Page 132 of Best Kind of Trouble
She doesn’t say anything. She simply stares at me. Finally, I’ve made Melanie Harris wordless.
I go back to Liam and reclaim my helmet, hooking it on as he turns to study me over his shoulder, his eyes full of admiration. “You’re not a princess anymore, Briar. You’re the motherfucking queen.”
And what do you know, I’m smiling as he revs up his bike and drives us out of the gates of Sterling Manor. I have no idea where we’re going, and right now, I don’t care.
I laughas he parks his bike next to Sunshine Diner. “Really, Liam?”
“I have fond memories of this place. It’s where I first realized you were a genius.”
“I was drunk.” I take off my helmet, and he returns it to the top box on his bike.
“And you still made more sense than most people. Let’s have some food and a shitty whiskey, and then I’ll take you home.”
I catch his arm before he can take a single step toward the diner. He turns to me, his eyes full of a yearning that makes my heart quicken—and topples the last of the walls I’ve tried to build to keep him out.
“Thank you.” I feel the words deep in my soul. “You’ve been there for me through all of this. You said the brewery wasn’t ours, that it was just mine, but itfeelslike ours.”
“I’m glad I’m earning my ten percent,” he says, tucking my hair behind my ear. “I take it very seriously.”
“You takemevery seriously.”
“I do,” he agrees, his gaze burning into me. “You deserve more than what you’ve been given, and I aim to see that you get it. Now, let’s get our whiskey and make Sharon’s night.”
“You honestly think she’d remember me?”
He reaches for me. My whole body begs for his touch, but he only tips my head up slightly so his eyes can fully search my face. “No one who’s ever met you has ever forgotten you. That woman back there…Ellie?—”
“Melly.” I smile, certain he knows exactly what her name is.
“She’s jealous of you. She wants tobeyou, but she knows she could never compare. So her best bet was to try destroying you. As if she could hope to take down a queen.”
“Liam,” I say in wonder.
“I know.” He grins as he runs his fingers down the side of my face and then releases me. “I’m supposed to be a grumpy asshole. Don’t worry. As soon as I get in there and taste that whiskey, I’ll be grumpy as hell.”
“You wanted to hit my father,” I comment, barely noticing the brush of coat against coat as someone presses past me on the sidewalk. All my attention is on this big, beautiful man in front of me, capable of such stunning ferocity and gentleness at once.
“You’ll never know how badly. Who knows what would have happened if I hadn’t had one of those dumb elastic bands on my wrist. I mean, I broke it, obviously, but it helped. Let it never be said that a Moroney can’t learn from past mistakes.”
“Liam, I…”
I don’t know how to say the words—to tell him I’m still so scared of being with him, especially knowing what failure would cost us both, but that I want to try anyway.
“Liam…I don’t know if we’re going to be able to keep the brewery open.”
“I’m not going to let him take this from you, Briar,” he says fiercely. “It’s not happening. If your father or his friends try anything, every single person on staff, not to mention the guys in the band, will stand behind you and fight. We’re your army. Use us.”
“It still might not be enough,” I admit. “Those restitution payments we’ve had to make… I don’t know how long we can stay open. I’ve applied for a few loans, but my jewelry business tanked. I don’t think they’re going to approve them. This might all be for nothing.”
“No,” he says forcefully. “No. It won’t have been for nothing.”
“I believe you about the app. I mostly believed you before, but?—”
“But you’re still wary.” He runs a hand over my hair. “I don’t blame you. I’m not a safe bet. I’m…what did Melly call me in that article? A loose cannon. Or we can go with your mother’s word for me.”
“You are a madman,” I say with a small smile. I’d like him to bemymadman.
“I aim to prove myself to you.”
