Chapter 9

Liam was horrified as he realized that he had yet again run into Maggie and inflicted some injury upon her.

“Oh, Maggie! I am so sorry!” he yelled.

Brett ran around the table to check the damage, disguising his laughter with a fake cough.

“Um, Maggie, why don’t you go to my office and clean up? I will have Jill come up here and meet you down there,” he said, taking the tray.

She turned and walked down the steps as two other waitresses came up with towels to mop the floor and help Sheila.

She entered Brett’s office and slammed the door, walking over to the large bathroom he had in there. She looked in the mirror and saw her shirt clinging to her curves and dripping onto her pants.

She let the tears fall, wondering why this kept happening to her. She heard the door open and slam behind her as she leaned over the sink, crying.

“Hey, come on. It’s not that bad, Mags! Come on, come sit down a minute.” Brett said, coaxing her out of the bathroom. He sat her down on the couch and handed her a towel to dry off.

“Why is my life such shit?”

“It’s not shit, Mags, just a little streak of bad luck. It happens,” he said as the door opened again, and Liam came in.

She looked at him. “Did you come to finish me off? I still have two working legs!”

“Darling, I don’t hate you or want to finish you off. I am just so sorry! Are you okay?”

“Just peachy! This is the second outfit you have ruined, on top of breaking me.

“I can’t work tonight because of this, and I desperately need money, since my car has now turned against me and died! And I have no savings for a down payment on another one!”

“Your car died?” Liam asked.

“Yep, the perfect ending to the worst spring break ever!”

“Do you want to use my other car, Mags?” Brett offered.

“If you don’t need it, I would be grateful if I could. It might be for some time…”

“That’s okay, I don’t use it. How’s the arm?” he asked as he took a towel and draped it over her shoulders.

“It’s sore and uncomfortable, but it’s easier now that it’s in a cast. At least I can shower, which I have to do again when I get home.”

“Okay, I will take you home. Just give me a minute to finish some things.”

“No, I will take her home, Brett. You are meeting with people and have a business to run,” Liam said, moving closer to the couch.

“Is that okay, Maggie?” Brett asked.

“As long as he doesn’t crash the car with me in it!” she exclaimed.

They chuckled as she finished squeezing her shirt out in the towel. Brett went up and fetched her purse and sweater.

He kissed her as he helped her put her sweater on and told her he would bring the car over tomorrow.

Liam took her by the good arm and led her out to his car. Maggie looked around for the little two-seat sports car he had last night and was surprised when he directed her to an Audi.

He helped her get in and closed the door before hopping to the driver’s side.

Liam was pulling out of the packed parking lot when he heard Maggie ask, “How many cars do you have?”

He cleared his throat and rubbed his neck. “I have a few…”

“Do you hate me? Is that why you keep doing this?”

Liam looked at her as he stopped at the traffic lights. “Are you serious?”

“Very.”

He stalled for a minute as he pulled up to her street and helped her to her apartment. Once inside, Maggie looked at him, waiting for an answer.

He stood behind one of the kitchen chairs and grabbed the top, holding onto it for support.

“Hate you? I could~ never~ hate you, Maggie. On the contrary, I find you intriguing and beautiful. I have no idea why I have turned into an accident-prone idiot every time you are around.

“This has never happened to me before!”

She looked at him with her head cocked. “You think I’m beautiful?”

“So beautiful! I have wanted nothing more than to take you in my arms since I knocked you to the ground.”

She had no idea what to say to him but just looked at him, really looked at him for the first time.

He was over six feet tall, with brown tousled hair and warm chocolatey-brown eyes. His build was strong and athletic, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist.

She noticed for the first time the way his pants hung low on his waist and showed off a nice set of legs and the curve of a well-sculpted ass.

His arms were muscular, but not huge. They looked perfect for giving hugs.

His skin was nicely tanned, and his sexy smile always showed off a dimple on his left cheek.

She was attracted to him, there was no denying that. But what should she do about it?

She just had her heart broken and had no idea what would happen next. Someone like him didn’t need her type of complications in his life.

“Did you still want to take a shower? I am sure a beer and scotch scrub was not what you had planned on today.”

