You & Me: The Complete Series (3 Book Boxset)

by Lisa Shelby

  Good people, that’s what the Fanuas are.

  How those idiots I met at the wedding yesterday could ever see them differently is beyond me. These four individuals are more pleasant to be around than any one person I met yesterday. Thank goodness Liam didn’t marry Hannah. It scares me to think about how he might have changed. Especially, since there is nothing about him to change. He is perfect just the way he is. This is something that is becoming clearer to me with each day I spend in his presence.

  Today is no exception.

  After breakfast, we head down to the Uso Family Community Center, and Liam receives a rock star’s greeting. The moment he walks inside the front doors of the beautiful building, he is bombarded by kids, parents, and staff alike. There are hugs and high-fives given, and Liam looks each and every person in the eye and gives each of them special attention.

  After a few minutes, one of the little girls raises her hand as if it was the only way to get attention, and it works because Liam calls on her. “What’s up, Holly?”

  “Liam, who’s that?” The little girl who looks to be around the age of seven asks, pointing at me.

  Slowly, every head turns in my direction, and all eyes are on me. The new girl.

  Liam makes his way through the sea of kids and comes to stand by me with his arm around my shoulder. “Thank you for asking, Holly. I can’t believe I almost forgot to introduce my friend, Cami. She came all the way here from Portland with me. Can everyone say hi to Cami?”

  “Hi, Cami!” is yelled out in unison, and I simply wave. Unsure what else to do.

  “Is she gonna play in the game today?” One of the teenage boys asks.

  Liam turns and looks at me as if to ask me, Can you play? But I don’t answer Liam. Instead, I look to the crowd of adorable faces of all ages for approval.

  “If there’s room for me, I’d love to play!” This reply earns me cheers from the kids, and it looks like I’ll be playing some baseball this afternoon. “But how do I get my hands on one of those awesome shirts?” I say in reference to the baseball shirts that a lot of the kids are wearing. Shirts that match the ones that Robert and Liam are wearing.

  Liam beams down at me, and the boy who asked if I was gonna play yells, “I hope you’re on my team!”

  “I bet you do, Samson, but you better keep your hands to yourself young man,” Liam warns Samson, and I can feel the heat on my cheeks. “Now, let’s pick teams!”

  Fiona writes everyone’s name on some little bits of paper she puts in a hat she pulled off one of the boy’s heads. Teams are decided, and I am lucky enough to be picked to be on Samson’s team. We head out to the beautiful baseball field that has a full set of stands and dugouts that look like they were built for the pros.

  It’s an understatement to say the facility and the outdoor fields are impressive. They are magnificent, and it looks like no expense was spared. It warms my heart to see that these kids have access to a place like this. If only all kids did.

  Liam and I are on opposite teams and somehow he manages to give all his attention to these kids and makes them all feel special while still seeming to have his eyes on me every time I look in his direction. Mid-way through the game I’m running to second base, and as I round the base, he doesn’t just tag me; he grabs me around my waist and gives me a little twirl in the air.

  Innocent enough but as I run back to the dugout, I see Fiona watching and smiling. Her smile makes me smile, but I’m afraid she’ll be disappointed if she thinks there’s more there than a friendly game of baseball at play here.

  I know I am. The looks on the field and this little twirl are the only bits of affection I’ve felt from him since his thumb wiped my renegade syrup off my mouth at breakfast.

  After my team smokes Liam’s, we form two lines and walk past one another with our hands out, telling the other team good game. At the end of the line, I see Liam talking to two of the older boys, and they take a walk out into the outfield and take a seat in the grass. It seems like a fairly serious, conversation, so I leave them to it and make my way over to Kate and Fiona who are handing out popsicles to all the players as they come off the field. I take my popsicle and lean against the dugout while watching Liam across the field with the two boys I now know to be Ryan and Carter.

  “Come on, let’s take a load off. You probably weren’t expecting to play nine innings of baseball today. Have a seat while Liam talks to the boys,” Fiona says as she walks past me and into the dugout.

  We take our seats on the benches and eat our popsicles in silence. Silent but comfortable.

  “You did pretty good out there, young lady. I hope you had as much fun as it looked like you were having?”

  “Oh Fiona, I did. I had a blast. The kids are great and this place…this place is amazing. The fields, the library, the chill out rooms, all of it. This is a pretty special place, and it seems like Liam is a pretty big part of it. I’m really surprised that I didn’t know anything about it. I mean I hear Jonathan ask him how the boys are, but I guess I assumed they were talking about old friends. Now, I realize the Joe they talk about all the time is the Joe I met inside who runs the center. I also recognize Ryan, Carter, and some of the other kids’ names. I just had no idea.”

  “That’s my boy. He’s not one to brag or to try to get special attention.” I give her a small smile, and she giggles around her popsicle. “I know what you’re thinking. He does love attention but that kind of attention is just him being silly. To him these kids are an extension of him. What he didn’t want me to tell you at breakfast is that this is all Liam. The whole place.”

  “What do you mean?” I ask Fiona but my eyes are still on the big, tough man sitting in the outfield with two teenage boys who seem to need him more than he knew.

