Page 74 of The Money Shot
I spluttered, grasping for words. “So you’re—you’re responding to messages from random guys—gay guys, on our page?”
Moira gave me a look that said, Duh. “And there are messages from women too.”
“And you’re…” I turned to Nessa. “You’re okay with this? What on earth do you know about gay men?”
Nessa’s laughter died instantly. She stood, hands on her hips, fixing me with a glare that could cut steel. “What exactly are you trying to say, Jack?”
“I’m just saying—” I stumbled over my words. “You two are, um...you know...women. And these are gay guys. Don’t you think—”
Nessa’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t you dare finish that sentence.”
I threw up my hands. “Okay, okay! I just—”
“You think because we’re women of a certain age we can’t handle this?” she snapped. “That we know nothing about sex? Hell, gay porn is the best. Let me tell you something, mister: I am a healthy, vibrant thirty-nine-year-old woman who owns her sexuality!”
Moira snorted so loudly I thought she might choke. “Thirty-nine? Seriously?” she muttered under her breath.
“Excuse me?” Nessa whirled on her.
“Nothing, sweetie,” Moira said innocently.
I pressed my fingers to my temples, shaking my head. “You’re all insane,” I muttered. “Where’s Liam?” I asked again, glancing from Nessa to Moira, hoping for a straight answer this time.
Nessa tilted her head, her lips twitching into a sly smile. “You won’t believe your eyes when you see him.”
I frowned. “What does that mean?”
But she didn’t answer. Instead, she sniffed dramatically, then nudged Moira with her elbow, like they were sharing someinside joke at my expense. Moira just shook her head, her hair barely moving under its gravity-defying layers.
With a sigh, I turned and headed down the hallway toward Liam’s bedroom. And then I saw him.
Liam stood at the end of the hall, leaning casually against the doorframe of his room. He stood with his arms crossed over his chest and his head tilted slightly, as if waiting for me.
But this wasn’t just Liam. This was a new Liam. Bronze God Liam.
His usually pale skin glowed with a warm, sun-kissed tan that made his green eyes practically glow. His hair, once a shaggy mop he barely bothered to comb, was now cropped short on the sides and styled into neat, soft waves on top. And his face—had it always been that sharp, those cheekbones that defined? I’d always thought he was handsome, sure, but this was something else entirely.
“Hey,” he said, his voice calm, like he had no idea he’d just become... this.
I froze mid-step, my brain stalling. My heart thudded in my chest, my mouth went dry, and—oh, God—there was a definite stirring in my pants.
Behind me, Nessa’s voice cut through the silence like a slap. “Liam’s officially a hottie, don’t you think, Jack?”
I turned my head, shooting her a glare, but it only made her grin wider. Moira was practically choking on her laughter at this point.
Liam straightened and took a step toward me, his expression softening into something...shy? His shoulders were tense, and I realized he was waiting for me to say something.
I cleared my throat, forcing my voice to work. “Liam...uh...what’s all this?” I gestured vaguely at him, as if that explained anything.
He shrugged, his lips curving into a small, self-conscious smile. “Thought I’d try something different.”
“Different,” I echoed dumbly, still trying to process the transformation standing in front of me.
“You like it?” he asked, and there was a flicker of vulnerability in his voice, so subtle I almost missed it.
Did I like it? I couldn’t stop staring at him. Couldn’t stop my brain from playing an endless loop of inappropriate thoughts. So, yeah, I liked it.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to nod. “You look...amazing.”