by Skye Turner
Her door is closed. Wiping my hands down my pants to dry them off and giving myself a pep talk, I knock.
I hear, “Yeah?” from inside the room and I try the knob. It’s unlocked.
Let’s do this.
Walking in, I see her. She’s standing on the balcony off of her room with a brush in her hand combing the now long strands of hair as she looks into the dusk.
She sees who it is and the brush falls to the floor. Walking over, I pick it up and place it on the dresser as I look at her. She has a habit of dropping things around me.
She swallows and looks away. “It’s you. Sorry. I thought it was Dade. Wha- What are you doing up here?”
Time to convince her. I don’t have a speech planned, so I just go into it and hope she listens and agrees. A lot is at stake here.
“I came to talk to you, obviously.” She opens her mouth as if to say something, but I talk fast to cut her off. I don’t want her shooting me down before I even get a chance to say what I want to say. “Clove, I’ve kissed you multiple times now. And you kissed me back. For the past few years, I haven’t known why you changed towards me, but I do now. I understand. And I’m sorry.” My hands go into my pockets so I don’t touch her. I really want to touch her. “I honestly don’t remember that part of the night. I was so drunk. But I know that I found you attractive back then.” Her eyes widen and she shakes her head in denial. I nod. “I did. But you were eighteen and Dade’s little sister. I wasn’t… I didn’t want to go there. I would never have let you be a one night stand. I hope you realize that. I liked you. I like you now. Something is going on here. I like you and you’re attracted to me. I know I’m attracted to you. I’m not good at this and I have never had to work to woo a woman in my life. But I will.” I shrug, “I’ll woo… you. If I have to.” Looking deep into her apprehensive eyes, I go in for the kill. “I’d like to date you. I don’t know how to date, so you’ll have to help me with that. I want to date. I want to get to know someone on a deeper level. But not just anyone. I want to date you. I know you’re going through a lot and I know there’s a lot that’s new in your life, but I’m ok with all of that.” She’s still rapt at attention, she’s listening. “Can I take you out to dinner? Would you, fuck, this sounds stupid, but, would you like to go on a date? With me?!”
She’s looking at me like I’m crazy. Does she think I’m crazy? Am I crazy for thinking I can date someone?
But she’s not someone. She’s Clove. Holy shit, that was nerve wracking. That was probably the most stressful thing I’ve ever done in my life.
Is she going to answer me or just stare at me like I’m the gorilla man at the circus?
Did I completely fuck that up?
Get it together, Liam. You’re a fucking twenty-seven year old, world famous rock star, not a sixteen year old asking a cheerleader to the prom.
She continues to look at me. Finally, her shoulders relax and she says, “You don’t have to do this, Liam. You kissed me. It’s ok. I kissed you back. You’re sexy as sin and I have always had a crush on you. But, you know that. Or, you know that now.” It’s her turn to shrug. “I’m fine. You don’t have to ask me out.” She laughs. “I’m glad you’re ok with all that’s ‘going on in my life’, because I’m not sure I am. Let’s see… I live in my brother’s house. I’m pregnant for a criminal. I admitted to you that we’ve been intimate and you don’t even remember it. In a few months, I’m going to have a huge belly that will have a tiny little person that I am solely responsible for in it. I’m going to be hormonal, even more so than now, and I’m probably going to get fat. So, no, you don’t have to do this.”
Is she saying no? She can’t say no.
“I’m not asking you to strip naked and jump on me.” I waggle my eyebrows at her and she blushes. I love that about her. “Though I might like to see if my imagination is as vivid as it appears on that front. I’m asking you to dinner. To let me take you out. On a date. Can you do that? Is that something you want to do?” Her cheeks are a pretty shade of pink. I have the urge to kiss her again.
She shrugs. “Why?”
“Why what?” I ask.
“Why do you want to ‘date’ me? A few days ago, you couldn’t stand me and now suddenly you want to take me to dinner. It’s weird.”
