He knows my preferences and I know his. I pass him the salt and pepper for his eggs. He asks for mustard because he knows I like it with my hashbrowns, and as soon as my French toast arrives, he hands me a little plate so I can scrape off the little mountain of butter.
But we still haven’t worked out the details of where we are now, and Liam is a details guy. I can sense when he’s finally ready to talk about it. He carefully sets his fork down and grows still. Ithink he rehearses things in his mind before he says them. I’m more of a blurt-then-clarify kind of talker, hence my tendency to run away from conflict before I say something dumb.
Lightly bumping his shoulder, I say, “Don’t ask for a team meeting.”
“No, I think not. I won’t talk to you like I’m your boss.”
“I meant it as a joke. Not my best.” It’s already happening. I’m saying all the wrong things. “This is going to be weird, Liam. I think it’s supposed to be weird.”
He smiles. “Would you like a pen and paper to make this less awkward?”
“No.” The stinker. Although, I didn’t get a letter from him this morning, and I’m strangely sad about that.
“Can I make a request?” he asks.
“Shoot.”
“I’d like you to come with me to my mom and dad’s anniversary party tomorrow night.” He stacks our plates and slides them out of the way so he can rest his head on his palm and look at me fully.
My reaction tells him everything he needs to know, but he continues to wait patiently for me to say it. His gaze is warm chocolate. Understanding. Thoughtful. I thought Trey was a salesman. He’s got nothing on Liam. If Liam asked me to go to the moon with him right now, I’d say yes.
And yet, I don’t want to go with him to his family’s swanky party. “What we have is too new for the scrutiny of your parents.”
“I don’t know if you’re aware, but we already have it.”
“I know. Dinner was… interesting.”
“I didn’t know if I you wanted me to stay quiet or jump in. You seemed mad at me either way.”
“I was mad.”
“Tell me why.”
I fiddle with my fork. “Because I find I like staying in the background of things. I don’t like feeling like I need to prove my worth to anyone.”
“Do I make you feel like you need to prove your worth?”
He sounds so worried that I reach out and touch his cheek. “No. You’ve always made me feel like everything I do is amazing.”
“It is.”
“Liam.”
He grows serious the longer he looks at me, reading me so easily. “When I act impressed by the things you do, it’s because I am.”
I duck my head. This man. “Okay, we should talk about you now.”
He laughs. “No thanks. But I’ll change the subject if it makes you feel better.”
“Yes, please.”
“So,Heidiis your favorite book, huh?” One side of his mouth quirks up.
“You know me. Only the classics.”
He reaches across me slowly and pulls a book out of my purse. I was not prepared. He’d make an excellent pickpocket. Women will be too distracted by his charm.
He studies the cover carefully while I blush. “Hmm.The Vampire Huntress and the Bookshop Owner. I like his reading glasses, although he seems kinda stacked for someone who stands behind a counter all day.”