Whoa. Dean wasn’t sure which he was more surprised by—the one-eighty spin on her personality or his body’s willingness to take her up on the blatant offer. Because as her purred words dropped off into a pregnant pause, his gut tightened and his thighs clenched, like a thoroughbred chomping at the bit.
Hell yes. Except his brain caught up, a second behind but always in control.
He could addcomplicated little games-playerto the list of reasons why he shouldn’t, couldn’t find the woman in front of him captivating. But actually slamming that cell door shut on his libido was easier said than done, because even as his mind struggled with how to phrase the rejection—politely, of course, because she was a guest in his community and he was wearing the uniform, and she was also just a human being deserving basic courtesy—
“Cat got your tongue?” She laughed, a little too brightly.
“Uh…” Yes, obviously. He cleared his throat. “I’m afraid I’m on duty.”
She pressed her lips together and nodded, even though they both knew he’d stopped in for a social call of another kind. She turned toward the house. “Well, I’m going inside. If you want a glass of iced tea or something, just let me know.”
He didn’t say anything else, even as he watched her shoulders roll in and her head duck down, just a fraction, as she pulled open the glass sliding door and disappear into the shadows of the kitchen.
He shook his head, either at his own confusion or maybe to clear the cobwebs, he wasn’t sure. But either way, his afternoon had just gotten a bit weirder. And he had the sinking feeling that somehow he’d missed something important.
— —
Late the next morning, Liana lay in bed after trying and failing to sleep in. She told herself that today was the day she figured shit out and made a plan. Like going to the Canada Day BBQ with Hope and pretending that was her reason for visiting all along.
But then she got up and caught sight of herself in the mirror over the dresser.
Nope. No selfies or public appearances today.
Shit, she looked like she’d been wrung through her Meemaw’s ringer washer.
Well, it was just Hope and her family who would need to see the horror, she thought, and then did a double take at herself. “Who are you and what have you done with the real me?” she whispered, horrified. She grabbed her brush and smoothed out her hair, then dabbed on a bit of lip gloss. Her hand shook as she hovered over the mascara, though.You’re just going to give yourself raccoon eyes.
With a deep breath, she backed away from her makeup bag and pulled open the bedroom door.
Hope was standing on the other side, her face twisted in worry. “You want to come with us?”
Out in public? Not a chance. “No. You go. I need to have the world’s longest nap. I didn’t sleep well last night.” Her dreams had been filled by an oversized cop with a decided lack of interest in her.Didn’t sleep wellwas an understatement.
“I could stay.”
No, God no. “Really, that would be boring. And creepy, watching me sleep.”
“You sure you don’t want to talk about why you’re here?” Hope softened her voice. “Even in broad strokes, Li. I’m a good listener.”
“I know. But no. Thank you.”On the bedside table, her phone vibrated. Again. She pointed to it. “I need to respond to some messages.”
She followed Hope downstairs. The kids were all dressed in red and white t-shirts, the two boys wearing cargo shorts that matched their dad’s and the youngest, Maya, wearing a white tutu with hers. Hope and Ryan had matching t-shirts, too, and Liana’s chest ached as she watched the new family bustle about, getting ready.
She loved the Howard family, because they loved Hope. And Hope was so good for them, too, Liana could tell.
She had no right to be jealous, and she wasn’t exactly. But she was something.
It was bittersweet, maybe. Probably something to do with her thirtieth birthday coming up and her being painfully alone.
Jeez, if this entire anxiety episode was just about that, she’d slap herself silly. She settled on the couch, then, fingers shaking, and sent a faux-breezy text message to her tour manager.Sorry about the radio silence, I lost my phone charger. I’m fine.
Brad Harrison fired back an immediate response.Anything I need to know?
A careful question. She appreciated that he wasn’t asking any of the other questions he could have:Where the hell are you, are you coming back, will you be at our next stop in Washington, are you in breech of contract?
She didn’t know the answers to any of those. But this one she could handle.Nope. I’m up in Canadian cottage country visiting my best friend.A little gimme of truth so he wouldn’t think she was hiding anything.
Okay. Let me know what time your flight will get in to Washington.
