Page 11 of The Mood Board

He didn’t notice how quiet I was until we had ordered drinks and appetizers.

“Are you okay?” he asked, tilting his head and peering closely at me.

“I’m fine.” I fluttered my hand dismissively, hoping I could bluff this one. “I’m just tired, that’s all.”

His hand found mine across the table, and he squeezed it. “You’re working too hard, Bailey.”

“I know.” I looked down at my plate and the half piece of buttered bread I had only managed to take a single bite from.

“Bailey, you’re amazing, but no one expects you to do it all.” I didn’t want to know what I would find in Liam’s eyes, but at his gentle words, I looked up anyway. He gave me a soft smile to match his words and squeezed my hand again. “And I’m worried you’ll burn yourself out if you keep this up.”

“You’re one to talk,” I snorted, deflecting the uncomfortable topic.

He laughed and shrugged, pulling away but only to lounge back in his chair, flashing the grin that always caused me to melt. “It’s true.”

The server brought our drinks, and I took a sip before what I really wanted to say but had been trying not to finally slipped out.

“Janelle is pretty impressive.”

I didn’t like the excitement I saw jump to Liam’s expression. “Isn’t she? I don’t know how we snagged her. She should be working at some multinational corporation, not for us.”

“So why is she?” I asked.

“She said she admires me and the company and what we stand for,” Liam replied. “Watching her work is incredible, and she’s already implemented several programs that I would never have been able to develop myself. I know she will help the company grow how we want it to.”

I had been about to take another bite of the bread, but at the stab of jealousy, I put it back down on the plate.

No, it wasn’t jealousy. It was my discomfort and lack of self-confidence, and Janelle had brought it all out. I wasn’t afraid Liam would leave me for her—I was secure in my relationship, and I had never, ever been the jealous girlfriend. But I was uncomfortably aware that Janelle was the kind of woman Liam should be with instead of me: tall, gorgeous, terrifyingly accomplished, sophisticated.

Despite his sunny, friendly outlook, Liam was still the billionaire CEO of a major medical tech firm. He was rich, he was handsome, and though he ran the company with equity in mind, he was at the helm. I had seen him take charge when the moment demanded it, firm, steady, commanding, and a true sight to behold. Never mind how he effortlessly melded into his role in the company of other tech billionaires as easily as the regular guy playing video games with Tom.

I was an interior designer from Sacramento whose only claims to fame were “a magazine cover with an article in a local magazine and bagging one of our city’s most eligible bachelor billionaires,” as one particularly nasty gossip columnist had put it.

That only went to prove that how I felt about Janelle was about me and not her or Liam. This was part of my process—I had to put my insecurities from the past away. Liam was excited about her and the possibilities she brought to the company’s future. I was the one who had to do the work on myself and give him the support he needed.

“How about we throw a dinner party at our house?” I threw the idea out there before I could have second thoughts. “Something small to welcome Janelle to the company.”

Liam’s eyes lit up. “That’s an amazing idea, sweetheart.” He took hold of my hand and raised it to his lips, his gaze never leaving mine. “I love you, Bailey. You know how much, right?”

I nodded.

“You know how amazing I think you are, right?”

This time, my nod had less conviction. But I knew this dinner party was a good idea—once I got to know Janelle, I would like her, too, just like everyone else. Plus, it would give me a chance to work on my insecurities. It would all work out.

I hoped.