Page 40 of Miss Understanding

I peered at Liam, holding the youngest girl on his lap. My ovaries wanted to revolt and shout he was my type, after all. My mind wouldn’t let them.

He fixed his narrowed gaze on her. “Stop teasing, sis. We’re only coworkers.”

She sighed. “Alas, one can hope. But I don’t believe my brother would ever slow down enough to have kids.”

From what I’d seen, I believed it.

Liam stayed quiet despite smiling at his baby niece.

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

The question earned Allison a glare from her brother. “Give it up, Ally. You’re making her uncomfortable.”

“No, it’s okay. To answer your question, I don’t have a boyfriend at the moment.”

“With working two jobs and school, I’m sure you don’t have the time.”

“No. Not really.”

“Does your firm not pay enough, brother dear?”

“Are you sure you’re the only litigator in the family? I feel cross-examined,” I teased, not wanting to get into my reasons for needing a second job.

Thankfully, Liam laughed at my joke and got up with the baby. “You’re nosey, Ally, and I think this one needs a diaper change.”

“Nice segue. Fine. Come here, you.” She took her daughter in her arms.

“You can use the master bedroom at the end of the hall.”

“Thanks, and sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

“It’s fine. Really.” The only thing making me uncomfortable was thinking way too much about her brother.

* * *

Liam and I spent the afternoon knee deep in files. Then, when I got an hour break from organizing key information, I finished a couple of his invoices and put his billable time into the system. I also submitted my overtime.

“Why are your overtime hours so low?” he asked two minutes after I hit the submit button for his approval.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean you’ve been working more hours than what you put in. Travel time, et cetera.”

“I wasn’t sure about the travel time. And I’m only putting in hours above the eight normal hours I work in a day.”

“You’re about twenty short by my estimation. I’m sending it back for you to correct.”

Twenty more hours was being generous. It would also more than make up for missing the two nights at the club.

“Also make sure you put the house rental to my personal number. And let me know how much I owe you for the coat and boots and other winter stuff.”

“You can’t pay for my clothes.”

His brows drew together. “Yes, I can. You wouldn’t have needed them if I hadn’t insisted you come with me. It’s the least I can do.”

I hesitated, but logic and the fact every dollar counted won out. “Okay. I will. So, I realize you won the bet, but any chance you still want to learn to make fettucine Alfredo tonight?”

His hesitation made me immediately regret the offer. He was busy with much more important stuff. I don’t know what I was thinking in asking.