Amy. Amy. Wake up. Please, baby. Wake up.
I blink through a sticky sensation on my face. Liam?
Yes. Thank God. You scared the hell out of me. He grabs a towel
and presses it to my head.
I focus on the red stains on his light gray t-shirt. Im bleeding?
You hit your head and cut it open. We need to get you to the ER.
I grab his arm. Youre here. How are you here?
Yeah, baby, Im here and I shouldnt have left you alone.
Any reply I might have had is lost to the roll of my stomach. Oh, I
gasp. Im going to be sick. I grab for the toilet and Liam holds my hair
back and manages to keep the cloth on my head as I embarrassingly throw
up. I really dont want you to see me like this.
Nonsense. Can you hold the towel to your head so I can get you
some clothes?
Yes. I take it from him. Im good. Youre sure I need stitches?
One hundred percent.
I squeeze my eyes shut against the sound of my mothers screams
echoing in my mind.
And I hear Chad calling my name. Amy. Amy. But I wasnt Amy then. I
was Lara. Why was he calling me Amy? Is my mind trying to tell me
something, or am I so removed from my past that there is nothing but Amy
left? Jump. Jump now.
Amy. I jump at Liams hand stroking down my hair. Easy. Are you
okay?
Yes. But Im not. I want to tell him everything. I want to tell him
more than I want my next breath, but that nightmare has reminded me
how very real the danger I am in is, and I am not clearheaded enough to
decide what that means for him. For us. Im dizzy.
Im guessing you have a concussion. Can you stand up so we can get
you dressed?
Yes. He helps me to my feet and I feel pathetic when he has to
practically put my shorts on me and then tie his shirt at my waist. He drops
sandals at my feet and I slide into them. He puts the toilet seat down. Sit.
Let me call for a car service before we head downstairs.
Ten minutes later we exit the hotel and the doorman pulls open the
passenger door of a black sedan for me. My head is spinning and my
stomach is queasy and Liam helps me into the car.
Amy. What the hell?
Liam and I both turn to find Jared standing there. Did he touch
you? He glares at Liam.
You son of a bitch, did you hit her?
No! I exclaim. No. Jared, I fell.
Back the fuck off, Liam growls. I would never touch her, but I will
you.
Amy? Jared asks, and he seems sincerely worried. Did he touch
you?
No. I told you no. He wasnt even here when it happened. He just
flew into town and found me passed out.
Lets go, Liam orders me. Blood is seeping through the towel. You
need those stitches.
Im fine, Jared, but thank you. I slide into the car and Liam follows,
shutting us inside.
He taps the seat and gives the driver directions. I have never wanted
to block out the rest of the world as I do right now. He turns to me and his
eyes are dark shadows and turbulence. I expect him to ask about Jared but
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he doesnt.
You arent going to ask about him?
Youre hurt. Its not time for fifty questions.
I thought the game was twenty questions.
I have fifty but I wont ask tonight.
But he wants to, and now that the miles are no longer between us,
Im not letting Jared get there instead. I ran into him at the coffee shop
today, but other than that this is the first Ive seen of him since that night at
Earls.
I didnt ask.
You wanted to.
Yes. I wanted to.
Im glad youre here. You didnt tell me you were coming back.
I didnt want to promise something I couldnt make happen. I
wrapped everything up as Id hoped early today. The woman my father put
in the intensive care unit was moved to a regular room and I took care of all
of her medical expenses and set up a trust fund for her daughter. He
grimaces. My father also moved, from jail to rehab.
Youre a good man, Liam. I dont know why you doubt that.
He leans in and kisses me, his voice softening, rough like gravel. I
couldnt sleep last night thinking Id get back here and youd be gone.
I promised Id be here.
And I promised Id hurry back. He reaches up and holds the towel
for me. We have a lot to talk about.
Yes, I agree. Yes, we do. And not for the first time, I wonder if
Liam knows more than I think he does.
Right now, I just want to get you healthy. He pulls me close and my
hand settles on his heart. It thrums beneath my palm, a soothing melody
that feels like home. He feels like home.
Im going to tell him everything. I just have to find the right time.
***
I wake on my side, a bright blast of sunlight illuminating the room,
and my eyes lock on the sight of Liam standing in the bathroom knotting a
red silk tie at his neck. Hes been back for two days, one I regretfully slept
through, the other we spent in bed together, but today he goes back to war
with his a-hole investor. We havent talked. Not really. I was too sick from
the concussion and he was too protective to do anything but worry about
me. Despite the ER giving me a thumbs-up on a clear CT Scan, Liam is
determined to get me to a neurologist, but I know hell understand why I
wont go when I finally tell him about my past. Or what I know of it.
