Just Desserts (Perfect Dish Romances Book 2)

by Tawdra Kandle

  I couldn’t speak. My tongue was paralyzed as he slid his hand down my arm and then held me by the shoulders.

  “At this minute, all I can think is that I want to back you into the wall, lift up that skirt and drive into you. Wrap your gorgeous legs around my waist, with your heels still on, so I can feel them against my back. Fill my hands with your tits, suck your nipples into my mouth. Pound myself inside you until you come so loud and hard, you scream my name loud enough for the whole building to hear.”

  My pulse was beating so fast that I felt it throughout my body. I knew if I made one move, I’d pull Liam’s mouth down to mine and then everything would happen just as he had just said.

  And that was a problem why? I couldn’t quite remember.

  I opened my mouth, but before I could speak, Liam dropped his hands from my arms. “Come on. Let’s go while I can still walk.” He turned his back to me, fists clenched at his sides.

  I picked up my purse and slung it over my shoulder, locked the door and closed it behind me. Liam didn’t turn around. He began walking as soon as the door clicked shut.

  The drive to the restaurant was quiet. I was afraid to say anything, but after a few minutes, Liam began talking about the meet, the other school’s track team and some of his own teammates. I asked him questions about a few of the events and why he stuck to the middle distance runs.

  “I used to be a sprinter, but I found out I like the races that are a little longer better. I might start doing some long-distance races, too. I run cross country in the fall, and that helps.”

  He pulled up in front of a small restaurant on the main street of the next town over. I smiled as I saw the sign.

  “Italian, huh? You’re a brave man.”

  He shrugged. “I figured it was a safe bet that you’d like it.” He met me on my side of the car, opening the door before I could, and took my hand to help me out. At his touch, I felt a tremor shoot up my arm.

  Liam shut the car door, and then he moved the hand holding mine behind his back. I had no choice but to snug my body against his, with my arm wrapped around his waist. His other hand came up to caress the side of my face.

  “Just one kiss. Out here, in the open, where it’s safe that I won’t get carried away.”

  He tilted his head so that our foreheads touched and looked deep into my eyes. I realized he was waiting for my decision.

  I had no choice. No matter what logic or reason might say, I had only one answer. I nodded, the slightest movement of my head.

  Liam didn’t hesitate. He angled his mouth over mine, soft and teasing until I sagged in his hold. Then he brushed his tongue over my lips, insistent, and I opened them with a soft noise in the back of my throat. He swept over my teeth, circled my tongue and traced lines on the sides of my mouth.

  He released me with one small kiss to the side of my lips, and then leaned to my ear so that I heard his words like a whisper.

  “God, I want you, Ava.”

  I stumbled when Liam stepped back, but he held tight to my hand. I followed him into the restaurant.

  The sights and smells were so familiar that it was like coming home. I was still shaken by Liam’s kiss, but being in this restaurant settled me. We followed the hostess to a small round table near the windows.

  “Seriously, is this okay? I’ve been here with my parents a few times, and their food’s decent.”

  “Yeah, of course it is.” I glanced around the dim room, lit only with candles on the table tops. “It reminds me so much of my family’s place. And that’s a very good thing.”

  Liam raised his brows. “Your family’s place? You have a restaurant?”

  I grinned. “Didn’t you know that? My grandparents opened it in the fifties. Now my parents run it. Well, all of us pitch in. I started out as a busgirl when I was ten and got promoted to waitress when I was sixteen.”

  Liam sat back in his chair. “How did I not know this about you? It’s not like you never talk about your family.”

  “I don’t make a big deal about it. It’s just what we do. But most people at Birch eat at big city restaurants—a little family place down by the shore wouldn’t mean anything to them.”

  “Are you close to your parents?” Liam picked up his menu and scanned it, but I had a feeling he wasn’t really seeing it.

  I thought for a minute. “I am. We’ve always been a tight family, I think. I mean, we’re Italian. We’re loud, and we don’t let things fester. But then a few years back, we had something happen, and it made us even more aware of …” I tried to think of the best way to say it without sounding trite. “I guess, how important family is. How things can change in the blink of an eye. So we try to appreciate each other more. We don’t waste time. Do you know what I mean?”

