Page 34 of Liam

Taamira wrinkled her nose. “I will not be telling her anything.”

Liam kissed her forehead gently. “Good luck with that, Princess.”

He had eased back and looked down at her, taking in every curve of her body or so it seemed. The heat in his eyes harder and harder for her to resist, and yet he had not pushed her in the slightest. In fact, it was always him who pulled back from their kissing sessions.

“Go in the house, treacle, or I may never leave.”

She had done as he asked but watched from the window as he drove away. Now she had fed Digby and was going to ask Mitch and Blake if they wanted her to order some food. Both men were watching football in the living room and arguing good-naturedly about the teams and the poor referee who was getting lots of abuse from both of them.

The door rang, and she had been about to answer it when Blake had stopped her. The man was almost as bossy as Liam, insisting he go with her to feed Digby and now moving her away from the door and into the living room as he went to answer. Mitch was on his feet too, standing in front of her.

She heard him open it and then heard a flurry of female voices before the door to the lounge opened and Taamira looked at three of the most beautiful women she had ever seen.

“You must be Taamira,” said a strikingly beautiful redhead who was holding a pan in her hand.

“Um, yes,” she agreed as they all watched her.

The woman dropped into a simile of a curtsey which had Blake rolling his eyes.

“Babe, stop. This is embarrassing.”

The woman glared at him and then pushed the pan into his hands. “Go put this in the oven, please.”

Blake raised an eyebrow. “Is that how you greet me?”

The woman grinned and moved to him, raising on tiptoe and kissing him soundly on the mouth. “Better?” she asked as she wiped lipstick from his mouth.

“Much.” Blake moved out of the room, and Mitch quickly followed, leaving her with the three women.

They all looked at each other for a second before they burst out laughing. “I told you we shouldn’t descend en masse like this,” said the tall blonde, who seemed familiar.

“Oh, behave, Callie. We just want to make friends,” said the tiny brunette with the smile of a goddess.

The blonde ignored her and moved forward with her hand out. “I’m Callie Lund, it’s nice to meet you…” She paused clearly, not knowing what to call her.

Taamira was always addressed as Your Royal Highness or Princess Taamira, but to them, she didn’t want to be that. These women were part of Liam’s life in some way, and she wanted to be just Taamira. “Taamira, or Tami to my friends, so Tami I hope.”

Callie grinned wide and shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, Tami. This here is Pax and Evelyn.” She turned to the other two who stepped forward and greeted her the same way.

“Pax is with Blake as you could probably tell from the lip lock and Evelyn is engaged to Alex. I’m with Reid.” Callie blushed as she said it and Taamira wondered if their relationship was quite new too.

“It’s lovely to meet you,” Taamira answered. “Would you like some tea?” She knew that tea was the customary offering in these social situations.

“No, thanks. I have this instead.” Evelyn showed her a bottle of the fizzy apple and pear juice that Taamira loved, and she grinned at the woman.

“Liam told Alex who told me,” Evelyn said with a twitch of her lips.

“I made Cajun Chicken Pasta for dinner,” Pax added

Callie grinned and held up a bag. “And I have the fixings for cherry and almond cheesecake.”

“Wow, this is…” Taamira had no words to show her appreciation.

These women didn’t know her at all, and here they were offering her kindness and friendship. Taamira held back her glee, having a built in cautiousness from being burned in the past.

“Too much.” Callie glared at her friends.

“No, no.” Taamira held up her hand, not wanting them to think she was ungrateful. “It’s very kind of you. Let’s go through to the kitchen and pour the drinks.”