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Another pause. Then, “I guess the only thing left to ask is how do you feel about him?”
I draw in a long deep breath, allowing myself to absorb the meaning behind the words before I let them free. “You already know how I feel about him.”
“Yeah, I do know.”
I don’t need to say those three little words as much as Liam doesn’t need to tell them to me. It’s strange falling for someone you have a business relationship with, but Liam’s right, in our world professional and personal mix often. I think keeping things professional kept a boundary up, but now we’ve crossed that line and there is no going back.
When the heart knows, it knows. But what in the fuck do I do now?
The thought of hurting Jackson devastates me. Liam has hurt him, that much I know. He might not have told me what stands between him and Liam but his pain has always been clear to me.
Though can I say goodbye to Liam tomorrow?
“I should get going,” I say, lifting my head, knowing I’m never going to have that answer tonight. “I’m sure Liam’s wondering what I’m doing in here. And I really don’t want him thinking I’m sick or something.”
Mallory barks a laugh. “Total sexy killer.”
I laugh with her, glad for the break in the tension. “Before I go, how about you? Any news on your front about your date?”
“The only news at all was a message from the event coordinator telling me that a driver would be picking me up Tuesday morning.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
For Mallory’s sake, I’m hoping this date happens. Unlike me, she actually dates, but she’s been unable to hold down a steady boyfriend. I don’t really know why. She’s beautiful, sassy, and smart but she’s picky. Very picky. Though I’m also starting to wonder if someone bet on her at the auction to donate the money to the charity but doesn’t want the date to happen. “Keep me updated on that, all right?”
“Will do,” she says then hesitates. “And, Aria?”
“Yeah.”
“I know you and Liam both very well. I can’t say why Jackson hates him. Maybe Liam burned him somehow. But that had to have happened a long time ago. Everyone deserves a se
cond chance, and Liam never hurt you. In fact, I’d say the only person possibly hurting you right now is Jackson if he’s holding you back from being incredibly happy with Liam.”
“Saying it like that makes it sound all very simple.”
“It is, isn’t it?”
I rise and stare at myself in the mirror, seeing a sparkle there behind the tension. It’s that feeling when someone understands you, truly, and appreciates you. It’s infectious and warm, and the fact that I’m feeling it with Liam is incredible. “It would be, if I could trust what I’m feeling around him. If I could trust the words that come from his mouth.”
“Trust is a prickly bitch,” she says in total agreement. “Well, then, all I can say as your bestie is trust your gut. It’s never led you wrong.”
“I love you, Malls.”
“Love you, too.”
The phone line goes dead before I can say anything more. I turn off my cell, shutting out the world for a little bit longer, and exit the bathroom. Silence surrounds me when I journey down the thin hallway of white painted bare walls. I expect to find Liam in the living room but he’s nowhere in sight, though I notice the sliding door in the living room is wide open. I leave my cellphone on the counter then pad my way across the white ceramic floors and step outside.
That’s when he appears.
Beneath the full moon, Liam stands at the edge of the water, power and calmness all in one. There’s a lot on my mind, that much I do know. A lot I need to figure out. But what this man does to me, the control he has over my body is not one of them.
Chapter 6
Liam
My toes dig into the sand, the cool water splashing up on my legs. The night is quiet with a slight breeze creating waves out on the water. When warm hands slide beneath my arms and over my chest, I smile and turn to Aria. I catch the strain in her eyes, and understand perfectly. I’m right there with her.
