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Mom sighs. “Oh, you should have come and found me. How was your sleepover with Kelly Anne? I bet it was nice to catch up.”
I make another mistake and glance back at Liam, who’s trying to conceal another laugh. I feel the heat rising in my cheeks. “It was okay. Boring, actually.”
Liam lets out a loud bellow, grabbing my mom’s attention. “Boring? You two used to go on for hours chatting. I mean, it’s clear you got no sleep. Maybe you should go home and rest. You look a little. . .tired.”
Liam walks past me, carrying an armful of boxes. “I think you look beautiful,” he whispers under his breath, following my dad out to the delivery truck. Mom pats me on the back and disappears down an aisle.
Alrighty then.
As I’m reaching to put a box of washers on the second shelf, Liam and Dad get back from their delivery.
“Hey, honey.”
“Hey, Dad.” Looking over my shoulder, I smile at my dad before gazing over to Liam. My lips curl into a shy smile, no doubt causing my cheeks to flush.
“Holly,” Liam says in that deep purr. I fumble the box, almost dropping it.
“Liam,” I return, loving the way his lips curl into a playful smile. I can’t hide mine as I turn back to the shelf in another attempt to place the box.
Heat radiates against my back when Liam steps behind me. “Let me help you with that.” I don’t reply. I’m not sure I can without giving my dad a show.
“You kids got the rest of the restocking? I need to head up front and handle the register for a bit.”
“Got it, Dad,” I reply too quickly, hoping my voice sounds calmer than I feel. The second the doors flap shut, Liam twists me around, and our lips fuse. My arms are around his neck as he presses me into the shelf, knocking over a box of filters. Like two teenage kids, we claw at each other, unable to get close enough. His tongue breaches my lips, and I moan into his mouth.
“Love your fucking mouth,” he hums, kissing me deeper. He boosts me up by my butt and pushes me back up against the shelf as I wrap my legs around him. Two more boxes fall.
“I love this new and improved Liam. Eating small children really pays off.”
His chuckle vibrates against my lips. “When we get out of here, I’m gonna eat your sweet pussy—”
“Holly?”
At the sound of my mom’s voice, Liam releases me, and I drop to the ground, tugging my shirt down just as she pops her head in. “That’s where the filters go.” I bend down, picking up a fallen box. Liam turns his back to my mom, hiding the bulge in his jeans.
“Honey, come up front. Mrs. Powers is here, and she would love to say hello.”
“Sure thing!” I say, holding the box upside down. I stand there staring at my mom. “Oh, like, right now? Yep. Put these back. Thanks.” I shove the box at Liam and follow after my mom.
Mrs. Powers, my old music teacher, waves at me. “Hello, dear. It’s been too long.”
“It has,” I say, going in for an awkward hug. “How have you been? Still beating kids with recorders?” What? I squint my eyes closed. “I mean, teaching kids the recorder? Sorry, I haven’t eaten lunch yet. Starved cells.”
Ever since I can remember, Mrs. Powers has been known as the mean old woman who would use the recorder to slap people’s hands if they weren’t on cue.
“Sadly, no. I retired last year. There’s a young man teaching there now. Not sure he knows what he’s doing.” She looks over my shoulder, her eyes lighting up. “Why is that Liam Cody?”
Liam steps next to me and shakes her hand. “Nice to see you, Mrs. Powers.”
“Oh, please. Call me Patricia.” Seriously? Patricia? Ew! “Please tell me you’ll be attending the Winter Wonderland Festival at the town square tonight. I volunteered to coordinate The Nutcracker play for the elementary school. It’s going to be lovely. It would be great for them to meet a local hero—a soldier who defended our country.”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Liam says.
Getting jealous of my freakin’ seventy-year-old music teacher, I cut in. “Well, okay then. My mom can check you out if you’re ready—”
“And you, dear, your mother won’t stop bragging about you.”
“Oh, wow. That’s so nice of—”
“A high-profile job? Please do share.”
Dammit. I should have let her flirt with him. “Yep, it’s great. Now, if you—”
“You must have some amazing stories to share. Small town girl making it big in the city.” My palms sweat, and I wipe them down my jeans. My mouth is suddenly dry, and I lick my lips. I can sense Liam watching me, waiting as well.
I clear my throat. “Honestly, there’s nothing to tell.”
