18

Alistair


I rushed into the senior home with the low-sugar cupcakes I had bought for James and Grandpa, nearly colliding with a woman hurrying out at the same time—

"Liliana," I exclaimed, taken aback to see her, especially with her eyes so swollen and red, as if she had been crying. "Is everything okay? Is James—"

"Oh, yes," she replied with a laugh and a deep sniff. "He's fine. Just one of those days. They're about to have dinner."

Her tear-stained eyes suggested it was more than just a challenging day.

I hadn't seen her since the day she brought soup for Julian a month ago.

Since the day I almost kissed her.

"Are you sure you're alright?" I asked, reaching out for her.

She stepped back before I could touch her arm, looking away and biting her lip. "Honestly, I'm fine. Just in a rush. Tell Dave I said hi."

Before I could say anything else, she hurried to her car, leaving me standing there watching her depart.

I had held off on calling or texting her, even though I had wanted to the moment Julian informed me she had ended things between them and ordered me out of his house.

I had convinced myself it wouldn't be right to pursue my brother's ex-girlfriend, especially when he was still hung up on her. I couldn't do it, especially with Julian still furious and not speaking to me.

Inside, I found Grandpa and James at their dinner table. I pulled up a chair and chatted with them while they ate, both eyeing the chocolate cupcakes I had brought.

"I saw Liliana on my way in," I said to James. "She seemed upset. Is everything alright?"

"She's just sad about leaving me here while she heads off to New York," he replied, pausing mid-bite to look at me.

I was probably in shock, and it showed. "New York?"

"Yeah, she landed a job at a big marketing agency in the city," he explained, clearing his throat. "She leaves tomorrow, you know."

Damn it. I had no idea.

I’d waited, trying to do the right thing. Trying not to hurt Julian more than he was already hurting.

And just like the day I’d met Liliana, my hesitance had cost me my chance with her. Maybe it wouldn’t have made a difference and she’d still be moving away.

There was almost no chance of anything happening between us, not with her in New York and me in Oregon. What was the point in saying anything to her now?

Even knowing that, I had to go. I had to see her before she left. Even if I never even got to kiss Liliana, I wanted to spend time with her while I could.

“I’m going to leave these cupcakes,” I said, and James put his hand up.

“Go. I think we can handle it.” He winked at me, and he and Grandpa shared a laugh.

I should have called her before showing up on her doorstep. I should have at least texted. But I was in such a rush to get to her house, I was knocking before I’d even thought about how it would look.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Alistair,” she said breathily.

Her eyes were less red, and her smile was still just as beautiful as ever.

“I’m sorry for showing up like this. But James told me about New York. And I . . . I had to see you before you left. To congratulate you on the job.”

I couldn’t help glancing down her body, at the way her short skirt gave such a great view of her shapely thighs.

Her full lips curved into a soft smile.

“Thanks,” she said brightly, then she looked over her shoulder. “I was just about to have dinner. Do you want to come in?”

I followed her inside the small, tidy apartment. The walls were mostly bare now, boxes stacked everywhere.

“Are you hungry? I have plenty of pasta." Liliana said, leading me to the kitchen area.

"Starving," I admitted with a grin.

She gave us each a plate to fill, then we sat in her dining nook and ate. Tension hung in the air between us.

"How have you been?" Liliana asked after a moment, her voice soft. "How are things with Julian?"

“That’s a good question.” At her frown, I added, “I’m sure he’s fine. I know he’s still working at the dealership, still has friends. I think he might have even slowed down on the drinking since you broke it off. I moved out and crashed in Benedict’s basement until I found a place to rent. He insisted since he decided to stop speaking to me.”

Liliana's face fell. "Alistair. I'm so sorry. I feel so bad about that. I tried to explain that you didn’t say anything to me.”

I waved her off. “I told him too. He’ll get over himself eventually and realize that the only person who did Julian wrong was Julian.”

The last thing I wanted to talk about with Liliana was Julian. So, I leaned back and took a drink of water.

“Anyway, enough about that. Tell me about this job. James said it was at a fancy marketing agency in the city.”

Her pretty face lit up. “Riggs and Boone PR. They do promotions for a lot of celebrities’ perfume and fashion lines, write ads for a lot of Procter & Gamble products, that kind of thing. I found a cracker box apartment that’s still way too expensive, but my salary’s pretty good. I can make a real dent in my student loans, and once those are gone, find something a lot nicer.”

“That sounds really fantastic, Liliana. I’m so happy for you.”

I was genuinely happy for her, even as my heart ached knowing she would soon be far away building her new life. Away from me.

She closed her eyes for a moment and stood, gathering the food and trash from the table. “I’m just so scared that I’ll go and something will happen to Grandpa. I’ll be three thousand miles away, and—”

“I’m here, Liliana. When I go to check on my grandpa, I’ll check on James.” I stood and started helping her clean off the table. “They’re together most of the time anyway. Won’t be hard.”

“I’d appreciate that so much,” she said, her voice tight.

She was leaving tomorrow. It was now or never, wasn’t it?

“I’m going to miss running into you at Crystal Fountains,” I admitted. “Ever since we met, and especially for the last couple months, I’d hoped to see you every time I went.”

Liliana nodded, licking her lips. She blinked fast and took a deep breath.

“Me too,” she admitted. Then she turned to the sink to wash some of the dishes. “And I’ve been finally feeling less guilty every time I’ve hoped for that,” she said softly.

My blood pounded through my veins. I’d wanted to hear her say something like that for months.

“There’s no need for guilt. Not anymore,” I said softly as I stepped close behind her.

Her whole body tensed and her movements slowed as she seemed to sense my closeness.

I fought the urge to wrap my arms around her. I reached for the counter instead, bracketing her body between my arms.

Her hands shook as she put a dish in the drainer. I leaned closer, softly resting my forehead against her head.

“Liliana,” I murmured in her hair. "I can't stop thinking about you. I’ve wanted you since the moment I saw you."

She sighed and shook her head slowly.

I moved my hands from the counter and gently rested them on her hips. “Tell me you don’t want this. Tell me I’m crazy and I’ve imagined this thing between us.”

“I feel it too, but…,” she paused. “What kind of a woman does that? Dates one brother, then jumps into the arms of the other brother after they break up.”

"One that ended up with the wrong brother because the other one let her slip away.”

She inhaled, her body shuddering.

I breathed in deeply, letting the light floral scent of her hair soak into me.

“Tell me to stop and I will.” I leaned down enough that my lips brushed the shell of her ear as I whispered, "Just say the word, Liliana. Or I won’t be able to stop myself."

Slowly, I slid my hands up the sides of her body.

“Alistair…” she whispered.

My hands froze in place as I held my breath.

“I don’t want you to stop,” she continued. “I feel it every time I'm with you. From that first day we met. There's this connection between us I can't explain."

She leaned back against me, her body trembling lightly against mine.

Any doubts I’d ever had disappeared.

“Baby,” I breathed as Liliana ever so slowly turned to face me. I got lost in her beautiful blue eyes, wondering how the hell I’d ever let this woman slip through my fingers.

I wasn’t going to make that mistake again.