Liam Read online

  “I don’t understand,” she said and crossed her arms. “If this wasn’t going to work, why did you kiss me back?”

  He pulled up to the curb outside her house and sighed.

  “It was a response,” he said and kept his eyes fixed on something outside the front window.

  “A response,” she said slowly.

  He gave a curt nod. “It was a mistake. I shouldn’t have let it go that far.”

  Her face flamed as he spoke. The best night of her life, and it was a mistake to him. Meg’s throat had gone dry, and her eyes burned. She opened the door without a word.

  “Meg,” he said softly and reached out for her. She pulled out of his grasp.

  “Just…” she said shakily. “Just don’t.”

  Meg shut the door and raced inside. Within the safety of her home, she let out the tears she had been holding back.

  Not this time. Today, Meg was stronger than that. He had already broken her heart once, there was no way she was letting it happen again. They stopped outside the church.

  “Meg,” he said softly.

  The hairs on the back of her neck raised at his voice, almost exactly the same as that night. Anger roared through her.

  “You know what I learned in London?” She turned to him and took pleasure in his confused look. “That kisses don’t mean all that much,” she said. “But then, I guess I didn’t have to go to London to learn that.”

  His head snapped back like he’d been hit. Meg leaned a little closer.

  “But let me make this clear. You put your mouth on me again, and I’m prone to bite,” she said and snapped her teeth at him.

  Meg pushed out of the car and up the stair. She had a wedding to attend.

  Liam watched her climb up the stairs in her very high heels. He frowned. She was different. Her hair, the way she talked, even the way she dressed. He couldn’t even remember the last time he had seen her in a dress, but there she was, flouncy dress and high heels, acting like she was going to take on the world.

  He groaned and laid his head back against the seat rest. Why couldn’t he just keep his damn hands to himself? His jaw twitched as he tried to get himself in check.

  No question about it, she was going to send him to an early grave. His lower half throbbed in time with his heart. Having her lean in all sultry like and talk about biting him, it had nearly done him in.

  A knock on the window broke the silence, and his hand went for his gun.

  “Whoa,” Cage said from the other side of the glass. “Just checking to see what the holdup is.”

  Liam grimaced and pulled the keys from the ignition. When he opened the door, he tried to discretely shift certain parts, so they weren’t so prominent.

  “Saw my sister head in,” Cage said, giving Liam an odd look. “Guess you all weren’t able to patch things up?”

  Liam gave a tight laugh and shut the door. “You could say that.”

  Cage followed him up the stairs to the church. “Well, thanks for getting her. Mom had all these plans for today, and everyone got roped into them.”

  Liam chuckled as Cage held the door open for him and rolled his eyes.

  “All I know is I’m eloping,” Cage said. “All this money being spent and Reed’s not even going to get laid.”

  “Who says I’m not?” Reed said from the doorway.

  Liam smiled at his no-nonsense boss. For the boss of a security company, he sure fit the bill. Well, minus the babbling baby in his arms. Her sweet little cherub face dropped the macho in the room by about ten degrees. He smiled at her chubby little face.

  Cage waved an arm at the baby. “Well, there’s your number one reason,” he said and stooped down to put his face in front of the baby. “Isn’t that right little, Vi? You going to cock block daddy tonight?”

  She squealed in delight at her silly uncle.

  Reed turned her away from him. “I’ve told you it’s not Vi, but Violet, and don’t say cock block in front of her.” Reed paused a moment before heading toward the church. “Also, Mom is watching her tonight, so there will be no blocking.”

  Cage snickered at his brother’s irritation.

  “Whatever, she’s a baby. She doesn’t have a clue what I’m saying.” He took her from Reed’s arms. “Besides, she said she’s still angry at her parents for naming her after the blueberry girl in that chocolate movie.”

  Liam watched in amusement as the two bickered.

  “Olivia likes violets,” Reed said through clenched teeth. “Now quit harassing me on my wedding day.”

  “Come on, Vi,” Cage said to the baby. “Let’s see if we can find your crazy grandma.”

  “You better not let your mother hear you say that,” Mr. Allen said from the other side of the door.

  Liam fought a stab of bitterness. Reed and Cage had a loving father. He was the bastard son of a psychotic thug.

  “Well she shouldn’t act so crazy, and I wouldn’t say it,” he said loudly. “Anyway, she wouldn’t hit a man with a baby.”