  “Darlin’ this was all his idea. He had bugged his dad since high school to build this place. When he finished school and started working for the company, planning this community center was one of the first things he did. Not only did he and Uso Construction build the center, but Liam and his father have made it a point to spend their time here and to get to know the kids.”

  “I had no idea,” I say almost on a whisper.

  My mind is spinning with so many new thoughts of Liam, the man I thought I knew. He has been slowly stealing pieces of my heart, but this new side of him has me wanting to give the whole thing to him.

  “He’s pretty special, my Liam.”

  “He is,” I agree.

  Liam and the boys stand and start walking back in from the outfield.

  “Thanks for spending the day with us, Cami. It has been great having you here for the day. I only wish you could visit longer. Next time…” she says as though there will be a next time.

  I know his mother thinks there is something going on with us. I can feel her watching me. Watching her son. Watching us.

  It’s like she can feel something brewing just under the surface. I can’t help but wonder if—or maybe hope—she’s right. I know that I feel it, and I swear Liam felt it too but he’s different today.

  Things were comfortable but quiet between us all day. The hand holding, and PDA from the night before is a distant memory.

  When we finally get on our plane headed home, we don’t speak during takeoff, and for the two of us this silence is torture. We are both chatty people—this isn’t us. We are the two people in a room that do whatever they can to take away awkward silences. I can’t help but think that maybe he regrets the level we took things to yesterday.

  “How are you doing?” I ask him tentatively.

  “Not too bad. You?”

  “I’m good. It was great spending time with the kids today. They sure do miss you.”

  “I miss them too. It’s hard on them, but they’ll be fine. They can reach me any time they need to and my dad is there.” He tries to brush off the subject, so I let it go.

  “You sure you don’t have something else on your mind? You’re awfully quiet.”

  Very subtle, Hols
ted. You might as well just ask if he’s thinking about last night!

  “Nah. Just wishing I hadn’t wasted my time with her. The time I spent worrying about her and what she and her family thought of me was foolish. I’m an idiot to have given her that much of me. I would tell the kids not to give them that if it was one of them that had been treated so poorly, but I didn’t take my own advice. I know I’ve already said it but thanks again. I wouldn’t be able to see all of this without you.”

  My reply is to lace my fingers with his and rest my head on his mammoth shoulder. I don’t know what to say, or maybe I’m afraid to say too much. I just know I want to touch him just a little bit more before we are back home.

  Back to reality.

  Unfortunately, I don’t get to enjoy it for long because I am sound asleep on his shoulder a moment later.

  Halfway through the flight my eyes slowly open, and as I stretch, I feel my human pillow kiss me on the top of the head. I melt on the spot. My infatuated brain can’t help but wonder what in the world is happening between us. Will all of these feelings be gone once we’re home?

  Things are quiet the rest of the flight. Once we’re off the plane, we make small talk about where each of us parked and about having to go to work the next day. Things are uncomfortable when we say goodbye.

  Tonight’s goodbye doesn’t come with any kisses. Once we’re at my car, Liam does give me one of his amazing hugs, and it does go on just a beat too long, but that’s it.

  Nothing more.

  I drive home in a state of confusion and longing.

  Wanting Liam is not something I could have predicted but should have realized was inevitable if I had really paid attention these last few months.

  These last couple of days away from our friends and in a new to us place has made my emotions for him feel a million times stronger than they did before we left. I just wish I knew if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

  Chapter 12

  Liam

  Taking the steps to the rooftop bar at 10 Barrel Brewing two at a time, my nerves are on edge with excitement and apprehension.

  It’s only been four days since I last saw the petite redhead. The redhead who feels like a game changer. I should have talked to her, but I was a fucking pussy when I let her drive off in her car without talking to her about what I was feeling. I’ve been beating myself up all week, and tonight is the night I rectify the situation and put my feelings out there.

  I know she was helping me put on a show for the wedding, but I also know she had to have felt some of what I felt. I may not be a game changer for her yet, but I’m not gonna quit until I am.

  I haven’t seen her since we got home, and our only contact has been my daily texts reminding her just how awesome she is. Things felt strained when we went our separate ways at the airport, and as I drove away from her, I came to the conclusion that there was no reason the way we feel—because I know she feels the same way—has to end just because we are back home.

  Something happened during my drive home.

  A determination began to grow inside me, and it lit a fire under my ass.

  I know what—and who—I want, and it’s time to put in the work to have her in my life. No more playing the she’s like family card. That shit is over.

  When I reach the top of the stairs, I don’t see her right away. Knowing that I’m already thirty minutes late after my last meeting ran over, I can’t help but worry that I already missed her. Or even worse, she didn’t want to see me and ditched happy hour.

  I take a left to work my way around the wrap around patio, and that’s when I hear that honey-sweet voice of hers. It’s actually her laugh that has me turning my head. I follow her sugary laughter on the April breeze and find her standing around a wooden barrel, but she’s not alone. Nope, standing just a little too close to her is some bearded, hipster douche in a flannel shirt, and whatever he just said was apparently pretty damn funny.

