I’m not sorry to hear from Liam, though. Like he senses we’re in the middle of something, I have to reassure him I have time to talk.
Kambryn opens her passenger door, taking her fast-food bag and my empty cup. There’s a trash can outside next to the curb. “I’m going in,” she tells me. “Don’t be late. Watch the clock. I’ll text you if they want you early.”
“Thanks, Kam.” Once she’s shut the door, I push my seat back to give myself lounging room. “Is everything okay?” I ask Liam.
“Oh yeah. I’m cleaning up my kitchen and thinking. Plotting, actually.”
“Plotting ways to get out of tonight?”
He laughs. “Is the nanny thing going to bother you forever? We’re going to be telling that story for years. If you’re embarrassed every time, they’re definitely going to think I was inviting you over for sleepovers.”
“Liam!” I actually love his teasing. He spent years holding out on me. But woven through his joke is the wordforever. Maybe I wouldn’t have zeroed in on it if I hadn’t just had a conversationwith Kambryn. The thought of forever with him doesn’t fill me with dread, though. I feel… peace. Like of course that’s where we’re headed, because it’s the two of us. No other person would be right. No other person has been right.
“So, do you want to hear about my plotting?” he asks. “I think I can help you feel less embarrassed.”
“Of course. I’m all ears.”
“First, how do you feel about Esther knowing about us?”
“I’m not against it. I mean, after tonight she’s bound to hear anyway.”
“Well, good. Because I think we should give the impression that she’s the one who set us up. A little bit of good PR spin.”
“You’re such a consultant. Did you already talk to Esther about this?”
“Of course not. I’m plotting. But I think Esther would have no problem taking the credit. And adding her matchmaking interference will make the whole boss-nanny thing sound less…”
“Forbidden?”
“Yeah. You know it’s not forbidden for me to date you, though.”
I grin. “I know, dear.” The more I think about it, the more I like the idea. It makes getting through the party tonight feel a lot less intimidating if I have a story to tell. “Okay. Throw her into this. If she’s willing.”
“She’ll be willing. She once asked me if it bothered me that you were so pretty, and I shut that down so fast that she laughed in my face. She probably thinks sheisour matchmaker.”
“She did the same thing to me,” I admit. I hadn’t thought about it in a while. It was the same question, her wondering if it bothered me that Liam was so hot. At the time, I’d considered it a mind game or maybe testing my loyalty, seeing as how we were talking about her ex-husband. I’d lied and said he was cute, but not really my type. Liam isexactlymy type.
Liam groans. “She really is a schemer. Do you want to call her, or should we tell her together?”
“Oh, no. You talk to Esther. But make sure the kids aren’t listening in the background.”
“Agreed. We’ll tell Callie and Wyatt about us when the time is right. I don’t think they’ll be surprised. We’ve been hanging out in the kitchen a little too much for them not to notice.”
I think he’s overestimating their observational skills, but I’m not scared to tell them. I love those kids. And their dad.
I’m twirling a lock of hair around one finger, but I drop it when I look through the windshield and see Kambryn hanging halfway out the door to the salon and waving to get my attention. I bet she texted and it didn’t make a sound.
“Liam, I have to go. Let me know how it goes with Esther.”
“Okay. See you tonight. And just so you know, any dress on you would make me lose my mind.”
I blush. “Good answer.”
Chapter 36 – The Scenic View
Rosalie
I rush around my bedroom putting things in the tiny purse Aubrey lent me, all the while knowing she and Kam are having a good ol’ time giving Liam the third degree in our living room.