  Cage winked at them and walked off with little baby Violet cooing at him as they went.

  Liam heard Mr. Allen from behind the door sigh and then movement. When he came into view, Liam could see he was already dressed for the ceremony.

  “I better make sure he doesn’t get into trouble, or we’ll all get cock blocked,” he said.

  Liam nearly choked trying to keep down the laugh that threatened to come out.

  “So, I assume Meg got in safe,” Reed said as they watched Reed’s father walk away.

  Liam turned to him and nodded.

  “She should be with the women now,” he said.

  Reed stared at him for a moment before nodding to the door and walking in. The room was small: a desk, couch and few armchairs. He assumed it was normally the preacher’s office. On the desk sat a tumbler with amber liquid inside. Reed picked it up and took a drink.

  “Liquid courage?” Liam said lightly as he sat onto the comfortable couch.

  Reed laughed loudly. “Hardly,” he said and grinned. “More like Mom tonic.”

  “That bad?” Liam raised a brow.

  Reed shook his head and took a seat in the chair across from him. “Not really. She just wants everything to be perfect for Olivia,” he said. “Only having one daughter, she didn’t think she’d get the opportunity to be a mom for another woman.”

  He smiled warmly.

  Reed raised his glass and grinned. “But that doesn’t mean she hasn’t been hell on wheels for the past week.”

  Liam watched as Reed finished off the last bit in the glass.

  The room got quiet as Reed stared at him.

  “Did you tell her?” he asked after a moment.

  “Tell who?” he asked. Confusion setting in.

  “Meg,” Reed sighed. “Did you tell Meg about my offer?”

  “About opening a place in Texas? Why would I tell her?” He swallowed. This was not the conversation he wanted to be having.

  Reed stared at him hard. “You know there isn’t a one of us that wouldn’t love to see you together.”

  Liam’s jaw tightened. “And you know why that’s not a good idea.”

  Reed shook his head and stood. “What I know is that you’re a good man, and no amount of family connection is going to change that,” he said. “Hell, your brother isn’t so bad. At least he’s moving away from the old ways.”

  Liam flinched at the mention of Finn. He might be willing to accept that Finn was his brother, but it still felt so strange to hear it said aloud.

  “Being with me would just put her in danger,” Liam said firmly.

  Reed laughed and tossed out his arms. “In case you hadn’t noticed, she’s already put in danger by working for me.”

  Liam shook his head and stood. “It’s not the same. We’re talking about the Russian mob.” His heart leapt into his throat. “You can’t ask me to put her in that kind of danger.”

  He turned to stare out the small window facing the back of the
church.

  “Besides,” Liam said after some time. “We’re just too far apart in age. She’s so young, and I’ve seen so much.”

  When he turned around, Reed was studying him like he’d just sprouted wings.

  “Meg isn’t the girl we all remember,” he said quietly and pulled a garment bag from the closet. “And we’ve all seen a lot.”

  He opened his mouth to protest when Reed held up a hand.

  “I won’t push,” he said. “Just know where we stand. As for the offer, think it over and get back to me. We aren’t looking to set up operations right away since Johnny and Trent aren’t out of the military yet, but here in about six months, we should be ready to roll.”

  Liam heard the concern in his voice. “How’s Trent doing?”

  Reed handed over the garment bag and scrubbed a hand over his face. As a close friend of the family, Trent was treated as one of the fold. Especially considering what he had done for Johnny.

  “As well as to be expected,” he said. “The sniper hit his knee, and luckily, it missed the bones there, but the soft tissue was badly damaged. He’s walking pretty well now, but there’s still some residual stiffness.”

  “And the SEALs won’t take him back?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

  “They were happy to put him in some office, but that wasn’t what he wanted to do.” Reed sighed. “If he opens up operations down south, he can still do the work he loves.”

  “And Johnny?” Liam asked.

  Reed shrugged. “Early retirement.”

  Liam frowned. “I thought he was going career.”

  “He was, but Trent’s career was ruined when he saved his life.” He sighed. “Besides, I think he was tired of it. It would do them both good to be settled for a while.”

  Liam nodded but not totally agreeing. The two men had been through a lot together, including losing Trent’s brother Paul. The times he had met them, neither seem very comfortable with being outside the military, and he wondered how they would cope.

  “It’s a good opportunity,” Reed said.

  Liam nodded it was. It was a great chance to really make some money. He sighed.

  “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.

&n
bsp; “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.”