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“Looks like some dark thoughts for a party.”
She jolted and looked up into Liam’s lake-blue eyes. She hadn’t heard him approach. Again. “You know, being stealthy is really annoying.”
He gave her a half smile. “I’ll work on that.”
God, he looked wonderful. Black dress Stetson, a tux that had clearly been tailored to fit his muscled, rangy body and gleaming black boots. He looked the image of every romantic cowboy fantasy. And he was staring at her as if he wanted to take a bite.
She shivered and wished he would.
“What’re you doing here, Liam?”
“Sterling sent me as his representative,” he said, glancing around the massive yard and all the people gathered there. When he looked back at her, his gaze swept her up and down.
Chloe’s blood heated in response, and she had one quick moment to be grateful she’d gone shopping especially for the party. Her dress was midnight blue silk, shot through with silver threads. It clung to her body and fell straight to the floor. There was a side slit that went high on her right thigh, and the bodice was cut low and supported by two slim straps over her shoulders. The back was a deep vee, and the soft Texas air caressed her skin as she stood there with his eyes on her.
“You look...beautiful.”
His voice was soft, almost lost in the surrounding noise of dozens of conversations.
“Thank you. You look amazing.” Just honest, she thought, enjoying the sight of him in that elegant tuxedo. The black Stetson he wore only added to the whole picture.
Nodding, he mused, “Seems like a nice party.”
She laughed and shook her head. “You hate it.”
“True,” he said with a shrug, “but it seems nice enough.”
“Honestly, I’m bored to tears,” she admitted, letting her gaze slide around the lawn. “I’m here for Ellen, though I don’t think she’s even noticed me yet.”
“I don’t know how she could miss you.”
Chloe slid her gaze to his and saw passion glittering in the depths of his eyes. Her body stirred in response, but her heart ached, because passion wasn’t enough anymore.
For the last few days, she’d been struggling with a hard truth that had somehow slipped up on her. She was falling in love with this hardheaded cowboy. A man who didn’t respect her abilities. Who thought because she was a rich man’s daughter, she was incapable of being more.
And that broke her heart.
“I don’t think I like what I’m seeing in your eyes,” he said. A waiter stopped to offer a tray of champagne flutes, but Liam waved him off.
“What is it you think you see?”
Frowning, he said, “In a word, disappointment.”
“Good catch.” Strange that he could see that in her eyes, but he couldn’t see the love she had for him. A loose strand of hair fell from the messy bun knotted at the back of her head and impatiently, she tucked it behind her ear. “Liam—”
“You’re wrong,” he said quietly.
Curious, she asked, “About what?”
He inhaled sharply. “About what I think of you.”
Sadly, she wasn’t. “Oh, I think you were pretty clear the other day.”
“I was pissed,” he confessed. “Said some things I shouldn’t have.”
Stunned, she stared up at him. “If that’s an apology, it’s not very good,” she told him.
“Yeah, it’s not an apology.”
“Oh, great. Well, thanks for stopping by.” Chloe looked across the yard and watched her little sister throw herself into Brad’s arms.
Whatever Chloe might think of Ellen’s upcoming marriage, at least her sister had found someone who loved her. That put her miles ahead of Chloe.
“Here’s something I haven’t told you enough,” he said softly. “You’ve done a hell of a job, Chloe.”
She turned her head to look at him. “Is that right?”
“It is. You stood up and I didn’t think you could. You did the work and didn’t bitch about it.”
“That’s practically Shakespeare, Liam.” Her lips twitched. He wouldn’t apologize, but he would compliment her, however grudgingly.
