They shared a look like they wanted to say something but must have decided against it.
After giving Rory a few minutes to compose herself, we opened the office door and walked downstairs. We spent the rest of the night playing card games and laughing as if the conversation had never happened and nothing was wrong.
Liza finally yawned and glanced at her watch. “We’d better go. I have an early meeting with a client.”
We said our goodbyes. As I shook Scott’s hand, he gave me a knowing look. He was entrusting me with his daughter, and the news I’d shared had put him on high alert. I squeezed his hand, hoping that would convey how I intended to protect Liza.
On the drive back to Liza’s house, she reached over and held my hand. “That went better than I thought it would.”
“Hey,” I laughed. “Are you saying you thought I’d screw it up royally? I think your family liked me, Liza Mims.”
“Honestly, I’m a little disappointed.”
I tilted my head and looked at her.
“I figured they’d spend more time grilling you to determine if you were worthy of my time.” She shrugged and pouted. “You must’ve won them over with your charm.”
“Don’t forget my blinding good looks. My wit. The muscular body.” I raised my eyebrows and flexed my biceps. “I’m the full package.” True enough, but I said it with some measure of humility.
Liza rolled her eyes. “All right, Hercules. Are you going to walk me to my door?”
“Naturally. I wouldn’t miss an opportunity for a proper goodnight kiss.”
Liza giggled, and I opened her car door. With our hands clasped, we walked to her house. She unlocked the door, then turned to me. Just before she went inside, I tugged her close, brushing my lips over hers. It wasn’t enough. It would never be enough.
I moved in again, pulling her into a deep kiss with sweeping tongues and half-whimpering moans. I wanted the kiss to convey how much she meant to me. How much I needed to be with her.
She returned the kiss with the same fervor, clinging to me, the fabric of my shirt fisted in her hands. We stayed in that tight embrace for several minutes.
I finally pulled away and took a deep breath. “I promise I’ll make up for our ice cream date.”
Liza waved her hand in the air. “You already have. Thank you for being so kind to my family.”
I grabbed her hand and pulled her body close to mine. I needed one more kiss before I walked away.
22
LIZA
“Are you hungry?” I wiped a smudge of lipstick from my chin. I was real glad I hadn’t gone with the lip stain for tonight.
Putting makeup on in the back of an Uber while we hit multiple potholes wasn’t exactly the best idea I’d ever had. Sabrina had called earlier in the day and asked if we could please have a ladies’ night out.
It had been so long since we’d done more than speak on the phone, and the brunt of it was my fault. I’d been so busy between work and trying to figure out my relationship with Ty, I’d completely neglected my best friend.A night out on the town and a distraction from work and everything that was going on was exactly what I needed to set my head straight.
Sabrina harrumphed. “Nah, I’ll just eat some pretzels at the bar. I want to save room for the alcohol.”
I chuckled. On her best day, Sabrina couldn’t hold her liquor, and I worried that her stomach would be too empty when she started throwing back beers. Who was I kidding? She’d be sloshed within minutes, pretzels or not.
“If you say so.” I zipped my purse and stared out the window at the old brick buildings that lined the streets of downtown. “What’s the name of this bar again?”
Sabrina had convinced me to go to a new bar that had opened a few weeks ago. It was country-and-western themed with live music and a mechanical bull. It wasn’t exactly what I would have called my style, but it was the perfect spot to go dancing with my friend. I’d even pulled out an old pair of pink cowboy boots and a matching hat I’d bought during college.
“It’s called The Boot Scootin’ Bar,” Sabrina answered, as if she were one of their national spokespersons. “And I heard they have the best margaritas intown.”
The Uber driver pulled up to the entrance of the bar and we handed him a cash tip before hopping out. The neon lights around the perimeter of the sign of a giant cowboy boot outside the entrance were a bit garish, but men and women dressed in their finest western boots and hats funneled through the entrance as fast as the bouncers could open the stanchions. It seemed Sabrina had been right about it being the latest hot spot in town.
As we made our way inside, my heart raced with anticipation. The bar would, no doubt, be full of single men. I said a quick and silent prayer that the new medication would do what Doc had promised, and I wouldn’t have to live through another nightmare. I should have considered that before I left, and if Ty asked, I would assure him I had thought of it.
