Anywhere With You (5 page)

Aiden looks confused, “Hales has been drinking plenty of times, she can handle herself and I’ll keep a close eye on Allison. You might as well have a drink, man. We don’t have to get trashed.”

I am shaking my head no before he is even finished, “Not happening,” I grumble. If I am going to keep a close eye on both of them, I need a clear head.

Aiden stares at me in disbelief. “Liam,” he says in warning. He knows me so well. He can tell that I am a fucking wreck over this girl.

“Look man, I can’t explain this. I wouldn’t even know where to start. I feel this connection to her, this need to protect her, just like I would Hales.” I run my hands through my hair. “No, not just like Hales … fuck! I would lay my life down for my little sister, but this feeling I have for Allison, well it’s not exactly brotherly,” I admit.

“She is my sister in every sense of the word. Don’t hurt her, Liam, or I swear to god.” He takes a deep breath, “She is not just a quick fuck that you don’t ever speak to again. So help me, if you hurt her in any way, I will beat the shit out of you. She’s my baby sister. FUCK!”

I hold up my hands to stop him. “I. will. Not. Hurt. Her. I promise you that, man. This is not a game to me. I heard everything that you said last night, but you heard me as well. I didn’t even know that my Allison was your Ash last night and I opened up to you about her. Trust me,” I plead with him.

Aiden looks at me with a raised eyebrow. “You said my Allison.”

What the fuck?
“I did not.” Damn this girl has got me tied in knots.

Aiden slaps me on the back, “You are my best friend but I will not hesitate to choose Ash over you. She is my sister for all intents and purposes. Think about Hales and what you would do if one of the guys used her, hurt her.” He steps back from me. “Don’t fuck with her, Liam. I mean it.”

With that being said, we walk back to the booth and deliver the drinks to the girls. Hales questions my lack of alcohol and I just play it off that someone needs to be the DD. It was a likely excuse. The way my head is spinning, I need to stay sober anyway.

Hailey slams her shot as Allison chugs her daiquiri that Aiden had them weaken for her.
Thank you, Aiden!
Hailey jumps up and pulls Allison out on the dance floor.
Fuck, here we go.
Allison is a sex goddess and my sister is just as beautiful, wearing clothes that show way too much skin. I can’t help but notice how even Aiden is checking her out. I should give him the same speech that he just gave me.

My eyes never leave the girls on the dance floor. They are currently grinding to “Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy”. The song has just started and I see two drunk fuckers come up to each of them, putting their hands all over them. My blood starts to boil. I stand as does Aiden. I look over at him and nod towards Hailey he nods that he understands. We stalk towards the dance floor, to the girls with purpose.

Aiden walks up to Hales, stands in front of her and pulls her to him. The guy behind her, grinding up on her immediately backs off when Aiden gives him a warning look. It helps that Hales screeches his name as she throws her arms around his neck.

The dickwad that is all over Allison is at her front and I can tell by her posture that she is very uncomfortable. I walk up behind her and put my hands on her waist pulling her back against my chest. I lean down and kiss her exposed neck. “Work with me sweetheart, so we can get rid of your friend,” I whisper in her ear.

Allison simply nods her head and pushes her body back into mine. Dickwad throws his hands up and stalks off, I too have to impose a threatening glare, and it works. I sigh with relief that she is in my arms. It is then I realize that she’s still dancing and swaying to the music. Hales has turned to place her back to Aiden’s front as well and we were all laughing and having a good time. The song changes to Colt Ford’s, “Dancing While Intoxicated”, and I smile. Allison was not pulling away so I decide to embrace it and hold her close.

Hailey and Aiden are getting pretty cozy; she reaches up and wraps her arms around his neck still grinding in front of him. She winks at Allison who takes that as her cue to mimic them. Allison reaches up and places her hands behind my neck, as she does I lean down and put my face in the crook of her neck breathing her in. Her hair being pulled to one side is sexy as hell, and turning out to be quite a convenience for me. She turns her head to look at me and gave me a shy smile. We continue to bump and grind feeling the music, and I am lost in her.

