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“That’s because you’re a very generous woman. But let someone else do something nice for you for a change.”
Lilly pursed her lips. “I don’t know how to do that,” she said honestly.
“Then there’s no time like the present.”
The server arrived and gave her spiel, then asked if they wanted any cocktails or wine. Liam ordered a Manhattan for himself, then before she could say anything, he said, “And the Italian rosé for the lady.”
It was the most expensive one. Which she would never have ordered on her own. She fought the urge to protest and instead concentrated on just appreciating the gesture.
Liam winked at her.
Lilly smiled back, biting her lip. Liam was a really great guy. She’d known that, but hadn’t given it much thought.
Sullivan could take a lesson or two from his dad, honestly.
Liam was the better man.
Yikes. Where had that thought come from? She instantly felt like a traitor. Sullivan was a loyal friend, he was just going through a rough time.
Or was he?
It had been four years since Kendra had passed. She’d never wanted to give him a timeframe on grief, but maybe Liam was right and Sullivan needed to move on.
The thought made her bite her lip even harder.
When Lilly bither lip like that, Liam momentarily forgot what the hell his plan had been. The way her teeth sank into the plump raspberry-colored flesh took his thoughts in an entirely different direction. One that involved his mouth on hers tasting the sweetness of her lips while he ran his thumb down the length of her striking cheekbone.
None of which was part of the plan.
He’d known Lilly forever and had always thought she’d become an attractive woman, but without being attracted to her. Why did it suddenly feel like that had changed at the most inconvenient time possible?
He dragged his thoughts back to reality. “When was the last time you dated?” he asked Lilly.
She shrugged. “After high school but not after my thirtieth birthday.”
That was a nothing of an answer. “Aren’t you thirty-one?”
Lilly nodded.
She was clearly being vague on purpose. He shouldn’t pry, but he was really curious. How had Lilly wound up flying solo, pining for his somewhat idiotic son?
“So you dated someone from eighteen to thirty?”
The face she made indicated that wasn’t even close to the truth. “Something like that. What about you? You didn’t date for twenty years.”
“That’s just what my kids thought. Don’t think for one minute I spent two decades being celibate.” His wife may have walked out the door but that didn’t mean he had lived like a monk.
Her eyes widened. “Really? Wow, you must have been great at keeping it on the down low. Sullivan swears up and down you never went on a single date.”
There was nothing like the arrogance of a teenager in regard to his father. Or apparently, a thirty year old. “Good. Because it was none of his business. I didn’t want my kids having women in and out of their lives and I never met anyone I saw a real long-term future with. Mostly it was about companionship and sex.”
Lilly bit her lip again, like she was thinking over his response. “I see.”
He didn’t think she did see. He didn’t think Lilly had understood the power of a good hard fuck in a very long time, if ever.
“I was discreet, obviously. I didn’t want to get involved with anyone in Beaver Bend if at all possible. Usually I met women online and then hooked up with them here and there, you know, friends with benefits. Canadians, mostly.”
“You had to go toCanadato have sex?” Lilly looked astonished.
