Just a Taste

Chapter 3-1

Chapter 3

Liam wished Carmen would stop touching him. He was a good guy, a respectful man, but she tempted him in ways her younger self only had a glimpse of. The alcohol worked its magic, and she had relaxed and opened up. The smiles she offered were genuine, unlike the plastered-on version he’d seen at the wake and the funeral. Her warm brown eyes laughed while she spoke, telling stories of the restaurant when they’d both been little more than kids.

She flirted with him now. He had no idea if it was the alcohol causing it, or the desperation borne of grief and loneliness, or if she simply wanted to flirt. He reminded himself that she wasn’t in a good place, and she had things to figure out for herself. He had brought her out as a friend, out of respect for Gus and his love for his daughter. It would kill Gus all over again to see her suffer like this.

Carmen finished her fourth margarita and Liam suggested it was time to leave. She sighed. “Yeah, it’s time. I’m feeling pretty buzzed.”

She shoved away from her chair and wobbled enough that she slapped her hand on the table for balance. Liam grabbed her arm.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m just out of practice for getting drunk, that’s all.” She said it with a smile, as if nothing could possibly bother her.

Her dark hair caught under her jacket as she slipped it on. He reached over and pulled her hair out. The silky strands flowed over his fingers and the backs of his hands as it trailed down her back. “Thanks,” she said, and he noticed the unfocused look in her eyes.

He held her arm as they wound through the bar toward the exit. She pulled away and put her arm around his waist and leaned into him. She giggled. “I think I’m more than buzzed.”

He slid his arm around her shoulder and guided her to the car. The blast of cold air zipped through him, but her soft body against him kept him warm. At the car, he turned her to lean against the back door while he opened the passenger side. She wove in place.

“Are you going to be sick?”

She laughed again. “I said I was out of practice, not stupid. I didn’t drink enough to puke.” She staggered to the door and plopped her butt in the seat. Looking up at him with her brilliant smile, she said, “Thanks for this. You really are a good guy.”

Liam waited until she shifted her legs in and then closed the door.

By the time he got behind the wheel, Carmen had leaned her head against the passenger window and her eyes were closed. He probably shouldn’t have let her have that last drink, but she was relaxed and having fun, so he didn’t want to stop it. He started the car and while it warmed up, he studied her face.

Her hair cascaded across one cheek and her light pink lips parted slightly. Even as she rested, she appeared to be smiling. Then he noticed she hadn’t buckled her seat belt. Damn. He shifted his body and reached across to grab the belt, careful not to catch her hair.

She stirred, her eyes fluttering open. “Whatcha doin’?”

“Buckling your seat belt.” He yanked to get some more slack and did his best not to notice how the belt ran across her chest making her breasts even more prominent.

While he focused on snapping in the buckle, she stroked his jaw again, like she had at the bar. “I like this. It makes you look different. Sexy.”

Oh, man. He pushed back to his seat and shifted the car into drive. She settled against her seat again with a small sigh. The ride to her house was short and he didn’t know if he should be grateful or disappointed. He’d enjoyed their night out. Carmen wasn’t quite the same girl he’d known years ago, but he saw hints of the girl in the woman she’d become.

Parked beside her house, he walked around to her door and opened it. She took his offered hand. Again he wrapped an arm around her to keep her steady and guilt tugged at him. She’d probably be hung over tomorrow and feel like crap.

She pulled her keys from her pocket and studied them like she couldn’t remember what she was supposed to do. Liam took them from her palm. “Let me.” He held the keys and added, “Drink lots of water before you go to bed. It’ll help with the hangover.”

He turned to the lock and she leaned against the wall. He began to doubt she’d even make it to her bed.

While he tried to figure out which key belonged to this door, her finger traced his jaw again. “I’ve never kissed a guy with a beard before.”

Crap. His fingers twitched with the keys and he finally figured out the right one. He pushed the door open and removed the key. “Are you going to be okay from here?”

Her lips bunched before she spoke. “Yeah.”

Sadness and disappointment reappeared. She’d expected him to kiss her. Hell, he wanted to, but it wouldn’t be right. She was drunk and grieving. He couldn’t take advantage of her. He also didn’t want to be the cause of any more sadness. With one finger he slid her hair away from her cheekbone. Her skin was flawless and smooth. “I had a great time tonight. Thanks for coming out with me.”

She tilted her face up. “Do you want to come in?”

It was an offer that intentionally didn’t sound like an offer.

“As much as I’d like to”—and he really hoped she understood how much he wanted to—“it’s not a good idea.”

He stepped back to allow her to go through the door. “Give me a call if you need help with anything. I mean it.”

She pressed her lips together and added a tight nod. Then she closed and locked the door.

Liam had the uncomfortable feeling that he’d just messed up somehow.