CHAPTER NINE

Maggie

 

That was a kiss?

I sat down on the edge of the bed and stared at the closed door. My heart was racing and I was finding it difficult to breathe. I crawled under the covers and turned off the bedside light, staring at the ceiling and wondering if I should fake sleep when Liam got back.

In a million years, I’d never expected him to kiss me. In a million years, I never thought I’d like it. But I had liked it. A lot. He’d been so right in his description about the melting together. I had never experienced that before. And when he traced the bottom of my lip with his tongue? Holy shit. My belly did a little flip at the memory, and I slid my hand under the covers, reaching down between my legs, surprised to find myself damp. I pushed aside my panties and slid one finger across my opening, so slick and ready.

I shifted a little, careful not to make any noise as I ran my thumb lightly over my clitoris, arching my back at the unexpected pleasure that coursed through me. I swallowed and glanced at the door, eyes wide open but my head filled with images of Liam towering over me, his hands in my hair, his tongue in my mouth.

The door burst open and light poured into the room. I pulled my hand out from between my legs and rolled over onto my side, hoping he hadn’t seen anything. He quietly closed the door and made his way to the makeshift bed on the floor, noisily adjusting the covers and fluffing the pillows. I closed my eyes, torn between trying to ignore the dull ache between my legs and wishing he’d go to sleep so I could finish what I’d started.

 

*

The next morning, Liam was gone by the time I woke up. There was a note on the bedside table: Had to open today. See you at dinner. I said a silent prayer of thanks that I didn’t have to face him first thing in the morning. And then I threw in an extra prayer, asking that this be his schedule for the week.

I got up, showered, and went downstairs to make breakfast for my parents. I found them already seated at the table, their home-brought newspapers unfolded before them, and their home-sent breakfast supplements half-finished.

“Oh, sweetheart. We didn’t wait because we didn’t know what time you’d be up,” my mother said.

I forced a smile and went over to the coffee machine. I was pretty sure it must’ve been Liam who made the coffee. That kind of consideration wasn’t my parents’ style. I poured myself a cup and joined them at the table.

“I do have to work, you know,” I said.

“Do you? Oh, that’s a pity. We hoped you’d take the week off,” my mother said.

“Sorry. Can’t do it. It’s tourist season. The hotel is busy.”

“You wouldn’t need the hotel if you got a real job,” my father interjected.

“Daddy. I don’t want to start this again. I’m writing a book. I don’t want any other kind of job.”

“Where’s Liam?” my mother asked.

“He left for work. He opens the restaurant on Tuesdays. We’ll see him at dinner.”

“He’s quite something,” my father muttered.

“I will take that as a compliment. Because I’m sure you’ve looked past the tattoos and the salty language and found that he’s a decent human being.”

I got up, grabbed my bag, and stormed out of the house.

 

*

I was stocking the hospitality cart with folded towels when Tammy came to find me on her break.

“Hey, girl,” she said, sidling up beside me. “How’s the fauxmance going?”

I laughed.

“So far, so good. My parents seem to buying it.”

“Have you fucked him yet?”

I turned to her, trying my best to look indignant.

“No, I have not. I told you, that’s not part of the deal.”

Tammy just shook her head.

“Nope. I’m sorry. There is no way that man is spending a week in your bedroom and you’re not fucking him. You just tell me when it happens.”

She walked away, towards the elevators, and I called out after her, “Never going to happen.”

While I was confident in that proclamation, I had to admit I’d been thinking about that kiss all day. I picked up my phone to text him a million times, but what was I going to say? Hey, great kiss? He’d kissed hundreds of women, I was pretty sure ours hadn’t exactly been a stand-out for him.

I rolled the cart back into place and took the stairs to the locker room. After changing out of my uniform, I headed home to meet my parents and get ready for dinner.

 

*

We met Justin at the restaurant and there was a whole scene as my parents fussed over him, the golden child. He shot me an apologetic look, but it wasn’t his fault. As the firstborn son, thirteen years my senior, he could do no wrong. I’d spent my whole life being measured against his accomplishments but had nevertheless managed to carve out a relationship of my own with my parents. It wasn’t perfect, but it was something we were all able to live with. Most of the time.

Jen greeted us at the door and showed us to the best table in the house. Adam, the owner, came over to say hello and meet my parents. He and Justin had met when Adam hired my brother’s sous-chef, Toni, for Cagney’s. There were no hard feelings, though, so the drinks flowed freely.

My dad and Justin spent most of the meal catching up, talking sports and politics. I tried to keep to myself, well-aware this was one of the week’s rare times I wasn’t the focus of my parents’ interrogations.

“The food is quite good,” my mother commented.

“Liam is the best chef in the area,” Justin said. “Mags here landed a good one.”

“He does seem interesting,” my father agreed.

After dessert was served, Liam came out of the kitchen to say hello. My parents complimented him on the meal and he was equally courteous with them. He and Justin talked shop for a few minutes, and then he stood up to go.

“I’m sorry I can’t stay longer. Duty calls. And Toni’s off tonight, so I’ve got to close. I won’t be home until late.”

He directed that last part to me, and I nodded like the dutiful girlfriend. We had not exchanged one word since the kiss, and I was struggling to remain casual. He leaned over to kiss me goodbye, and I offered him my cheek. But he took my chin in his hand and turned my head to face his, then kissed me softly on the mouth before walking away.

Justin stepped on my foot under the table, hard.

“Ow!” I said.

Everyone turned to look at me, except for Liam. He looked directly at Justin, catching his eye. Justin shot him a warning look, and Liam grinned, turning to walk away. We all watched as he made his way to the kitchen, stopping several times to greet guests as he weaved his way through the tables. I couldn’t take my eyes off his ass. How had I never noticed it before?

“Maggie? Maggie? Did you hear me?” my mother asked.

I hadn’t heard a word she said.

 

*

As we left the restaurant, Justin pulled me aside.

“What the hell was that?” he hissed in my ear.

“That was my boyfriend giving me a kiss goodbye,” I said.

“On the mouth?” he said, incredulous.

“Hey. Liam was your idea. Don’t throw this in my face. You knew who he was when you suggested this.”

Justin stared at me as our parents walked ahead.

“Did you sleep with that motherfucker?”

“NO! Not that it’s any of your business. But no. We are putting on a show for Mommy and Daddy. That’s it. Just leave it.”

We started walking, not really trying to catch up but eager to keep our parents in view. Justin had parked outside the restaurant, but clearly wasn’t going anywhere until he was satisfied his baby sister was safe.

“Shit. I guess I really didn’t think this through,” he mumbled.

“Justin. I’m not interested in him. He is not my type. You’ve known me my whole life, you know this. Stop worrying.”

“You don’t understand guys like this. They have a way about them. Just do me a favour. Promise me you won’t believe a damn thing that comes out of his mouth.”

“Seriously?” I said.

“Yes. Seriously. Just promise me, Mags. Don’t get mixed up with him.”

“Okay,” I said. “Okay.”