Chuckling, I answer her. “You push my buttons. You don’t fall at my feet. You’re beautiful and good and I think you’re worth the attention I’ll have to put in to make this work. But, I’m willing to do it. I want to do it. I want you to show me how.”
Her cheeks get pink again and her brown eyes crinkle at the corners as she tries not to laugh. “Yes, because I’m an expert at successful relationships. I mean I lost my virginity in a car to a guy I dated for a couple of months and it sucked. Then, he stopped calling me. I got naked with you and you passed out and didn’t remember it. And let’s not forget I am now pregnant for a man who cheated on me and is in fact a criminal. I have a stellar record!”
I try to keep a straight face, “Well, that’s two more relationships than I’ve ever had.”
She snorts in laughter. I think it’s adorable. She laughs heartily. “Yes, well this is true.” Then her face sobers. She walks over to me and stops right in front of me. I’m so much taller than she is; she has to crane her neck to look up. Her hand touches my cheek. “Liam, you can hurt me. I don’t mean like a little middle school heartbreak. I mean like you can crush me. I’m not like the women you sleep with. I’m not a model or actress. I’m just a normal girl. I have serious insecurities and I’m not worldly. I can’t compare to any of them.”
What do I need to say here to make her get it? She just admitted to me she has feelings for me. Does she even realize that? She has feelings for me. Like actual feelings. Am I ready for that? Do I want that from her? I can hurt her. I can really hurt her. And everyone is right, it’s not just about her. I think she’s willing to give me a chance though. The temptation to be something more than Liam Christianson, the Bayou Stix rocker, is right here. It’s mine if I want it. And looking into her face, I really want it. Do this, Liam. This is your chance to really see what Jude and Jessie have found. Take it!
I’m taking it.
Reaching out, I wrap my arms around her waist and her breath hitches. Pulling her close, I softly whisper, “There is no comparison between them and you. You’re right. You’re not like them. You don’t compare to them.” She frowns. I tap the tip of her nose. “You’re original and I wouldn’t want to take this chance with anyone but you. So, what do you say, Clove? Will you have dinner with me?”
She’s quiet for a long time. I think she’s about to shoot me down, but she smiles and I see the mirth in her eyes. “Ok.”
Ok? She said yes? My stomach is jumping around. She said yes. Why does her simple “ok” make me so damn happy?
I nod and smile at her before leaning in to kiss her. She stops me with a finger on my lips. I look at her in question. She whispers, “Ok, but I’m not jumping into bed with you.”
I chuckle and swoop in for the kiss.
Once we come up for air, she rests her head on my chest and I lean down and breathe in her hair. I murmur in her ear. “Ok, I’m good with that. No sex until you tell me you’re ready. I’m more of a fan of bouncing than jumping anyway.” I wink.
Her face turns crimson and I chuckle as I say, “Now, how about that dinner? I’m starving.”
She nods and shoos me out of her room so she can change and I whistle all the way down to the kitchen where I encounter two very nosey men.
Dade asks, “So, what’s the word, Casanova?”
Cruz raises his brow in question and his light eyes are twinkling. I ignore them both as I grab a water and continue whistling as I head to my own room to change for my date.
I have a date… An actual date… With Clove.
I didn’t see this course of action a few days ago.
I wait in the foyer as she gets ready and I whistle while I wait. A few minutes later, she’s head
ing down the stairwell, and as she reaches me, I help her with her coat and we head out the door.
I can totally rock this dating thing.
Chapter Twelve
Clove
I’m on a date with Liam. This doesn’t even seem real. It seems like five minutes ago we were fighting and now we’re on a date. He asked me what I wanted to eat and once I said I was craving Mexican, he takes me to Coyote Blues. I’ve never been here before, but the green sauce is amazing. I must try to replicate this at home. I think I could drink this stuff.
He’s watching me savor my bite. It embarrasses me. “Stop. Stop watching me like that. You’re making me nervous, Liam.”
He laughs. “Why are you nervous?”
