I lean up to press my lips to his mobile mouth. “I love you, you know that right?” I whisper softly while gazing into his eyes. “I absolutely adore you.”
Liam’s blue gaze flashes and he reaches one big hand around to squeeze my big cheeks.
“I love you too, Lissy. Now, let’s go sweetheart, or we’re going to miss the party altogether.”
But I pause for a moment.
“Should we bring something?” I ask, shooting him a questioning glance. “It feels weird to show up empty handed. Maybe a bottle of wine?”
Liam chuckles. “No, it’s fine. Bart’s just having some people over at his apartment, and it’s really informal. But if it would make you feel better, how about grabbing something from the wine fridge?”
It would make me feel better, so I nod and teeter over to the kitchen before picking out a nice Zinfandel from our selection. Liam nods his approval as he puts on his jacket.
“He’ll love it,” my boyfriend growls. “Zin is the best.”
I nod and smile.
“Good, I’m glad. By the way, is Bart still dating that girl? Is she going to be there? What was her name again? Isabelle or Isabella?”
After all, Bart is a gorgeous man. My boyfriend’s friend is mesmerizing with his dark hair, piercing blue gaze and chiseled physique. Those astonishing good looks also mean that he’s got a million women after him, and the last time we met up, he had a thin, beautiful girl on his arm. I’m pretty sure Isabella was an actual Italian model who didn’t speak much English, but it didn’t matter. Using body language, she made it clear that she was all about the handsome alpha male, and that she’d be more than willing to join him in bed later that night.
But for some reason, my boyfriend’s preoccupied and not listening.
“Earth to Liam,” I say, waving my hand in front of his face as he stares at his cell. Apologetically, he tucks his phone into his jeans.
“Sorry, what’s that sweetie?” he asks, snapping out of it.
“I was asking if I should expect to see that girl from last time at this party. You know, Isabelle or Isabella. The one Bart was dating.”
Liam shakes his head.
“Nope, because he broke up with her almost immediately after that double date. It wasn’t serious or anything. It was just a fling.”
My eyes widen. “Really? But why? She was so beautiful!”
Liam shrugs. “Maybe, but Bart’s not into that kind of look. She’s not his type.”
My jaw drops.
“No way. That hardly seems possible because she looked like a cover model. I mean, that wavy black hair and the flashing black eyes?”
Liam merely shrugs.
“Yeah, but you know that real guys aren’t into women who resemble clothes hangers. I mean, it’s all skin and bones, not to mention chicken skin stretched over razor sharp shoulder blades and shit like that. Trust me, she wasn’t his type. She’s definitely not my type either,” he says emphatically, giving my ample rump a fond squeeze.
I stare at him.
“So Bart likes women with curves?” I ask, hardly believing my own words. “But why did he date her then?”
Liam shrugs.
“Who knows? Maybe they were set up on a blind date by their moms. Seriously, I have no idea but most guys like girls with padding, sweetheart, because there’s more to hold in bed and you can give it to a woman hard when she’s got meat on her bones. Just like I do with you, honey, almost every night,” he says with a wink. I go warm all over and am about to reply when Liam drops a casual statement that throws me for a spin.
“Actually, when he first met you, Bart mentioned how sexy he thinks you are, Alyssa.”
I flush and laugh it off. “Are you serious? I’m surprised he said anything, seeing that he knows I’m with you. It’s kind of a violation of the bro-code, right?”
My boyfriend shrugs again.
“Not really. I mean, he knows you’re with me so it’s not a threat or anything. He was just saying that he appreciates your womanly figure, that’s all.”
My cheeks go pink.
“Really?” I whisper.
Liam looks down with a fond smile and squeezes my hand.
“Yeah, really. You’re not going to be self-conscious when we get to the party now, are you?”
I glance up at him.
“I might! I mean, Bart’s really handsome, but …”
Oh no, have I said too much? But Liam’s blue gaze merely gleams.
“But what, honey?”
I stare at him.
“But I’m with you, that’s all,” I stammer as my heart races. “Nothing would ever come between us,” I say in a firm tone. “I would never.”
Liam grins and gives me a peck on the cheek.
“Good,” he says. “But let me know if you have an itch to scratch because I’m more open-minded than you think. You know I’m not one of those cavemen-aggressor-He-Man types, and we could do a lot worse than Bart.”