  A possessive charge takes over my body, and I storm toward my “game changer” and her hipster friend.

  Luckily, she spots me before I reach them and meets me half way.

  She appears to be a woman on a mission until she is a foot away from me and then we both stop and stare at each other.

  She breaks out into a fit of laughter. “We are so stupid!” She jumps into my arms and gives me one of her amazing hugs. “So glad you’re here. Nobody else showed up, so I think it’s just the two of us,” she says, releasing me. “Oh, quick! There’s a table over in the corner.” In a flash, she runs to the tall table and stakes her claim.

  “Geez, girl. When you see something you want you really go for it, don’t you?” I chuckle, joining her at the table.

  “You know I do!”

  Over the next hour, we tell childhood stories, learn more about each other, and laugh our asses off.

  With the strings of white outdoor lights surrounding our top-of-the-world perch above the glow of the city, Cami couldn’t look more fucking delicious. She is completely fearless and laughs with abandon, not caring who might hear her. Watching her exposed neck as she throws her head back in giggles makes my heart stutter on more than one occasion.

  We’re sitting across from each other, and as she continues her stroll down memory lane she continuously touches my hand or smacks my arm in the midst of her enthusiastic, passionate story-telling.

  I’m not sure when, but at some point, I shifted to sit next to her at the head of the table. Because of our close proximity, our legs keep touching. Over time she crosses her legs a certain way, and I swear she rubs her foot up and down my leg.

  Our server hasn’t been by in a while, so I go get our next round. It’s hard not to pull her into a chaste kiss when I get up to leave, but I still haven’t said the things that need to be said yet.

  When I return, she’s standing with her back to the table, and she’s looking over the rail of the patio. Her hair is up, and her neck is exposed. I feel like I’ve been balancing on the edge of want since the first moment I saw her standing with that douche.

  I think I’ve found my tipping point because her perfect skin and her perfect neck are calling to me. I quietly set our drinks on the table and step up behind her.

  I can tell she knows I’m there, but she doesn’t say anything or move a muscle. It feels like a test, and I plan on passing.

  Standing directly behind her, I put my hands on the rails on either side of her and lightly nuzzle my nose against the soft skin between her neck and shoulder.

  Sunshine.

  My Sunshine.

  She sighs and tilts her head so I have easier access. When my lips glide over her collarbone and work my way up to her earlobe, she all but purrs.

  “Cami?”

  “Liam?”

  “Turn around.”

  She doesn’t hesitate. In fact, much to my happy surprise, she brings up one of her hands and cups my cheek and gives me a look that says she clearly wants the same thing I do.

  Not wanting to ruin the moment with words, I do what I’ve been dying to do all night.

  She lets out a tiny little squeal when I pick her up and turn around to place her on the tall chair behind us. Her spot on the chair brings those cherry red lips closer to mine, and I can’t wait to taste her again. I tell myself to take it easy…go slow…but the fire has been building all night long. Hell, it’s been building at a furious pace since Saturday night.

  She doesn’t seem to mind the pace as her legs wrap around my waist, and she pulls on my shirt to get me as close as possible.

  “Fuck, Cami,” I breathe into her mouth.

  Her reply is to let go of my shirt and wrap her hands around my neck and then up into my hair. Her breathing is heavy and heated, and the feel of her lips on mine and her hands on my skin has me needing to rip our clothes off.

  She is the first to speak, and when she says, “I think we should go to your place,” I couldn’t agree with her more. I grab her by the waist and lift her off the chair and ont
o her feet. I take her by the hand, leaving our two full drinks on the table. We take the stairs down to the main level of the bar and make a beeline for the doors.

  Once we’re down on the street, I can feel her struggling to keep up with my big strides. Not wanting to waste any time, I let go of her hand and squat down in front of her.

  “Hop on, little lady. I’m not gonna be able to walk slower so you can keep up. You might as well climb on and enjoy the ride.”

  “Yes!” She claps her hands together like a kid in a candy shop. “I can’t remember the last time I had a piggy back ride!” She wraps her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck. My hands grab her by the thighs and give her a little boost up to make sure we’re all set.

  “You good back there?”

  I feel her tongue trace a seductive trail up my neck and once she reaches my ear, I feel her heavy breath and the lust in her words when she says, “Oh, I’m good, big guy. I can’t wait to enjoy the ride.”

  “Mother fucker.”

  This is all I can say under my breath as I walk as fast as I can without actually running through the city streets. All the while she has one hand that is making its way through my hair while that flaming hot tongue of hers continues to tease my earlobe and neck.

  “We’re getting close, Cam. If you want to make it all the way to my place, and you don’t want me to have you sprawled across one of these parked cars, you might want to take it down a notch.”

  It’s hard enough to feel her tits pressed up against my back and to have her legs spread wide around my waist. Her teases are more than I can take.

  “I think you can handle it. Besides, I doubt you’re going to want to share what we’re about to do with a bunch of strangers.

  “Fuck no, there is no sharing you, Cami. None. At. All.”