CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
After a few weeks of moping around, I finally feel ready to do something besides hide out. Don’t get me wrong, if a person needs to hide out there’s no better place than the Hollister compound. But I’m also restless.
Liam and I are staying at his parents’ to help Kimber with her recovery. I’m sure our friends think that’s weird, but I’m happy and it feels like home. Always has.
It’s also a way for us to save money since Liam hasn’t gone back to work yet. Something that I know is my fault, but Liam assures me is fine.
It’s a hot July afternoon, but up in the mountains there’s actually a breeze, so Kimber and I are sitting in the backyard.
“Where are you, baby girl?” Liam calls out.
“Out back!”
Kimber picks up her head at the sound of Liam’s voice and stares at the back door until he comes through it. I set my book down and turn around.
His lips curve into a smile the second he sees me, and he places a kiss on the top of my head. “Feel like going for a drive?”
“Sure.”
Kimber and I follow him out to the truck. He hoists her into the back seat where she immediately sticks her head out the window and waits for the ride to begin.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
When we’re on the highway, I realize we’re headed toward campus. “My Teaching Assistant job doesn’t start for another six weeks,” I remind him.
“I know.”
Forty-five minutes later, he steers the truck onto a small tree-lined street near the university and pulls into the driveway of a modest brick bungalow.
“Where are we?”
“You’ll see.”
Kimber waits patiently for Liam to lift her out of the truck and set her on the ground. I take her leash.
“Who lives here?”
He answers my question by taking a set of keys out of his pocket. “We do.”
“What?” I stare at the keys as he drops them in my palm.
His hand settles at the small of my back and guides me up the sidewalk. “Come on.”
Inside, the place is empty. Light hardwood floors reflect the sunlight streaming in from the large bay windows in the front of the house.
Slowly, I walk through the kitchen, living room, and bathroom. “Liam, how?”
“I rented it. They allow dogs.” He tilts his head toward the sliding glass door that leads to the fenced backyard. Kimber wags her nub as she stares through the glass at a couple of squirrels frolicking on the patio.
Liam chuckles and follows me to the bedroom at the end of the hallway. “This must be the master bedroom—” I let out a gasp when I see the built-in window seat on the left.
“As soon as I saw it, I knew this was our place.” Liam’s hands settle on my shoulders. “You like it?”
“I love it.” I turn and stare up at him. “It’s perfect.”
“We can rent to own if you decide you really like it here.”
A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. “But I thought you hated the city, country boy?”
“Well, I better learn to love it, because I just got accepted into the Empire Police Academy.”
“Oh my God! You did?” I stop jumping around for a second. “But you loved your job. I don’t want you to give that up because of me.”
He pulls me into his arms. “I love you more.”
“Liam—”
“Bree, this is a good change for me. It pays more. I have a better chance of being promoted. It’s going to be good for us.”
I raise an eyebrow and trail my fingers down his chest. “You won’t be my sexy sheriff anymore.”
His arms tighten around me. “I’ll always be yours.”
Hearing that never gets old.
“But wait, why do you have to go through the academy again?”
“It’s not as intense, but some of the training differs. It’s fine. I’m excited about it.”
I start jumping around again. “Then I’m excited for you.”
Vince and I slap palms as I approach our favorite booth in our favorite bar later that night. “How’d it go?” he asks.
“Good. She loved the place.” I slide into the booth across from him.
“Where is she?” he asks.
I point to the bar, where Bree stopped to talk to her friend. “I think she wants to play matchmaker tonight.”
“I’m not interested.” He glances at the girl and raises an eyebrow. “Maybe. She’s tiny though. I’d break her in half.”
“Jesus.” I almost spit beer all over him. “Not you.”
“Who?”
“Never mind. I want to ask you something before she comes over.”
His blue eyes, so similar to Bree’s, widen. “Oh, Christ, please don’t tell me you’re asking my permission to marry my sister.”
I cock my head and stare at him.
And stare.
Because, yes, that’s sort of what I’m doing. “I’m not asking your permission. I’m just giving you the heads up. If you have any objections, now’s the time to spit ’em out.”
It’s probably the shitty lighting in here, but I swear Vince’s eyes shine a little. “You’ve given her everything I always wanted her to have. How could I object?”
“Thank you.”
Before we both start bawling and hugging each other, Keegan joins us. “Things look uncomfortable over here. I thought you were over it, Vince?”
“Shut up,” Vince grumbles, shifting to the middle of the round booth to make room for Keegan. He lifts his gaze to me and I slightly shake my head. I don’t want to tell anyone about my plan to propose to Bree in a couple days.
Sully approaches our table next and that’s when Bree finally joins us, dragging her friend over. “Liam, you remember Aubrey? Aubrey, this is my cranky brother, Vince, our friend Keegan, and you know Sully of course.” Then she not-so-subtly shoves Aubrey into the booth next to Sully.
I reach out and take her hand, pulling her down next to me. “Obvious much?” I whisper against her ear.
She shrugs and leans into me. “What were you and Vince talking about so seriously?” she asks.
“Nothing exciting.”