms.”
“Thatwon’t be a problem,” he said, folding his arms over his chest. “But—”
“The Camden Road is dangerous after dark,” I reminded him. “Lots of twists and turns and switchbacks between here and Syracuse.”
He hesitated, and in his fatigued state, I could almost see the wheels turning in his brain, remembering the road and weighing that discomfort against the discomfort of staying with me. The shoulder beneath my hand was so tense, it was a wonder he didn’t pop like a balloon and fly into a million pieces.
Finally, he relented with a nod.
“Excellent!” Hazel dropped her spoon into her empty dish with a clatter, wiped her mouth, and jumped out of the booth. “Let’s go!”
At least one of us was looking forward to the evening.
Chapter Five
Gideon
I collectedmy truck at the firehouse, and Liam and Hazel followed me the half mile home. As we drove up the long, sloping driveway from the street, I felt my stomach flip with nerves. I wondered whether I had any food in the house and whether there were sheets on the beds, and then I mentally slapped myself for becoming my fuckingmother.
Since when did I give a shit what anyone thought?
Liam and Hazel were staying with me because I was a sap, and they were desperate. At least I didn’t have rats. Or snakes. Just a bunch of nosy neighbors with a hard-on for Christmas, and a shit-for-brains friend hell-bent on matchmaking, and a soon-to-be ex-husband who was the single sexiest thing I’d ever seen in my entire lifetime.
What could go wrong?
Liam pulled up alongside me in front of the detached garage and for a second he and Hazel sat there staring at the massive, cream-colored colonial with its sage-green shutters, glowing in the light that spilled from the wide front porch.
Hazel opened her door first. “Your house isamazing!”
She scampered up the path to the front door while Liam got a truly excessive number of suitcases out of the trunk. But instead of following Hazel, he stood and stared at the house some more, like he wasn’t quite sure whether to smile or frown.
“What?” I demanded.
“Nothing. Just… it’s huge. And gorgeous. I just sorta figured you’d have something more minimalist. Practical.”
It bothered me that he thought he knew me, even after all this time.
It bothered me more that he was right.
“You’ve seen O’Leary, right? You think this metropolis runs to modern architecture?” I snorted. “I got this for a steal and fixed it up, whichispractical. Besides,” I said, shouldering two of his bags, “if Ialwaysmade practical decisions, you wouldn’t be here, would you?”
Liam made a sound like I’d startled a laugh out of him and followed me inside.
“There’s no table in your dining room,” Hazel informed me when we hit the front hall, and my gaze followed the direction of her pointing finger to a room with immaculate floors, a beautiful chandelier, and no furniture whatsoever.
“Isn’t there?” I pretended to look around. “Shoot. It must’ve walked off again.”
“Butwhyis there no table?”
“Hazel,” Liam said tiredly. “Stop with the twenty questions—”
“Chill, Liam. She can ask whatever she likes. Doesn’t mean I’ll answer it.” To her, I added, “I don’t need a table since I generally don’t have anyone over for dinner. You’re the exception.”
“But.” She frowned. “Where did you and your family eat on Thanksgiving? Or do you choose not to celebrate for political reasons?”