As the song turns slow, to “You Won’t Ever Be Lonely”, Allison starts to pull away, instead I turn her towards me and hold her tight. “Dance with me sweetheart,” I whisper in her ear. I can see Aiden watching us as he pulls Hailey closer. I don’t care, besides he is nuzzled up with
my
sister. If this is as close as I can get to her, I am going to take full advantage. I know what Aiden said is right I am not that guy, the one looking to settle down with one girl. Allison deserves her happily ever after.

Her only reply is to wrap her arms around my waist and lay her head on my chest. She is so tiny and fits perfectly in my arms. I sigh deeply; I am so relaxed in this moment, I pull her tighter and began to sing softy to her.

Before I even realize it, the song is over and another slow one begins. Allison makes no move to pull away and it would take a small army to pull me away from her and this moment, as Kenny Chesney sings about having him from Hello. I smile
, she most certainly did
.

Allison adjusts her hold on me and wraps her arm all the way around my waist. I feel something move inside of me. I don’t even know how to express these feelings I am having. Something tells me she’s feeling it too, but I know too much about her. I can’t give her what she wants, what she deserves. I place a soft kiss on top her head and close my eyes, enjoying the feel of her in my arms while I can.

The song ends and I think I hear Hailey telling Aiden to buy her another drink. Allison pulls her head from my chest and looks up at me. I place my forehead against hers. I want to kiss her so damn bad, but I don’t want her first kiss to be here in a smoky bar surrounded by drunks, it needs to be special. I lock my gaze on her emerald green eyes and emotion swarms me. I have to swallow the lump in my throat before saying, “Thank you for the dance sweetheart,” and kiss her on the forehead. I link her fingers through mine and pull her to the booth, where Aiden and Hailey already have fresh drinks waiting.

“I can’t believe that your Ace is our Aiden. What a small world.” Hailey says to me. Aiden and Liam are at the bar getting our drinks.

I simply nod my head, I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I had told Aiden that I thought my roommates brother, who also happens to be his roommate, is hot! I hope he keeps his mouth shut.

“Here we go ladies,” Aiden says as he places our drinks in front of us.

“Where’s yours?” Hailey asks Liam.

“One of us needs to be the DD,” Liam shrugs his shoulders.

Hot is not really an accurate description of Liam. He is tall, broad shoulders, and lean muscles. He is wearing faded blue jeans and a black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms. I need a distraction, as usual when I am in his presence so what do I do? I chug my strawberry daiquiri. I’m sure that Aiden had them make it weak, however when chugged, you can still feel the effects.

Hailey grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the booth. “Come on roomy let’s get our dance on.”

I laugh as I let her pull me to the dance floor. Big N Rich are singing about Saving a Horse and Riding a Cowboy. I try to clear my thoughts of Liam and just feel the music. I have never been dancing. My only slow dances have been with Aiden and his father at their family functions that they would bring Gran and I to if she was feeling up to it. Gran and I would dance around the house, there were many times Aiden would catch us and just join in the fun, that about sums up my limited experience. I have my eyes closed feeling the music when I feel strong hands grab my hips. I open my eyes to see a blonde haired guy about six foot maybe. He is built but Aiden and Liam both put him to shame. He is obviously drunk and keeps trying to pull me into him. I place my hands on his chest to push him away but he’s not taking no for an answer. I’m starting to panic. I have never been in this situation before.

