Until There Was You(64)

“Okay, crazy pants, you know what?” She sighed. “I’ll climb the tree, and if there are boys or kidnappers or ninja assassins, I’ll let you know. Okay?”

Liam gave a reluctant nod. “Okay. That’s a good idea.”

“No, it’s not. It’s a terrible idea, Liam. But at least you won’t get arrested. I’ve already had one date this month get hauled away in handcuffs. Give me a boost, idiot.”

CLIMBING A TREE on a windy April night to spy on a sleepover party…well, it was different, Posey had to admit that. She’d also admit that climbing trees was pretty fun. So was spying, if you got right down to it. And she had to hand it to Liam—she could see right into the bonus room window from here.

“Okay,” she said, glancing down at the world’s most neurotic father. His face was clenched with worry, and her heart gave an unwilling tug. She looked back across the street. “There are four girls. Does Nicole have green Hello Kitty pajamas?”

“Yes.”

“Well, she’s there. Looks like they’re playing Wii. Golf, I think. Or bowling. And oh, here comes a woman…forties…has a big bowl of something…is it needles?”

“Are you serious?”

Posey grinned. “Nope, seems to be popcorn. Should we call a SWAT team?” She looked down at Liam again. He was staring at the house, arms folded across his chest, the breeze ruffling his dark hair. “Can I come down now?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

Taking care not to slip, as the branches were damp with the fog, Posey climbed down from the tree, making a mental note to climb one again when it wasn’t night and they weren’t spying on people. She jumped down the last few feet and brushed off her hands.

Liam was still looking at the house. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice low. He didn’t look at her, but his expression was…well, miserable. Remembering his admission last week about his accident, his fears over Nicole’s well-being, her heart gave a tug.

“It’s okay.” She punched his shoulder. “She’s a good kid. And you seem like a good dad, in a neurotic, insane kind of way.”

“Right.”

“Oh, come on. I’m sure a lot of parents envision the worst.”

“True enough.”

“They just don’t…run with it the way you do.”

He looked at her then, a slight, self-deprecating smile in his eyes. “Thank you for climbing up there.”

“You’re welcome. It was kind of fun.”

His smile grew, her girl parts meowed. Danger, Posey. “Well, it’s pretty damp out here. We should get going, huh? I think I’ll skip that beer, okay? You could just take me home. That would be great.” Posey took a step toward his car, but Liam stepped in front of her, blocking the way. “What? You want me to climb up again?” she asked.

“No.”

He was looking at her…at her mouth, specifically. Posey’s stomach gave a warm squeeze. “So, let’s get going, okay?” she said, her voice a little loud in the cold night.

He nodded but didn’t move, just studied her mouth, then finally raised his eyes to hers. “Did I kiss you the other day?”

She sputtered, her face suddenly blazing with heat. Looked at the Carlisle house, the car, the tree.

“Did I?”

God, that voice. Low and smoky and such a turn-on! She cleared her throat. “Um…sort of. Yes.”

He didn’t answer. Risking a glance at his face, she saw that he was smiling. Just a little. She licked her lips. Mistake, because his gaze dropped again to her mouth as if…well…like he might…

“How was it?” Liam asked, and her knees threatened to give out.

“Um…you know. You were medicated. I’ve had better.” Her voice was breathy now. If he stepped on her foot, she might well conceive a child.

“Can I give it another shot?”

Holy Elvis Francis Aloysius Xavier Presley! “Um…”

He stepped a little closer, enough that she could feel his warmth. “Doesn’t seem fair that you remember and I don’t, that’s all,” he murmured.

“Life is often unfair.” Her voice sounded brisk, despite the wobbly knees, so at least there was that.

“Can I kiss you, Cordelia?”

Her brain barked out an admonishment…something about his track record, his current stable of interested women, his…his…his eyes were just beautiful, it should be against the law, the way he looked at her with that faint smile. If she took half a step toward him, they’d be touching.

“Okay,” she said. “Get it over with.” She jammed her hands in her pockets and waited.

Liam closed the small distance between them, and he was so warm, she could’ve melted right into him, that heat was so welcome, so wanted. His hands cupped her face, his smile fading as he studied her, and Posey’s eyes fluttered closed—yes, fluttered—she couldn’t seem to help it. Then his lips were on hers, softly, gently, and she had to clench her fists inside her pockets to keep from grabbing him by the belt buckle and throwing him to the ground right there. Oh, Elvis, it was the world’s most perfect kiss, soft and warm and so…affecting, heavens…his mouth moving gently on hers, their lips fitting together like they’d been made just to kiss each other.