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He wanted to add, “Although, I noticed you felt the need to tell your friend,” but then realized by doing so, he’d have to admit to eavesdropping.
“But you’re right, people will talk,” he continued. “And it’s none of their damn business. They can speculate all they want, there’s no formal policy against nepotism. But it will help that you’ll be considered a consultant and not on BG’s payroll.”
And if anyone from the board caught wind about it, he’d explain being his girlfriend was her cover story about why they rode together. Although now that he thought about it, he hadn’t mentioned she was serving her house arrest with him, so it’d be better if they just didn’t hear about it.
****
Utah
It was hard not to feel hurt that Liam didn’t think of her as his girlfriend. But it was a good reminder of what she really was—a temporary good time for him.
It’d be in her best interest to think of him the same way. They were providing companionship and great sex, with a twist.
It was a good thing that he’d reminded her that’s all this was.
She’d just need to keep reminding herself.
Chapter Thirty
Liam
He could tell her feelings were hurt from his comment about her not being his girlfriend by the short, clipped answers she gave him. Not to mention she didn’t initiate any conversation while they hiked. Instead, she focused on Phoebe.
As he thought about it while they walked along in silence, he was surprised to realize there was no other way to describe her. She was his girlfriend—until the year ended, anyway. But he wasn’t sure he was ready to voice it out loud yet, so he remained quiet instead of apologizing to her and clarifying that’s exactly what she was.
It was probably the wrong move, but he’d try to make it up to her in other ways.
Hopefully the package waiting for them on the porch when they got home would be a good start. He’d gotten the alert it’d been delivered. Unfortunately, he wasn’t planning on giving her the contents inside until the next morning.
“Do you want to stop at the Artisan’s Market we saw on our way here?” he asked once they got back to the car.
“Don’t you have to work? I don’t want to keep you.”
“I do have to work.” He reached for her hand across the console and squeezed. “But I’m not worried about the time, so neither should you.”
A small smile formed on her lips—the first one he’d seen since before his “you think you’re my girlfriend?” gaffe.
“Then yes, I’d love to stop by the Artisan’s Market.”
****
Utah
Liam was generous and kind the entire afternoon as they walked through the rows of white vendors’ tents. Any time she’d stop to look at something, he made it obvious all she had to do was say the word, and he would buy it for her.
And if she’d decline, he’d ask her again to make sure before they moved on.
She did end up getting a starter set for an herb garden she could keep in a window once it got colder. It was small enough that she could take it with her when she moved into her own place. And Liam bought her a mixed bouquet of roses, daisies, and lilies that was bursting with color.
“I’m sorry I hurt your feelings earlier,” he said solemnly as he presented the purple tissue-paper wrapped bundle to her.
“You didn’t…”
He shot her a look with one eyebrow raised that immediately silenced her.
“What’d I say about lying, little bee?”
Utah took the bouquet and held it to her nose to inhale the varying fragrances of the flowers.
