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“I don’t know,” I answer with a lie. “I just wrote them to be therapeutic, I guess. I didn’t expect Maddox and Ryder to like them.”
“Just because they liked them doesn’t mean you have to record them. Tell them to do it.”
“No. If I don’t, no one will. They’re too personal.”
He sighs and shakes his head, about to say something else when the doors slide open. Knowing the part he has to play, he places his hand on my back and leads me across the marble foyer of his penthouse building. When we reach the glass doors of the exit, he stops me, takes my coat, and helps me get it on. My eyes stay locked on Liam through the glass as he leans against the door of the… Why the hell is he in a limo?
“You failed to mention that he’s a damn giant, Lil,” he growls in my ear.
I hum and avert my eyes from the man in question. Pretending my heart didn’t skip when I saw him dressed in his black slacks, black button down, and, true to Liam because he wouldn’t be caught dead in loafers, black snip-toe cowboy boots. “You’ve seen pictures of him with the band. Figured you knew.”
“In pictures, he doesn’t look bigger than a fucking truck.” Another hiss escapes him, and I have to tuck my lips between my teeth so I don’t laugh.
I look over my shoulder and smirk. “Still plan on kicking his ass for making me cry?”
“Sure, but you’re paying for my hospital bills and dental work.”
This time, I can’t help it. I toss my head back and laugh, then plant a lipstick kiss on his cheek. A frown pulls his mouth as he yanks a handkerchief from his pocket, shaking his head before a grin takes over. He sets his palm to my back, leading me out.
I felt those eyes on us from the moment we stepped off the elevator. They brushed my skin every second we stood in the lobby. When we step out the door, blue flames lash across my body. My entire being erupts in gooseflesh. When I shiver, I blame it on the cold. Pretending he doesn’t affect me has become habit.
But those damnable blue eyes see right through me, and he doesn’t bother to cover the smug twitch of the lips.
My eyes narrow on the jerk as we reach him. “Liam,” I nod, maintaining the professional façade I know to keep firmly in place.
“Lily.” His head tips, eyes roving every inch of me as his tongue darts from between his lips, running a slow path over the bottom one. When he meets my eyes again, everything he’s thinking is written in sapphire.
Looks like he’s not trying for professionalism at all.
I reach behind me for Thad’s hand, give him my most adoring expression, and introduce them. “This is Thad. My fiancé.”
Thad angles himself around me, extending a hand. Liam accepts it, taking inventory of Thad, before swinging his gaze to me with a quirked brow. A moment’s panic bubbles. One thing I didn’t consider when I forced Thad to come with me: Liam knows me. More, he knows my type. It tends to lean towards motorcycle jackets, tattoos, and foul mouths. Not to mention thirty or older. It wasn’t always the case, but a certain someone ruined me, and Thad can only claim two of those.
I lift a brow right back. For all he knows, my type changed after him. If I were interested in men at all, that would be the truth. The last thing I want is someone who reminds me of him.
They release hands, and he looks at me. “We have a reservation at seven forty-five.” His eyes swing to Thad. “I wasn’t expecting another party.”
My mouth pulls to one side as I work to keep my grin in check. “I’m sure you can make other arrangements.”
“I’m sure I can.” He winks. The asshole winks! He’s supposed to be green with envy. Red with fury. Not flirtatiously winking. I thought he’d be bothered by Thad joining us, and I was mistaken. Which pisses me off.
“Damn,” Thad mutters. I turn to face him. A near imperceptible wince flashes across his sharp features before he gives me an apologetic smile. “I forgot my phone upstairs.”
“Can’t you leave it for a few hours?” I snap my jaw shut as soon as the words leave my mouth, then clench my teeth when Liam chews the side of his cheek, hiding his smug grin.
“Wish I could, babe, but it’s only four in LA, and I have a call I cannot miss.” I widen my eyes, glaring at him, and this time, when he winces, it’s obvious. “Five minutes.”
“Fine,” I huff. “I’ll go up with you.”
I start to follow when firm fingers wrap around my elbow. “Pretty sure it doesn’t take two people to get a phone.” I try to argue, but Thad is already in the building. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to avoid being alone with me, little flower.”
“What was your first clue?” I snap.
“There she is,” he grins. “All the polite smiles and all the right words, I was wondering when Tiger Lily would appear.”
I shove his chest. “Stop with the nicknames. You don’t get to do that anymore.”
“I can call you whatever I want, baby.” His left hand comes up, pinching a few stray strands of hair between his fingers, and my lips slide between my teeth so I don’t lean into him. “Probably thought this would piss me off, huh?” He refers to my much shorter locks.