  Liam stared at me over the top of the laminated sheet in his hand, his brow furrowed. “I think so. Not that I’ve had that happen, but I know what you’re talking about.” His eyes flickered down. “Can I ask what happened that changed everything?”

  I licked my lip. I didn’t talk about Antonia; only a select few people at Birch knew what had happened, but it wasn’t a secret.

  “My sister Antonia was killed by a drunk driver.”

  “God, Ava, I’m sorry.” Liam reached across to squeeze my hand. “That’s awful. Was she older than you?”

  “Yes, by two years.”

  “Were you close?”

  I smiled. “Oh, yeah. We used to get into trouble together, and we loved the same music, and the same movies …” Sudden, unexpected tears filled my eyes. “I wish you had known her. She was … wonderful.”

  “I wish I had, too.” Liam stared at me intently, a small line between his eyes. “I always wanted a sister or brother. I thought it might take some of the pressure off me.”

  “I can’t imagine life without my brothers. Hard enough missing Antonia. I’m sorry you never had that.”

  The waitress stepped up to the table and took our drink and appetizer order. Liam ordered us a bottle of wine, shooting me a grin.

  “Wine okay? I know you’d probably rather have jungle juice, but I’m pretty sure they won’t serve that here.”

  I made a face at him. “Ugh. Don’t bring that up, or I might not be able to eat my dinner.”

  Our meal was simple, filling food, and I was surprised at how relaxed I was. Liam made me laugh by telling me stories of his growing up.

  “My parents insisted that they take me to these stupid political events so I’d get a taste for it, but God, it was boring. I used to make up terrible stuff to do, just to liven it up for me. Or maybe it was that I was trying to be a brat, so they wouldn’t make me go anymore.”

  “What’s the worst thing you ever did?” I bit into my crusty bread.

  “Hmmm …” Liam rolled his eyes back, thinking. “Well, there was this one fund raising dinner. I must have been about eight. It felt like the speeches were never going to end. As long as I was quiet, no one really paid any attention to me. I drank so much water, just sitting there, that I had to go to the bathroom, like every ten minutes. I’d just get up and go into the men’s room, nobody noticed. Then I decided to make it more fun. I took a handful of silverware off the table every time I went to the restroom and hid it in the plant in there. It was like a game, to see how much I could take from the table before someone caught me. They never did, but by the time the speeches were over and they served dessert, there wasn’t a single piece left on the table.”

  I laughed. “You were evil! Oh my God, Liam, I can just see you, this adorable little boy, creeping around to steal knives.”

  He leaned forward. “How do you know I was adorable?”

  I shrugged. “I can’t see you being anything but.”

  Liam held my eyes for a minute. I thought he was going to say something, but he seemed to change his mind. The spell was broken when the waitress brought us a plate of tiramisu for dessert. I took one bite and then sat back, holding my stomach.

  “I can’t eat anything el
se, or I’m going to explode. This was so good, Liam. Thanks.”

  He smiled as he forked another piece into his mouth. “Hey, Amanda texted me today. She invited us all to a party on Saturday night for her boyfriend’s birthday. It’s at a dance club in the city. Want to go?”

  I shook my head. “I wish I could. But I have to go home this weekend.”

  “Home? To your parents’ house?”

  I nodded. “Yeah. My brother’s getting married in three weeks. I’m in the wedding, and I’ve got to get one more fitting on my dress. My mom’s been bugging me about it, and I keep putting it off, but she put her foot down—it’s got to be this week.”

  Liam laid the fork down on the plate. “Okay. Can I go with you?”

  I couldn’t have been more shocked if he had suggested we fly to Mars for the weekend. “Come with me? Home? Why?”

  He cocked his head. “I don’t know. Meet your parents? So you don’t have to make the drive by yourself? To eat at your family’s restaurant? Why not?”

