Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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At dinner, Rose had cooked up a comforting pot of chicken noodle soup, the kind that warms you from the inside out.
She scooped a bowl for Freya. “Here you go, ma’am, this’ll hit the spot.”
Then she slid a different plate, thick with a meaty aroma, toward Liam. “And this one’s for you, sir.”
Liam stirred the soup with his spoon, eyeing it like it might bite back. His face scrunched up, half-curious, half-dreading. “Rose, do I have to drink this?”
Rose gave an awkward chuckle, scratching the back of her neck. “Well, you and the missus are trying for a kid, right? A little extra… kick never hurts.”
Liam flicked his eyes to Freya, a sly glint dancing in them. “Freya and I are solid, Rose. We don’t need any magic potions.”
Freya arched a brow. “What’s in it?”
Rose didn’t flinch. “Beef and ginseng stew.”
No wonder the living room smelled like a butcher shop had a wild night.
Liam bit back a laugh, his lips twitching. “Rose, take the night off. Don’t worry about the kitchen-head home early.”
Rose got the hint and nodded. “Thanks, sir. I’m gone.”
Liam gave a quick nod, then knocked back the stew in one gulp.
Freya could’ve sworn his eyes never left her, burning with a heat that made her squirm.
She fired off a text: [Get over here. Now.]
Ryan shot back: [What’s up?]
Freya: [Hurry, or your best pal’s gonna fall into my trap again.]
True to form, Ryan replied in a flash: [Be there in five.]
Freya snorted, shaking her head. ‘Ryan’s a character!’
If she hadn’t heard he was mooning over some woman, she’d put money on him carrying a torch for Liam, pining away for years.
“Who’re you texting?” Liam’s voice was low, warm, and way too close to her ear.
Freya flinched. “Jesus, don’t sneak up like that! You’re too close-it’s like a furnace.”
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“Feeling hot?” Liam grinned. “How ’bout a shower to cool off?” Before she could protest, he scooped her up like she weighed nothing. “Let’s make it a group project.”
He started carrying her toward the upstairs bedroom.
Freya panicked. “Whoa, hold up-”
His phone buzzed, cutting her off. He paused, then set her down gently
“Work stuff?” she asked.
Liam pulled her into a quick hug. “Go start the shower. I’ll take this call and be right there.”
“You sure a call’s all it’ll take?” Freya teased.
‘A whole day without texting your side piece? Don’t you need a little meet-up?’ she thought.
Liam flashed a cocky grin. “That eager, huh? Forget the call-shower time now.”
“Nah, hold up!” Freya nudged him back. “Answer it. Could be something big.”
He glanced at the caller ID, muttered a low “Yeah,” and said, “I’ll be quick.”
As he headed downstairs, he answered. “Hey, what’s good? Hang on a sec…’
They were close enough that Freya caught the faint sound of a woman sobbing on the other end.
She slipped into the bedroom and locked the door.
While scrolling through some news on her phone, she nearly jumped out of her skin when someone pounded on the door, loud and frantic.
‘What, did his side chick have a crisis? Gotta rush to save her?’ she wondered. ‘Perfect. Works for me.
Without opening the door, she called out, “If it’s work, go handle it!”
But the voice that answered wasn’t Liam’s. “Open the damn door.”
Freya yanked the door open to find Ryan, drenched in sweat, panting like he’d just run a marathon.
He was in loose sweats, his face slick with perspiration.
He gave her a quick once-over, noting her fully dressed state, and squinted. “You two haven’t.. gotten frisky yet, right?”
Freya smirked. “Too late, buddy. We already crossed that line.”
“What?!”
“Mr. Reed, what good are you?” she teased.
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If it hadn’t been for that perfectly timed call from Natalie, she might’ve been in real trouble tonight.
Ryan let out a huff, half-laughing. “I drop everything and sprint over here the second you text, and you’re giving me grief?”
“You came for Liam, not me.”
Ryan froze.
“Tell me I’m wrong,” she added.
“Nah, you’re right on the money.” Ryan glanced around the bedroom. “Where’s Liam?”
“You didn’t see him on your way in?”
“Nope. Front yard’s empty, living room’s a ghost town.”
“Probably in the garage, whispering sweet nothings to his side chick.”
Ryan let out a small breath, relieved. “That side chick-Natalie, right? I owe her a cold one. Gotta thank her proper one day.”
Freya laughed. “You’ll get your chance. Though you might wanna start calling her ‘Mrs. Grant’ soon.”
Ryan grinned. “Deal. The minute you two sign those divorce papers, I’m on it.”
Freya didn’t reply, just tilted her head and studied him.
“What?” Ryan said. “Never seen a stud muffin before?”
“You and Liam-you really just bros?”
“What, you think we’re sipping tea and braiding each other’s hair?”
Ryan’s face turned serious. “Get those nasty thoughts outta your head.”
Freya pouted. “How’d you know what I was thinking?”
“It ain’t exactly quantum physics.” He straightened up, his tone sharp. “Nothing happened between you two just now, right?”
Freya rolled her eyes. “Relax. Your boy Liam got dragged off by his side chick’s call before anything could go down.”
Ryan nodded, satisfied. “Good.”
“Though, gotta say, he’s probably been drowning in Natalie’s charm for the last three months,”
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