Liam (3 page)

“I’ll think it over,” he said finally.

“Good.” Reed smiled and clapped him on the arm. “Now put on that monkey suit before my mom comes back, or we’re both in trouble.”

Liam grinned. One thing was for sure, no one wanted to piss off Mrs. Allen.

Chapter Three

“Oh, Olivia, you look so beautiful,” Meg gushed.

She settled onto a stool and smiled at her soon to be sister-in-law in the mirror. The pretty white dress was simple but with enough cleavage to keep her brother happy, something that didn’t seem much a problem after having the baby. All four of the gathered women looked pretty amazing as she stared at their reflection in the wall-sized mirror. Olivia had chosen navy blue as the color for the bridesmaids’ dresses. Meg couldn’t be happier with her dress.

Jessica’s dress was sleeveless with a high neckline, showing off her tall sender form. Her thick black hair was pulled in a loose knot to the side of her head. A few tendrils of hair were curled. Irene, the petite baker, wore a ruffled V-neck with an empire waist, the swell of her breasts visible but not tasteless. Her long blonde hair was braided into a wreath on her head and almost gave her an angelic look. Meg’s dress was a strapless number. Combined with her new hairdo, it was fun and flirty. Her hair down was down, something she rarely ever did, with large spiral curls at the ends. All of the dressed ended just above the knee to make for easy dancing later.

“You think so?” Olivia whispered nervously.

Jessica laughed. “Please. We’re just lucky Reed can’t see you, or we’d never get you down the aisle.”

Olivia blushed. “You shouldn’t say that.” She glanced over at Meg.

Meg frowned. Why did everyone keep treating her like a child?

“I’m sure it’s nothing she hasn’t heard before.” Jessica grinned. “And if I’m right, I’ll bet she has had more than a few dirty thoughts about our boy Liam.”

Meg’s heart squeezed at the mention of his name, and tears pricked her eyes. Damn him for making her feel this way.

“Oh, she was only teasing,” Irene said, wrapping an arm around her. Meg smiled through her tears.

Meg pulled a tissue out. She dabbed the corner of her eyes and tried not to smear her makeup. They all had worked so hard to make everyone look fantastic.

“Sorry,” she whispered.

Olivia took her hand. “What’s going on?”

Meg took a deep breath and planned on letting it go, but those weren’t the words she found when she opened her mouth.

“He kissed me,” she blurted out.

All three woman looked at one another and then at her.

“And that’s bad?” Irene asked.

“He took it back,” she groaned.

“Well, maybe—” Jessica started to say.

“Twice,” Meg interrupted. “He’s kissed me twice and said it was a mistake both times.”

Olivia frowned at her. “Why would he do that?”

Meg shrugged. “Because he’s an ass.”

“Damn right he is,” Cage said from the door.

They turned to look at a very red-faced Cage standing at the open door. Baby Violet squirmed when she saw her mother.

“Shit, Cage,” Meg groaned.

“Language!” Olivia glared at them both as she took Violet from Cage. The baby cooed happily.

“No one messes with my baby sister,” Cage said, ignoring Olivia. “I’m going to have a talk with him.”

Cage made his way to the door. Meg scrambled up from her stool and made it to him just as he opened the door. She tossed her weight against it, slamming it shut.

“You can’t,” she said firmly. “I’m not a baby, and this is serious.”

Cage shook his head. “You’re right. It is serious. He can’t keep treating you like this.” He stared at her. For as playful as her brother could be, he wasn’t someone you wanted to cross.

“Cage, it’s complicated. It’s his family,” she pleaded with him. “He thinks I would be in danger if we were together.”

Cage stopped and stared at her for a moment. “You would be,” he said after some time and stared at his hands. “But no more so than anyone else.”

She sighed and sat hard on the chair. He was right, not that it made her feel any better.

“Just…” she sighed again. “Just let it go.” She turned to Olivia and smiled. “I want to watch my brother get married to the best thing to come into his life.”

Olivia shifted the baby in her arms and leaned forward. “We’re so glad you made it home in time,” she whispered in her ear.

Meg squeezed her back. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” she said. “Now, let me see my amazing little niece.”