Liams gaze suddenly lifts and catches on mine in the mirror, and my
stomach flutters wildly. He gives me a devastatingly sexy smile, and turns to
close the distance between us. And I am like a starving animal soaking in his
male grace and the way the gray pinstriped suit accents his long, leanly
muscled frame.
How do you feel? he asks, sitting on the edge of the bed.
I sit as well and touch the small bandage at my hairline, one that
thankfully has been downsized from gigantic the day before. Ready to be
out of bed. I stroke my hand down his arm. Or to stay in it with you here.
I glance at the clock and note the nearly one oclock hour.
But alas, you must go, and I have the acupuncturist showing up in an
hour.
Call me after the appointment and let me know how it went. I hate
leaving you.
Im fine and you need to take care of business.
Ill make it fast, if I can.
A few minutes later he is gone, and I shower and dress before
heading to the mini-kitchen off the dining room area to make coffee. The
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instant I bring the table into view I go still at the sight of my notepad and
computer. I didnt expect Liam to be back and I never put my things away.
I walk to the table and sink down into the chair in front of my
computer. My screensaver is on and my notepad is closed, but I open it to
see what would be the first thing Liam would have seen if he had as well.
Ive scribbled Why is there no record of the fire? and Who covered it up?,
both phrases underlined heavily. There are references to my hometown
papers and my fathers name is everywhere. I feel sick to my stomach all
over again and it has nothing to do with my concussion.
Liam may never have looked at these notes, but if he did, he is too
smart not to put two and two together. I have to talk to him now. I have to
make sure he doesnt do anything to get the wrong peoples attention. I
dial his cell. He doesnt answer. I press fingers to my forehead. He never
answers his phone.
A text beeps and I quickly glance at it. Just walked into meeting. Are
you okay?
I sigh and type. Yes. Yes Im fine.
Derek wants us to go to dinner with him and Mike.
Mike is the a-hole. Im never going to get to talk to Liam at this
rate. What time?
Seven. Ill send a car for you.
Ill be ready.
***
At seven sharp I exit the hotel in a white, form-fitting lace dress Liam
had picked out during our shopping trip, paired with red high heels and a
red purse, both of which Id chosen.
My only other accessory is the white bandage by my hairline that,
despite my efforts to sweep my long blonde hair over it and seal it there
with hairspray, still shows.
Im barely in the car when my cell phone rings, and its Meg. I frown.
Shes avoided me for almost a week and she chooses now to call? Hello.
I just ran into Jared. He told me you had some sort of a head injury?
He said hed stopped by the hotel several times and left you messages you
wont reply to.
Jared stopped by the hotel? Ive been in bed. I had a concussion.
Was it
My defenses prickle. No, it was not Liam. Jared knows that. Is Luke
back in town?
Oh, yes. I emailed you a new property list. Did you see it?
No. No, I didnt.
Luke inadvertently sent you the wrong one and he apologizes. He let
your boss know. I guess you were supposed to do some reports you havent
done? Dermit was asking why, so you better get on it.
Im confused. Completely confused. Who do I work for? Do I work for
anyone? Is
Dermit real or not? Can you please get me a number for my boss?
Youll have to talk to Luke about that.
Can I make an appointment?
Ill get with him and call you.
My phone beeps. I need to take that. Ill check in tomorrow. I click
over to Liam.
Where are you? he asks.
Im almost there, I think. Im in the car.
Ill be at the door waiting on you.
Okay. Yes. We end the call and I immediately pull up my email. The
only email is from Meg with the property listing. I really have no idea what
is a cover story and what is a problem anymore. The idea of telling Liam
everything and no longer being on my own with this sounds better every
second.
Your destination, maam, the driver says, and the door opens
almost immediately. Liam leans in and tosses a large bill at the driver.
Keep the change.
He offers me his hand and pulls me to my feet, giving me a hot
head-to-toe inspection before leaning in near my ear. You look good
enough to eat. I think I will.
Liam, I gasp softly, instantly warm all over, my nipples tightening.
That is how easily this man gets to me.
Deep, sexy laughter rumbles in his chest and he shuts the door
behind me. Come with me. He laces my fingers with his and pulls me
toward the building, and the way he has said the words come with me
has me quaking with the certainty he is up to something naughty.
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We enter the high-rise building and my heels click on the fine white
ceramic tile that blends with my dress and contrasts with my shoes. I glance
upward at spiraling rows of offices that remind me of a corkscrew and seem
to climb forever. Wait, I say, and tug on Liams hand.