  I took a deep breath. “Liam, I’m not sure you understand what you’re saying. I—if I bring you home, my parents are going to make some big assumptions, no matter how much I tell them we’re just friends. I’ve never brought anyone home with me. Well, except Julia, of course.”

  “And she lived to tell the tale. I feel pretty safe. Come on, why not? If I don’t go with you, I’ll just sit around my room, being bored all weekend. You don’t want that on your conscience, do you?”

  “I thought you were invited to Amanda’s party,” I reminded him.

  “I don’t want to go without you.”

  “Liam, friendship, remember? You go places without Giff. You don’t need me.”

  He snagged my hand again and laced his fingers through mine. “If you think that’s true, you’re blind.” His thumb tucked between our hands and traced circles against my palm, making me shiver.

  “I’m pretty sure this is against the rules.” But I didn’t even try to pull my hand away.

  “Fuck the rules.” He almost whispered the words, with a half-smile on his face taking away the force of what he said. “I’ve tried, Ava. I think I did pretty damn good being your friend. Hands off, no commitment, no pressure. But I want more, and I think you do, too. Even if you won’t admit it.”

  I blew out a sigh. I couldn’t argue with him, not when the touch of his thumb made me want to slither onto the floor.

  “I promise, no pushing. Let me come home with you this weekend. I’ll do my best to stick to the friendship deal. I can’t say I won’t try to kiss you when we’re alone, but I’ll respect whatever you want to tell your parents about us. Okay?”

  I was sure that tonight, alone in the rational darkness, without Liam holding my hand, I’d come up with a hundred reasons to say no. But sitting here, I couldn’t think of one.

  “Okay.”

  “YOU’RE GOING WHERE with who?”

  Julia stared at me as though I’d grown a second head. I’d waited to tell her about my weekend plans on purpose, on a hunch she might have this response. Turns out I wasn’t wrong.

  “I’m going home to get fitted for my bridesmaid dress. My mom and Angela are having fits because I haven’t done it yet. Carl texted me on Monday, begging me to just get it done before they drive him crazy.”

  “That part I get. But why is Liam going with you?”

  I kept my smile even. “Just to keep me company on the drive. You know. As a friend.”

  “Bullshit.” Julia shook her head. “Ava, are you crazy?”

  “No. And don’t make it a big deal. It isn’t.”

  “What are your parents going to think?”

  I swallowed. I hadn’t quite decided how to deal with that part of the weekend yet. “They’ll be fine. They didn’t have a problem when I brought you home with me.”

  Julia snorted. “I wasn’t trying to get into your pants.”

  “Well, that’s a disappointment. Here I’d been hoping this whole Jesse thing was just a phase, and you’d come back to my loving arms.”

  “Ava, I’m serious. You’re playing with fire. Liam … he’s messing with you. You’re going to end up getting hurt.”

  Irritation flared. “Why? Because I’m too stupid, too naïve to know better?”

  Julia flushed. “No. Of course not. Ava, you’re the most intelligent person I know. But I think maybe you have a blind spot when it comes to Liam.”

  “You think you know him better than I do?” It was a sore point with me, I realized, that Julia had been privy to so much more of Liam’s life. Maybe she did know him better. In at least one way she did. I bit my lip and tried to drive that thought from my mind.

  As though she could read my mind, Julia looked sick. “No. I don’t think I know him better, because I don’t think Liam lets anyone in to know him. I dated him for ten months. I met his parents, I knew his friends, and yes, let’s not dance around this, I slept with him. But I still don’t think I really knew him.”

  It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her it was different with Liam and me. But she was never going to believe something I wasn’t even sure was true. So instead I retreated to my default position.

  “We’re just friends, Jules. I don’t have any delusions about Liam. Please try not to worry.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t promise anything. But Ava, please be careful.”

  After that conversation, I was even more reluctant about the phone call I knew I had to make. I waited until Saturday morning, when I knew my mother would be on her way into the restaurant.

  “Ava, what’s the matter?”

  I smiled. My mom answered every one of my phone calls that way, unless it was our planned bi-weekly chat.