Meg pulled the pudgy little baby Olivia’s arms. “She looked just like you, Olivia.” She smiled at the baby. “Full head of hair like daddy.” Meg wrinkled her nose. “And just as stinky as Daddy.”

“Oh no.” Olivia paced around. “I don’t have a spare here with me. Would you mind bringing her back to Reed and getting her dressed?”

Meg cradled the almost two-month-old baby in her arms.

“I sure will,” she said and kissed little Violet on the head. “You finish up. Only half an hour until show time.”

Olivia fanned herself. “Is it really that soon? We don’t even have everyone lined up.”

Cage went over and held her hands. “Relax,” he soothed her. “I think we’ll all be fine lining up here in twenty minutes. Wouldn’t want anyone fainting on the way up the aisle.”

He winked at Meg, and she couldn’t agree more. The last thing they needed was the bride passing out in the middle of the church. Her mother might just have a stroke.

“Be right back.” She smiled at Olivia.

Cage followed her into the hall and shut the door.

“I’m taking bets that she hasn’t eaten anything all day and will get drunk off the champagne at the reception,” he said.

“I can hear you,” Olivia said through the door.

“Shit. Busted.” Cage raced away from the door, leaving Meg and Violet far behind.

Meg looked down at the baby. “Violet, we’re surrounded by crazy people. I think you should get used to it now.”

Violet laughed and reached out to grab her hair. She was starting to think she might also be one of those crazy people.

* * *

Liam jumped when the door swung wide open. A few seconds earlier, and they might have caught him with his pants around his ankles. Literally.

“Where’s Reed?” Cage asked. He could make out Meg and the baby just behind him.

“Went with your mom to help set up,” Liam said. He grinned. “Some great catastrophe.”

Cage turned to Meg. “Should we go find him?”

Meg pushed through with Violet and paused when she looked over to Liam. He quickly glanced down. His pants were still slightly open and shirt unbuttoned, but he was otherwise dressed.

Her eyes went back to Cage. “I think I can change a diaper,” she said and rolled her eyes. “I’ve only done it a thousand times before.”

“When did you change diapers?” Liam asked. It was surprising to him that Meg even knew how to hold a baby.

“Babysitting,” she said simply.

He watched with interest as she found the diaper bag on the desk and started pulling out items.

“That looks like my cue to leave,” Cage said from the door.

Meg turned to glare at him. “Go help Reed. Mom needs help if she’s going to get to enjoy the day.”

Cage groaned. “But she’s going to make me mess with frilly stuff.”

“Suck it up buttercup and be a big boy.” She smiled at him. “Besides, I heard that Sheryl is helping.”

Liam tried not to laugh when Cage perked up.

“Oh, well maybe I should go help.” He winked. “You know, for Mom.”

Meg snorted as he shut the door behind himself.

“Uncle Cage is an idiot,” Meg said to Violet.

Liam laughed. She looked over at him and glared.

“It seems to run in abundance among the men around us,” she mumbled. “Maybe you should button up your shirt.”

“Meg,” he said and moved next to her. When he looked down, Violet was freshly changed and grinning at the two of them. “You really are good at that.”

“Years of practice,” she said and picked up Violet. Liam watched as she spread out a blanket on the floor and laid the baby down. He buttoned up his shirt and tucked it in.

“I didn’t know you babysat,” he said and struggled with his tie.

Meg sighed and walked over to him, swatting his hands out of the way. “I’m going to bet that there’s a lot that you don’t know about me.”

Her sweet floral perfume drifted around him. He swallowed hard as she looked at him. When her hands stilled, he looked in the mirror at his now perfect tie.

“There,” she said and patted his chest. “Perfect.”

His heart twisted at her sweet smile.

“Meg, have you…”

Her mother came in, and they jumped away from each other.

He wanted to say something as Meg stared at him with those still wounded eyes. This wasn’t what he wanted. What he wanted was a normal life, a chance with someone that wouldn’t put them in danger. She turned from him to look at her mother.

“Oh, there’s my little pumpkin,” Mrs. Allen said and picked up Violet.

“All changed and ready to go.” Meg smiled.

“Thank you, dear.” Her mother leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. “I’m so glad to see you.”