Thankfully, we are in a back room of the restaurant. It’s supposed to be for parties, I think? As soon as we arrived, some teenagers started squealing and drew a ton of attention to us. Liam apologized to the surprised manager for the spectacle and after signing a ton of stuff, we were ushered into this room. It’s quiet. Too quiet. And he’s staring at me. I’m on a date with the man of my dreams, who’s too beautiful for words and is also a whore, and he wants to know why I’m nervous?!
I chuckle in uneasiness. “Why do you think?”
He shrugs and says, “I don’t know. Why?”
I stare at him in disbelief. “Seriously?!” I laugh again as I nervously play with the silverware. “Because… you’re you and I’m here with you. We’re out together, Liam. This is a date.”
His eyes crinkle and I can see his ill-disguised mirth. “I know. I just wanted you to say it.”
Rolling my eyes, I throw a chip at him. “You’re a jerk.”
He catches it and bites into it with a crunch. He winks and the smirk comes out as he chews. When he’s done, he licks his lips and I can’t help but watch the movement of his tongue. He winks again and says, “I know.”
My face flushes again. Damn, I swear it stays red around him.
He sits back and crosses his arms over his chest as he looks at me. It once again makes my blood sing and I start to tingle. All he’s doing is looking at me and I’m acting like an idiot. Good lord, stop it, Clove! You’re acting like a sixteen year old virgin on a date with the captain of the football team.
He smiles. Really smiles, not the trademark smirk. All the breath leaves my lungs. Damn, I wish I could thank his Momma. I realize he’s never spoken of his parents. It intrigues me.
He’s been watching me. He asks, “What are you thinking? Your face is like a book. Did you know that? You can’t hide your emotions and thoughts at all. So, what are you thinking about right now?”
I smile shyly. “You.”
His brows raise and he chuckles. “Am I naked?”
I choke on my water. “What? Oh my God, Liam.” I feel my temperature rise again. “No. I’m not thinking about you naked.” I smirk at him as he takes a sip of his drink. “At least, not right now.”
He chokes and looks at me in shock. I continue to laugh as he catches his breath. He says, “Well played, Miss Rodrigue!”
Still chuckling I decide to ask what’s on my mind. “I was thinking about the fact that you’re gorgeous and I was wondering where you get it from. I mean, I’ve never heard anything about your family.”
He tenses. Then he lets out a deep breath and looks at me. “That’s because I don’t talk about it.”
I instantly feel chagrinned. Frowning in embarrassment, I mutter, “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to pry.”
His face softens. “No, you misunderstand. I wasn’t telling you that I’m not going to tell you. I’m telling you that I don’t talk about it. I’ll tell you if you want to know.”
Looking at him from under my lashes and licking my lips, I nod. “I’d like to know a little more about you… if that’s ok?”
He grimaces, but nods at me. “What do you want to know?”
“Tell me whatever you want me to know.” I shrug and pick up another chip to have something to do with my hands. “Whatever you’re ok with sharing. I’m not going to pressure you. I don’t push people for information.”
He looks at me sharply. “You should.”
“What? I should what?” I’m puzzled.
He smiles at me and leans forward. He props his elbows on the tabletop and rests his chin on his hands as he looks at me. “You’re so sweet. People take advantage of that. It pisses me off that people have taken advantage of you. Even me.” He frowns. “What I mean is that you should ask questions. You should know the people you let into your life.”
I grin smugly. “You mean like you? I know plenty about you. Just not the personal stuff.”
He grins back and leans over to tweak my nose. Somehow that juvenile action has my stomach in knots and I have to clench my thighs to stop the throbbing a little higher. “Yeah, I can’t believe you’re here with me after all you know about me.” He laughs without humor. “I’ve been a grade-A-asshole towards you, for sure. Yet, you’re here.” He smiles again. “I’m glad.”
Our server arrives with our food and asks if we need anything else. We tell him we’re fine and he leaves us alone again. We eat in silence for a few minutes. The food is really delicious.
Once Liam has practically cleaned his plate, he sits back and watches me eat. My eyes scrunch up in ire. He smirks at me again. “You don’t like me to watch you eat, do you?”