  “Nothing’s wrong, Ma. Why would something be wrong?”

  “You’re going to be here in a few hours, and you’re telephoning me. So I figure something must be up. Are you on the road? Are you using your headset? You know it’s illegal to talk in the car without your hands-free.”

  “No, I’m not on the road yet. I’m leaving in about an hour. But Ma, I wanted to tell you something real fast before I leave. I’m bringing a friend with me, if that’s okay.”

  “Why wouldn’t it be okay? Of course. Are you bringing Julia?”

  “No, not Jules. His name is Liam. Liam Bailey.”

  The silence on the other end of the line was frightening. I could picture my mother, standing in the kitchen, getting ready for the day at the restaurant, her handbag

  on the chair by the door, sunglasses on her head. Holding the phone against her shoulder, because God forbid she only do one thing at once. And right now, the look on her face was likely a mix of shock and joy. With a healthy dose of apprehension, too.

  “A boy? You’re bringing home a boy?”

  “Ma, calm down. He’s just a friend. Got that? Just. A. Friend.”

  “But he’s a boy.”

  “He is. But Ma, promise you won’t embarrass me. And tell the boys, too. No teasing, no making a fuss. Got it?”

  “Embarrass you? Ava Catarine, when has your family ever embarrassed you?”

  “Don’t make me give you a list, Ma. You’ll be late for opening up.”

  My mother said something low under her breath that I’m fairly sure was a curse. As loud and over the top as my family could be, my mother was always a lady, and she never resorted to what she called vulgarities except under the most trying circumstances.

  “Fine, all right. We won’t make a fuss. Well, I won’t, and I’ll warn the boys, but I can’t speak for your father.”

  I laughed. “Daddy’s the least of my worries.”

  “Oh, sure, sweetie, you just wait. Cripes, I gotta go. Listen, this boy, will he need his own bedroom?”

  “Oh my God, Ma, what are you saying? What if I said, no, he’s sleeping in with me? What would you do?”

  “I’m just asking. I don’t know what goes on at college, I want to ask the question so I can have a bed ready for him. How abou
t I put him in your room, and you can sleep in with Frankie?”

  “That’s fine. Whatever’s easiest. Listen, Ma, you need to go, and so do I. I’ll see you tonight. We’ll come by the restaurant for dinner, okay? Save me some gnocchi. And some of the good bread.”

  I hung up up and fell back onto my bed, utterly exhausted. Maybe Julia was right. This weekend was going to be a disaster.

  “SO TELL ME about your family.”

  Liam’s BMW flew along the two-lane back roads, as the pine barrens passed in a blur. I leaned back in the leather seat and watched him out of the corner of my eye.

  “What do you want to know?”

  “Everything. How many brothers do you have?”

  “Two, and they’re both older than me. Carl—his real name is Carlo, and he’s the one getting married, to Angela. He’s twenty-six. And Vince, he’s twenty-five. He was dating a girl, but they broke up last winter.”

  “Do they both work at the restaurant?”

  “Yeah. Carl is more in the business end. He handles the suppliers, promotion, all the legal stuff. And Vince went to pastry school, so he does the desserts. But they both cook, too, if we’re short.”

  “Who cooks usually?”

  “My mom, sometimes my dad, and my aunt Lorena. She’s my dad’s sister. And if my grandparents are up from Florida, they pitch in, too. It can get pretty crazy.”

  “I can’t imagine.” There was a trace of envy in Liam’s voice. “In my family … that would never happen.”

  “Tell me about them.”

  He glanced at me. “Who? My parents?”

  “Yeah. You’re going to meet mine in a few hours. The crazy will be right there for you to see. The least you can do is give me some dirt on your family. It’ll make me feel better.”

  He didn’t smile. “My parents … are very private, very …” He was searching for the word, I could tell. “Very controlled people. My dad thinks everything can be manipulated. He’s never come across a situation he couldn’t fix with money or influence. He doesn’t get that sometimes people can’t be fixed that way.”