Page 26 of Landing Liam

“I’m making conversation,” I counter, a blatant lie, but I keep my tone light, almost teasing.

His gaze sharpens, and he leans across the small table, bringing himself dangerously close. The heat of him is palpable, and his chocolate-brown eyes lock onto mine with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. “If you want to interview me, you’ll have to have a drink with me first.”

I narrow my eyes, trying to match his energy, though my pulse quickens. “Fine.”

“And if you’re curious about just how amazing I am on—and off—the slopes,” he continues, his voice dipping lower, “I wouldn’t mind showing you. Anytime.”

My mouth drops open. A wave of heat pools low in my belly despite the sharp sarcasm on my lips. “If that’s what you’re after, I’m sure Lyla would happily oblige.”

His smirk deepens, a dangerous curve that makes my heart stutter. “What if I don’t want Lyla?” He flashes his eyebrows at me, his tone taking on a teasing edge. “What if…” He leans even closer, so close I can feel his minty breath tickle my chin and I catch the faint scent of cedar and something darkly alluring. My eyes drop, betraying me, landing squarely on his lips. For a second—just one—I let myself imagine what they might feel like: against my mouth, grazing the curve of my neck, trailing lower across my thighs.

“What if,” he whispers, the sound like gravel and silk all at once, “I want you?”

The words are a challenge, and they steal the air from my lungs. My throat goes dry, and my gaze jerks back to meet his, my breath hitching as I catch the dark hunger in his dilated pupils.

“Then I guess,” I manage, steady despite the wildfire raging inside me, “you’ll have to save those lines for someone who falls for them.”

I stand abruptly, my knees wobbling just enough to betray the effect he has on me. I grab my coffee, determined to get out before he sees how badly I’m unraveling.

As I push the glass door open, I glance over my shoulder. He’s still sitting there, leaning back in his chair, his smirk utterly infuriating. It’s the kind of smile that says he knows exactly what he’s doing—and he knows, no matter how much I resist, I’m already caught in his orbit.

And I’m not sure I even mind at this point.

Chapter Eleven

Liam

I’m uncomfortably hard as I watch Maggie dart out of the café, her cheeks and nose tinged with the prettiest shade of pink. She can deny it all she wants, but I know she feels it—that same pull I do. Her attempts to hide it are cute, almost endearing. And maybe I’ve spent too many years overhearing my younger sisters—Mia and Emmy—dissect relationships, but one thing’s clear: Maggie is playing hard to get.

Normally, that’s not a game I bother with. I’ve never had trouble getting women to say yes—whether it’s to a drink, a date, or something a little less formal. Not bragging, just facts. But Maggie? She’s different. She’s a challenge. And I think I might actually like it.

There’s something about the way she keeps me on edge, the way her words are always sharp enough to cut and soft enough to linger. Most women would jump at the chance to say yes, but Maggie? She’s a puzzle, one I’m not even sure she wants solved.

And that makes me want to solve her all the more.

“You look deep in thought,” Izzy teases, sliding gracefully into the seat Maggie just abandoned, her pale blonde ponytail swishing behind her.

“Yeah,” I say, clearing my throat as I force Maggie out of my head. “So, how’s the fam?”

She takes a deep breath, the kind that says where do I even start? “Sleep regression is not for the faint of heart.”

“All the kids or just the baby?”

“Just the baby,” she groans dramatically, dropping her head into her hands for emphasis.

“I’ll order us coffee,” I offer, standing before she can protest.

“Double shot,” she calls after me. “Make it a double shot.”

I chuckle as I head to the counter, placing an order for two coffees before glancing at the time on my phone. Fifteen minutes. That’s all the time I have before I need to head to the lodge and check in for what might be my last competition. The thought sits heavy in my chest, but I push it aside. I can deal with that later.

Returning to the table, I set a steaming cup in front of Izzy, who immediately wraps her hands around it like it’s the only thing keeping her alive.

“Have you given the job offer any more thought?” she asks, raising a pointed eyebrow as she sips.

I sigh, already knowing where this is headed. “I’m not sure an office job is right for me.”

Her perfectly sculpted brow arches higher. “You can literally do the job from anywhere in the world. It’s marketing.”