The Dating Plan(96)

“They gave me a week to decide, but I don’t need the time.” He balanced his plate on his knees and reached for her hand. “What I want is right here. I love you. I wanted to tell you the day of our motorcycle ride, and then the accident happened, and I couldn’t forgive myself for hurting you again.”

“Just like before,” she murmured.

“This time was different.” He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. “I’d told you all my secrets, opened myself up, and instead of rejecting me, you told me you loved me. It changed everything for me. It made me realize what was important in my life. It gave me the strength to reconcile with Brendan and to discover the truth about my father. I don’t need the partnership to be worthy. It comes from in here.” He brought her hand to his heart. “I didn’t need fake dates and a spreadsheet to fall in love with you because I’ve always loved you. I just needed to believe in myself, before I could accept that you loved me, too.”

    Friday, 11:00 P.M.

LIAM: Re: Date #7. Were objectives achieved?

DAISY: Forgiveness objective still under consideration.

LIAM: What are you doing right now?

DAISY: Sleeping.

LIAM: Your light is on.

DAISY: How do you know?

LIAM: Still waiting outside for an Uber.

DAISY: It’s cold. Maybe you should wait inside.

LIAM: On my way. Make room in the bed.

DAISY: Very presumptuous. You have not been forgiven.

LIAM: Will do whatever you want. Walk on bed of hot coals. Whip self with cat o’ nine tails. Eat five containers of Shark Stew. Fly to India to buy you Kurkure Masala Munch. Grovel and kiss your pretty feet.

DAISY: Come to me.

LIAM: Front or back door?

DAISY: Sanjay’s window.





* * *



? ? ?

DAISY sat by Sanjay’s window and watched Liam try, for the fifth time, to climb the tree beside the house. He was definitely not as spry as he used to be. Back when they were teenagers, he and Sanjay had made the climb with practiced ease, gaining momentum by running across the lawn and jumping to grab hold of the thick branch that brushed up against the porch. From there, they had swung to a higher branch and then crawled onto the roof. So far, Liam had fallen from the lower branch three times, missed it twice, and once, he had run right into the trunk of the tree. He was covered in cuts and bruises, but he still hadn’t given up.

This time he started farther back, ran faster, hit the garden, then leaped into the air. The crash was spectacular. His landing audible. Only the thickness of the rosebush saved him from serious injury. But oh, those thorns.

He was fading by the time he finally managed to get on the first branch. There were no swings or acrobatics. No grins or funny antics. He climbed slowly and steadily to the second branch, then shimmied onto the roof. Sweating and bleeding, his shirt torn, thick hair now a tangled mop, he crawled up the steep incline until he reached the window.

He knocked.

She lifted the window the tiniest bit. “Yes?”

Puzzled, he frowned. “You asked me to come.”

“Oh.” She shook her head, feigning confusion. “That was ages ago. I’m about to go to sleep.”

“Daisy.” His head dropped back and he groaned. “Please.”

Taking pity on him, she opened the window and let him in. “You can clean up in the washroom,” she whispered. “But be very quiet.”

By the time he returned, she’d positioned herself on her mattress wearing only a Marvel Universe T-shirt featuring all her favorite Avengers. Liam collapsed on the bed beside her, seemingly oblivious to the fact that she had nothing on underneath.

“What’s wrong?” She snuggled against him, head on his chest, listening to the pounding of his heart.

“I can’t move.” He groaned again as he pulled her into his side. “Everything hurts. My hands are covered in cuts. I have thorns in places thorns shouldn’t be, and bruises in places I don’t want to think about.”

“That’s too bad.” Daisy took his hand and placed it on her bare bottom. “No Avengers protectors down here today. I guess you won’t be able to take advantage.”

He squeezed her ass, a low, contented rumble vibrating in his chest. “I’m starting to feel better.”

“What if I do this?” She tipped her head to nibble kisses along his jaw, rough with a five-o’clock shadow.

“Why aren’t you whispering?” Hard hands pulled her over his body, sliding under her shirt until his thumbs skimmed the sides of her breasts.

“Why would I?” She turned her face into his throat, drawing in the scent of him.

“We don’t want to wake your dad and Priya.” He parted his legs, forcing hers to follow, leaving her vulnerable to the exquisite sensation of his hard shaft pressing against her beneath his fly.

“They aren’t here.” Her breath was already coming too fast, her body going liquid. She’d wanted to control this encounter, but the minute he touched her she couldn’t think.

Liam froze, his hands mere inches away from her breasts. “Then why didn’t I come in the door?”

“Because you left me and broke my heart,” Daisy said. “And I liked watching you climb more than I would like to see you grovel or eat five containers of Shark Stew.”