“Me too, Mom.” Meg smiled.

Mrs. Allen’s all too sharp eyes cut to him. He was certain she knew everything there was to know, just by looking at a person. She just had a way of staring right into your soul.

“Put on your jacket, dear. We’re already lining up,” she said and moved away with little Violet in her arms.

Just like that, he was alone.

* * *

Meg sat at the main table and picked at her fish. Normally, she was a big fan of fish, but today had been a long day. Technically, today had been a long thirty-six hours. At this point, she was about ready to drop. She watched the others around her. Her mom and dad hadn’t stopped smiling all day. Little Violet snuggled close to her grandmother.

“I think I’ll have to take her home here soon.” Her mother smiled at Olivia.

She nodded and teared up a little. “Her bag is all packed in your car and ready to go.”

Meg watched as Reed rubbed her arm. “It’s just one night,” he whispered. “But we don’t have to. I just want you to be happy.”

Olivia shook her head and smiled at him. “I am happy. It’s just some mommy hormones.”

Reed grinned and leaned over to whisper in her ear. There was no need to hear the words. It was clear by the color of Olivia’s cheeks that whatever he had said had been well worth it.

Meg looked away, embarrassed.

Her eyes landed on her older brother Jet, his wife Heather and their two children. Beside them were her cousin Mason and his two children. She frowned and turned to Cage.

“Where’s Sarah?” she asked quietly.

Cage glanced down the table. “Things aren’t going well.” He turned so only she would hear. “We haven’t seen her around in months. As far as we know, she’s still living with him, but it can’t be for much longer.”

“How could she do that to the children?” she mumbled.

Cage shook his head. “You know she wanted nothing to do with having kids.”

Meg grunted in annoyance. No Sarah wanted nothing to do with anything that didn’t involve her being the center of attention. And that included her husband and children. She would have thought someone who was in their late twenties would be less flighty, but Sarah had only become worse. All those acting classes hadn’t helped, but at this point, it really didn’t matter. Meg looked down the table at her sad cousin and wondered the same thing they had all been wondering since he brought Sarah home. What the hell had he been thinking?

“Can we get the bride and groom out here?” the DJ called from the dance floor. She watched as they made their way out, and a romantic song played on the speakers.

Olivia and Reed moved across the dance floor. They looked so happy and in love. Meg couldn’t be happier for them. Standing with them as they married had been special. Not just because her brother was happy, but because they were all adding such an amazing person to the family. When little Violet fussed during the ceremony, no one seemed to mind that Reed walked over and picked her up. Happy in her father’s arms, they continued like nothing had changed. Of course, that was the way of her family. Roll with the punches.

She jumped when the DJ came over the loud speaker.

“Can we get the rest of the wedding party on the floor?” he said just slightly too loud and too close to the speaker.

“Shit,” she groaned. There was no ignoring Liam now, especially since he was standing behind her, his hand stretched out for hers.

Chapter Four

Liam smiled a little when Meg put her hand in his. He led her to the floor. She wouldn’t be able to avoid him now.

All during their walk down the aisle, she had barely spared him a glance, and her hands had been pretty much non-existent. Then at the table, she had traded his card with Cage’s and wouldn’t even look toward his end. By the time they stepped on the dance floor, he was pissed.

He pulled her hard against him, leaving no room to get away. She was going to look at him.

His larger hand engulfed her small one, and he marveled at her small waist. The dress looked great on her.

They moved slowly on the floor. He wasn’t exactly a skilled dancer, but he loved the feel of her pressed against him.

“You look nice,” he said softly to her.

Her head snapped up, and she set her dark brown eyes on him.

“Thanks,” she said and smiled. A frown followed. “You didn’t say anything about my hair. It had to be a shock.”

“Not really.” He frowned. “You posted about it a while ago.”

His mouth snapped shut, and he groaned inwardly.

“You read my blog?” she asked.

Liam looked down at her hopeful face, and it ate at him.

“Of course,” he said. “Someone had to make sure you were all right. Going to live with two men over the summer… I can’t believe your parents let you go.”

Meg stopped moving, and he knew he had gone too far.

“Let me go?” she whispered harshly to him. “Let me go?” Her face reddened.