I'm Not Charlotte Lucas(19)

Liam nodded.

I had a hard time wrapping my head around the idea of the careless teen enjoying drama class. I’d hardly got two words out of him while we’d waited together in Beth’s salon. But hey, maybe he was one of those brooding, artistic types and had a thing for directing or something.

There was no understanding teenagers.

“You know, Liam,” Naomi said, leaning so far over I thought her dress would fall off. “I was in Paris a few weeks ago and stopped by that cute little bistro we found by the Seine for lunch.”

They went to Paris together? This relationship must have been really serious. Rhett Myers looked increasingly bored, and I wondered briefly if I should ask him to dance so we could leave Naomi to get everything out of her system. It was so obvious the woman wanted to be alone with Liam.

And I was just dying to hear what happened between them, which I was certain Rhett knew.

But I also had a job to do.

“Is there anything planned for this evening besides dancing?” I asked Liam.

“Not really. Just mingling, dancing, begging celebrities for money . . .” He shot Rhett a grin, and the man smiled for the first time all evening.

“Speaking of,” Liam said, standing from the table. “I should probably be making the rounds right now.” He reached for me, and I picked up my clutch before taking his hand and letting him pull me up. Offering me his elbow, Liam said a quick farewell, then led me away from the tables. Eyes moved to follow us, and I had never before felt so proud and anxious at the same time.

There was something really powerful about being on the arm of the man in charge. Against my better judgment, I found I liked it very much.





Chapter Nine


The only thing that would improve the already perfect experience I’d had thus far was if Liam kissed me good night. Not that I expected it, but a woman could dream.

The limo drove us back to my home, letting both of us out in front of my parents’ house—I assumed Liam had left his car at his grandma’s. It was past two in the morning, and he walked me all the way to my door, the automatic porch light coming on and nearly blinding both of us.

I fumbled in my clutch for my keys while Liam stood nearby, waiting with a tired, patient expression.

“Thanks for taking me tonight,” I said. How was it possible to lose my keys in such a tiny purse? Unless . . . had I brought keys? I started pulling everything out. Phone, lipstick, compact mirror. “Do you mind?” I asked, and Liam put his hands out to hold my things.

Next came tweezers and then an emergency pack of tissues. I felt around the lining in case the keys somehow slipped behind it, but it was empty.

“You didn’t bring keys?”

“I guess not.” I glanced up at the darkened windows. By now even Mariah was totally asleep. I would bet money on it. The street was so silent, it felt like Liam and I were the only two people in the world awake. Too bad I was missing my keys or this could have been somewhat romantic. Now I was going to have to let Liam hold my things while I hoisted up my skirt and climbed up to the second-story window.

“I bet you could crash at Vera’s—”

“It’s fine.” I kicked my heels off. “I always leave one window unlocked.”

“That seems totally safe. Have you thought of maybe just getting a keypad on the door?”

“My dad’s afraid of people guessing the correct code.”

Liam chuckled at the notion, and I passed him, lifting the hem of my skirt. By the time I reached the grass, his chuckling stopped.

“Wait, you’re not really going to climb that, are you?”

He meant the trellis. “Yes. It’s secure; don’t worry.” I took hold and shook it for good measure.

“I can’t let you climb that.”

I paused, my hand on the wooden trellis. Let me? Was he serious? I moved to get a good foothold, and Liam shoved all my things into his pockets, then shrugged out of his coat.

“I’ve done this before,” I assured him. Why did he think I left the window unlocked? I had a tendency of forgetting my keys if I wasn’t the one driving.

Draping his coat over the porch railing, Liam began unfastening his cuffs. “You aren’t climbing that.”

“And neither are you,” I argued. “You’ll ruin your tux.”

His eyebrow lifted. One eyebrow. “What about your dress?”

Shoot. Not my dress. Beth’s dress. He had me there.

“Fine, I’ll let you do it.” I stepped away from the trellis, my hands raised in surrender.

Liam got a good hold before he climbed up the white lattice, dodging the plants as he went.

“Don’t hurt the clematis,” I whisper-yelled.

Liam paused, looking down at me over his shoulder. “The what?”

“The vines.”

I could hear his chuckle from ten feet below and was glad when he finally made it to the attic window and let himself inside. It closed behind him, and I went to the front door to wait. By the time Liam made his way downstairs and opened the door, I was beginning to worry that he’d gotten lost in the mess in my room.

The door swung open. “Well, I guess it’s an adventure with you, isn’t it, Charlie?”

“I’m pretty sure you’re the only man in the world who would believe that to be the case.” Clamping my mouth shut, I gave him a smile, hoping to avoid further conversation on the matter.