“Of course not. Who likes to be watched while they’re eating?! Food can be on my face, I might chew with my mouth open, or get food stuck in my teeth.” My snappy response makes him laugh.
“Well, when you live under a microscope, you kind of get used to it. Sorry, I’ll try not to make you uncomfortable. Though I do like making you blush.” He winks again. “It’s sexy.”
I choke on my food and glare at him. He laughs harder.
I can’t take another bite. I’m stuffed, but that was so good. Pushing my plate away, I mutter, “You’re a freak. I’m pretty sure the women you’ve been with don’t blush.”
He frowns and looks at me intently before he answered in earnest, “No, they don’t. They are usually throwing themselves at me or are very aggressive. I don’t have to make a move or pursue them. It’s easy and takes no work on my part.”
It’s my turn to frown. I don’t want to know all the ways I don’t measure up to the long line of Liam conquests!
He continues, “It’s also boring as hell.” He looks at me and smiles. “I wouldn’t even consider having dinner with or taking a single one of them on a real date. I’ve never wanted to date anyone before. But I do want to date you. I’m glad you’re here, Clove. The reason you’re here is because you’re not like them. You’re so much better.”
I feel like I’m about to cry. That was quite possibly the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. Pushing my chair back quickly, I get up and walk over to him. His face registers his surprise at my action.
“Are you leaving?” He asks.
He goes to stand up. I put a hand on his shoulder holding him in place. He frowns at me. He’s uncertain of what’s going on and I love that. Leaning down, I whisper, “Nope. Not leaving.” And then I kiss him.
I kiss him. He’s shocked, but he gets over it quickly and before I understand the logistics of it, I’m sitting on his lap. He moves his head slightly and takes over the kiss. His hands are like steel bands around my waist and my arms snake around his neck as I angle my head to give him better access.
Our lips are softly moving against each other. Back and forth before our tongues advance and retreat. It’s a magical dance and my head is swimming with the wondrous sensations.
Who knew that kissing Liam would be an out-of-body experience?!
The sound of someone clearing their throat breaks the trance and a very embarrassed server says, “I’m so sorry,” as we look up at him.
I smile up at the server. My body feels like its floating. Thank God, Liam is holding onto me, otherwise I fear I’d be at the ceiling.
Liam clea
rs his throat, too. I try to get up, but his arms tighten around me, so I stay put. He smiles at the young man and answers his question about needing anything else.
He leaves again with the money to cover the check and a very generous tip, I try to once again leave Liam’s lap. He’s not having it. He shakes his head, “No. You stay put. You feel nice there.”
My face once again burns. This causes him to chuckle and he leans up to kiss me once more.
Sighing in contentment, he asks if I’d like to go someplace else.
“Are you not ready for this date to end, Mr. Christianson?” I slyly tease him.
He smirks and says, “I have a beautiful woman in my lap and still owe her some conversation, so if you are open to it, I’d like to take you someplace.”
I smile and nod. He stands up with me in his arms like I weigh nothing. Then setting me on my feet, he walks around to grab my jacket and helps me into it. For someone who’s never dated, he’s pretty good at this.
As he offers his arm, he nods to the doorway, where a little audience is gathered. I didn’t even notice them I was so wrapped up in Liam. “You ready to face that? I’m sorry. It happens pretty much everywhere I go. I wasn’t thinking about that when I brought you here. We can try to go places with more privacy from now on… if you’d like.”
Can you handle the public eye, Clove? If you are going to date Liam, you are going to have to get used to this. It’s part of his life style. It’s very weird and I know that people are going to look at me and judge me, but I think if I want to get the guy, I have to take the ridiculous shit that comes with it. Ok, yes, I can do this. But what happens when I’m hugely pregnant? Shit…
It’s ok. I’ll think about that later. Not going to let it ruin our perfect date.
Looking at Liam, I smile and nod. “It’s ok. Those are the people who listen to your music. I can handle it.”
He looks at me introspectively and leans in to place a hard, firm kiss on my mouth. I gasp in shock and whisper, “What are you doing? They all just saw that.”