“No, it wasn’t. I still need a shower. Can you stay in case I need help?”

“Of course! I will be right here,” he said, smiling at her.

She went back to the bathroom and used her good hand to unbutton the top. After throwing it to the ground, she wriggled out of the pants and tossed them onto the floor.

She turned on the shower and stepped in, letting the water wash away the stickiness. She washed as quickly as she could and stepped out, drying off and putting on her PJs.

Liam felt like he had been punched in the gut when he saw her step into the kitchen with wet hair and her arm in a sling again. She was so clean, fresh, and beautiful.

“Thank you for staying. I appreciate it. I just haven’t figured out how to maneuver with this thing yet.”

“It was my pleasure. Really.”

She was melting under his stare for the first time and didn’t know what to do or say.

“Well, since you are ready for bed, I’m going to get going and let you get some sleep.”

“Oh…okay…”

Liam moved toward the door and stopped when he heard, “Do you want to stay and eat something with me?”

“You haven’t eaten yet?”

“No, I was going to get something from the club on my break.”

“Sure, I’ll eat with you.”

“Well, would you like a sandwich? I discovered that I can’t cook one-handed…”

He chuckled and replied, “Why don’t I order some pizza? That way you don’t have to try and cook like a pirate, and we don’t eat a cold sandwich for dinner. It’s my treat.”

She nodded and gave him the name of the local pizza place that she liked, and he called and ordered way more than they could eat. They sat on the couch, watching TV as they waited.

Gus came up and sat on the arm of the couch and acted like he was listening to them talk.

They shared stories of their childhood growing up. His life sounded a lot more exciting than hers.

He had traveled to different countries while she had been playing in the streets and parks with Olivia, Makayla, and Brett. She played softball, he played rugby and rowed.

The pizza arrived, and they continued their conversations while stuffing their faces, ending with their college days.

“I heard about your conquests in college! You and Brett had a really good time taking over Yale!”

Liam panicked a little. He would be the first to say he had gone a little overboard in college with the women and drinking, but so had Brett.

Now, he was much pickier with the women he dated. And he had never dated anyone like Maggie.

He told her his regrets and how he had grown up. Throughout the conversation, he was desperately falling for her and knew he had to leave before it became too obvious.

“I’d better go. You have had a long day.”

She walked him to the door. “Thanks for dinner, Liam.”

“It’s the least I could have done considering your spa treatment tonight.”

Her laughter rang like bells. God, he could listen to that forever.

“Good night, Maggie,” he whispered as he leaned in and gently kissed her cheek.

She stood completely straight, afraid to move and break the spell. He pulled back and put a hand on her arm.

“Sleep well.” He turned to leave.

Maggie, having no idea where it came from, pulled him back and moved closer to him.

“That’s not a goodnight kiss…”

He raised an eyebrow, putting his hand behind her back and leaning in closer so he could see the different shades of blue in her eyes before she closed them as he gently placed his lips on hers.

The explosion was unreal for them both as soon as their lips touched. He wanted to pick her up and carry her to her bed, strip her naked and kiss every part of her body until she screamed his name.

But it was too soon. Instead, he just let his lips work hers and then gently slid his tongue into her mouth.

Maggie let out a soft moan as she felt him bunch her shirt on her back tighter and knew she wanted him right then and there.

Her legs started to weaken, and she wrapped her good arm around him, feeling the tight muscles under his shirt.

She would have given anything to rip the shirt off him, and the only thing that stopped her was him pulling back.

He was breathing hard as he looked at her heaving chest.

“Was that a better goodnight kiss?” he whispered into her hair.

“Uh, yeah…,” she mumbled, barely able to form words.

“I have to go now before I don’t leave at all, and that’s not my plan for romancing you.”

Her eyes went wide as she heard him. He kissed her forehead and said good night again, walking down the hall. She watched until he rounded the corner.

Gus trilled a greeting as she got back to the living room.

Maggie scratched his ear. “I think I am in ~big~ trouble, buddy!”

Gus just looked at her as she turned off the lights and went to her room, getting comfortable on her bed. She fell asleep with her lips tingling still from the kiss she had shared with Liam.