Suddenly, I feel warmth on my back and strong arms come around me at the same time I see Aiden come up behind Hales. I glance over to see the striking blue gaze of Liam. He leans down and kisses my neck while whispering in my ear. “Work with me sweetheart, so we can get rid of your friend.” I nod my acceptance. That was all that I could do. The warmth of him wrapped around me and the feel of his kiss on my neck, mixed with his soft words in my ear.
I’m a flippin’ mess!
Heat pools in my stomach. Speech is not something that I am currently capable of. Mr. Drunk and Grabby takes the hint and backs away. I continue swaying my hips and Liam pulls me closer to him. The song changes to “Dancing While Intoxicated”, and I smile.
I most certainly am or starting to be.
I know I’ve only had one drink but chugging my first alcoholic beverage was not the best choice on my part. I am feeling pretty relaxed, otherwise I would have never had the courage to grind into Liam. Hailey winks at me as she places her hands behind Aiden’s neck. I decide to take that as advice and mirror her actions with Liam. I am nervous as to how he will react but I shouldn’t have been. He leans down further and places his face in my neck. He is so close to me and I can hear him breathing me in. I am trying not to freak out. Liam is so sexy and I know that he is just being nice to me because of Hailey and Aiden, but for this one moment I want it to be real. I want him to want me. So I block out my racing mind and just feel him next to me.

As the music turns slow, I sigh. I know that my time with Liam is up so I release his neck and begin to walk away. Before I can take two steps, Liam has me twirled around and pulls tight against his chest. “Dance with me sweetheart,” he whispers in my ear. I am still unable to speak for fear that this moment isn’t real, and I will wake up from this amazing fantasy to find that I am no longer is his strong arms. I clasp my arms around his waist and lay my head on his chest.

I feel Liam sigh as he pulls me in tighter and begins to softly sing along with the song. My heart feels like it is about to beat out of my chest. Liam holds me like I am his lifeline, and the words he sings … I know that he has no idea about my past, or my fear of always being alone, but it this moment I felt safe, loved, cherished. I feel the words deep in my soul as though he is singing them just for me.

The song ends and I refuse to let go. I will not let go of him until he pulls away. I feel safe. Like the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders. I need to feel that a little longer so, I hold him tighter. I feel Liam lean down and kiss the top of my head as he rests his chin there. We slowly sway to Kenny Chesney telling us the love of his life had him from hello.
I know the feeling
. Liam is slowly rubbing my back and I feel my heart shift. In the arms of this man, I can see the future that I want, a family, someone to love me. I know that it could never be Liam, but I realize that is my dream, I think about Gran and her words to me.
“Life is a giant canvas, Allie, and you should throw as much paint on it as you can.”
My dream is to have a family, a husband, kids, in-laws. Yes, in-laws. I will take all the family I can get, anyway that I can get it. It’s just been Gran and I for so long now. Aiden’s family has adopted me into theirs and I love them dearly, but I want more. Selfish I know, but it is what it is.

The music changes again back to a fast tempo and I lift my head to chance a look into Liam’s baby blue eyes. He rests his forehead against mine. “Thank you for the dance sweetheart,” he whispers. I am worried that he can hear the thunderous beat of my heart. He kisses my forehead, laces his fingers through mine and pulls me through the crowd back towards the booth. Hailey and Aiden are there now sitting beside one another with fresh drinks for all of us. Liam pulls our entwined hands to his lips and kisses the back of my hand he then places his hand on the small of my back and guides me into the booth.

The four of us continue to sit, laughing and talking. Aiden and Liam keep us supplied with drinks. Liam is still setting next to me with his arm draped over the back of the booth. He is lazily making circles on my shoulder. He is driving me insane. The attraction that I feel for him is like nothing I have ever felt. It scares the shit out of me. Liam is not exactly what you would call a player, but Hailey has told me multiple times that he doesn’t date and is never serious about anyone. Football is his life. As much as I want the college experience, I also want the love and connection. One night stands and hook-ups are not my thing, and will never be. I want more. Dancing with Liam tonight confirmed that for me. I can never be that for him, and he can never be committed to anyone. I know that nothing will go beyond innocent flirting no matter how sexy he is. I have just confirmed that I am an all or nothing girl, and I vow to stay true to that.