Tempting a King (King Family Romance Book 1) by Isla Drake (small books to read .txt) 📗

“Thanks,” I say before letting her go.

I spend the next two hours eating, drinking and laughing with my siblings. It’s the most carefree I’ve felt in a long time and I wonder if Hannah is the cause. Whatever is to blame, I decide I like the feeling. Maybe Hannah and Claire are right. Maybe I need to laugh and smile more.

Chapter Twenty-one

Hannah

I wake up later than normal. Bright sunlight streams through the window as I roll over in my bed. Every muscle in my body is sore and I smile when I remember why. Finn. I vaguely remember him leaving in the early morning hours. My stomach flutters when I remember everything that came before he left. I burrow under my blankets for a few more minutes, indulging myself in the memories of all the different ways he’d used my body last night. I’d used his as well, taking as well as giving. I feel a broad grin stretch across my face and I cover it with both hands even though there’s no one around to see it.

I think of Liam and I know I need to wake him up soon. He’s always been a big fan of sleep. I sometimes think he’d sleep until the afternoon if I let him. I force myself out of bed and into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the soreness in my muscles. When I emerge, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, damp hair hanging down my back, Liam is coming out of the hallway bathroom. He looks like he just woke up. He’s still in pajamas and sleepy-eyed. I smile and ruffle his hair as I pass him.

“Hey, bud. You hungry?”

He nods sleepily and follows me to the kitchen. He silently pours himself a bowl of cereal while I get the coffee pot going. I wait until I have a cup of coffee in my hand before I sit next to him at the table.

“Liam, I need to talk to you.”

He gives me a quick glance before turning his attention back to his bowl. I know he’s listening, but food is probably more interesting to him right now. I take a sip from my mug and try again.

“You know Mr. Finn?”

He nods, spoon in mouth. “Mm hmm.”

“Well, you know Mr. Finn and I are friends, right?”

He nods.

“And we work together.”

Another nod. So far, so good.

“Well,” I say. “Mr. Finn and I like each other a lot.”

“I like Mr. Finn too,” he says around a mouthful of cereal. “He’s nice.”

I smile. “Yes, he is. He’s really nice.”

I watch Liam eat a few more bites of cereal, stalling. “Liam, Finn and I like each other as more than just friends,” I finally say.

There’s a moment where Liam’s spoon pauses. It’s just for a second, but I see it. Then it continues its journey to the bowl. He doesn’t look at me when he speaks again.

“Like a boyfriend?”

I take a breath. “What do you know about boyfriends and girlfriends?”

“Brianna asked me to be her boyfriend,” he says, shocking me.

“Oh, really? And what did you say?”

He shrugs. “I don’t want to kiss her.”

I hide a smile. “Well, being a boyfriend is about more than just kissing,” I say. “Besides, you don’t have to kiss someone just because you’re their boyfriend.”

“Do you and Mr. Finn kiss?”

Shit.

“Um.” I cough into my hand to hide my strangled laughter. I take a breath and meet Liam’s gaze. I need to be honest.

“Yeah, buddy. We do. Is that okay?”

He makes a face as if he can’t believe anyone would want to do such a thing. “I guess,” he says skeptically. “But I don’t want to kiss Brianna.”

I smile. “You don’t have to kiss anyone. You’re too young for that, anyway.”

He sighs, clearly relieved by this. “Good.”

He finishes his cereal and drinks the milk from the bowl. When he’s done, he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. He looks thoughtful for a moment before he speaks again.

“Does Mr. Finn make you laugh, Momma?”

I’m not sure why he asks the question, but I smile when I answer. “He does. Why?”

“Cause that’s how it is in the movies,” he says, walking over to the sink with his bowl. “The man makes the woman laugh and they kiss and then they live happily ever after.”

I nod. It all sounds pretty simple when he says it.

“Yes,” I say. “We make each other laugh.”

“Good,” he says.

“Are you okay with Finn hanging around us more?” I ask. This is the first time I’ve ever broached the subject of me dating with Liam. It’s the only time I’ve ever felt the need. I’m oddly nervous as I wait for his answer.

“Can we still play baseball?”

I smile. “I don’t see why not. We can definitely ask him.”

“Cool.” Then he turns and walks out of the kitchen. A few seconds later, I hear the television in the living room.

Huh. That was easier than I expected. It helps that Liam knows Finn and likes him. It helps that Finn is incredibly easy to like. I sip my coffee in the silent kitchen and smile to myself. I finish my coffee and put the dirty dishes into the dishwasher. I start a load of laundry before joining Liam in the living room. We spend most of the day watching TV on the couch. It’s a typical lazy Sunday for the two of us and it’s just what we need.

Chapter Twenty-two

Hannah

I’m nervous the next morning when I pull into the lot at the Jester and see Finn’s truck parked in its usual spot. We haven’t talked since he left my bed early Sunday morning. I thought about texting him yesterday, but I didn’t know what to say. Everything felt awkward or forced. I hope that’s not an indication of how things are going to go at work too. I take a deep breath and climb out of my car. We said