He stops and turns to me, glancing up as I am, and then back down at
me. You like it?
This is the building you designed, isnt it?
Yes. This is it. You like it?
Its I struggle for a word that suits it, and settle on, sexy. Like
you.
He pulls me against him. Sexy, huh?
Yes. Very. My fingers curl on his cheek. And brilliant, also like
you.
His eyes darken and heat. Come with me, he orders again, and sets
us in motion.
We step onto the elevator and though I know the building is tall I
gape at the panel that reads 107 floors. 107 floors?
Liam punches in a code and then directs us to the top floor. Yes,
107.
Thats an intimidating elevator ride.
He molds me close. Ill protect you, he vows, and Im not sure hes
talking about the elevator ride. Im not sure anything is what it seems ever
in my world.
Why 107?
105 had been done and seven is lucky.
You believe in luck?
You dont?
Not really.
We ended up seated together on a plane. Id say thats pretty
lucky.
I soften inside, and more of that warmth he stirs in me pools low in
my belly and slides hotly between my thighs. I think my luck is changing.
The car jumps a little and I jump with it.
Or not. What was that?
The car stops at floor one hundred and shifts to the right slightly.
I dont think I want to know why.
Its part of the sway built into the top of the tower. The elevator
stops. And just that quick, were here. The doors slide open and Im more
than a little glad to get the heck off the car after that jump, planned or not.
We exit into a hallway and Liam indicates another elevator. The last
two floors require another ride up, but I want to show you something first.
Arent we going to be late to dinner?
I told you 7:00 and them 7:30.
We travel a narrow hallway with glass windows from floor to ceiling
and I feel a bit dizzy and unsteady. Liam opens a huge wooden door and
motions me inside. I step into an oval-shaped room that is nothing but
windows and random pairs of leather chairs split by small tables.
Liam takes my hand and I always have this sense he is worried I am
about to run away.
But Im not running from him. Its time he knows Im running to him.
He leads me to the far side of the room and it is like I am standing on a
cloud staring down at buildings twinkling like stars.
Its beautiful.
So are you, he murmurs, his body framing mine from behind.
You know, I say, turning in his arms, Mike might have some merit
with the whole
tallest building idea. He knows you wont make it just another tall
building.
He knows he wants the tallest building. Period. The end.
He turns me and sets me down in a chair, going down on a knee in
front of me and sliding my skirt up my thighs. I look over my shoulder. No
one is going to catch us, he assures me. I locked the door.
He cups my sex and suddenly jerks on my panties, ripping them
away. I gasp. Liam!
He laughs and shoves them in his pant pocket. Now I have
something to think about while ol Mike runs his mouth. His hands stroke
back up my thighs. Its been too long since Ive been inside you.
My cheeks heat at his boldness, but I agree. Yes.
Did you take a pregnancy test?
Im taken aback by the unexpected question. I told them I might be
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at the hospital.
His lips curve. I did, too.
You did?
Yes. Did they test you?
Yes. But they said it was too soon to be accurate.
When can you tell?
I think another week.
Call the doctor and ask.
I nod. I will.
Tomorrow.
Yes. Tomorrow.
Im going to give us both something else to think about over
dinner. He slips two
fingers into the V of my body.
Liam, I gasp. Not here.
Yes. Here. And before I can object again, his head is between my
thighs and his tongue laps at my clit. I mean to object. Really I do, but his
fingers slide inside me and he is licking me in that way he does that drives
me insane.
I grab the arms of the chair and Liam pushes the skirt of my dress
higher, lifting one of my legs to his shoulder. For a moment, I drink in the
image of me sitting in the chair with this gorgeous man between my legs
and me spread wide for him, and it is erotic and exciting, like everything
with Liam. Pleasure spikes, already building in some deep spot in my sex
and I swear I just keep on being the easiest orgasms this man has ever
given anyone. He touches me and I shudder. He licks and I moan. And that
is just what happens. He licks me again, I moan, and then my sex clenches
around his fingers. I shatter like glass thrown to the ground, instantly, and
in tiny little pieces, pleasure splintering through every nerve ending in my
body, until I am limp in the chair.
I blink the image of my leg over his shoulder into view and blush
furiously. I try to pull it down and he leans in and licks me one last time. I
shudder with the impact and he chuckles, then settles my leg on the
ground. I quickly try to shimmy my skirt down my legs, and cant get it.
Liam pushes to his feet and pulls me with him, caressing my dress
back into place.
I cant believe we just did that here.
He leans in and kisses me, pressing his tongue into my mouth, before
he whispers, And now we can both have a taste of what the rest of the
night will hold. Mike be damned.
