AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER TWELVE
Ashlyn
“Do you have to do that now?” Liam grumbled at me, shifting away from my phone’s camera. I sent my best glare in his direction, or at least I tried to. Even now, with my temper running the edges of my vision at his repeated attempts to ignore me, I couldn’t help but smile at him.
He had curled his long body into one of my bar-height chairs, and his dark hair was standing on end as he clicked through something on his laptop. His cheeks were covered with a light stubble, and I couldn’t stop my mind from wondering what it would feel like against my skin. The Rolex glinting on his wrist reminded me that he did not belong in my grubby little kitchen, and yet here he was, arguing with me over strategically released photos.
I was sure he wasn’t happy about it. Yet he was here, in full grump mode. Not that it was anything new. In the past few days, I’d figured that flirtation was definitely Liam’s way of deflecting. When I’d pushed past that, I’d uncovered just a tiny bit of the man behind the playboy. He was a little prickly on the outside, but instead of pushing me away, Liam seemed almost relieved to have me pestering him most days.
“We do, actually. That’s why I asked you to not shave. First we do some pictures in these clothes,” I held up the outfits mentioned. “And then you shave and we change a few times. Voila, instant background together.”
Liam’s flinty eyes looked at me. “You are enjoying this far more than I am.”
“Enjoyment is a choice, Liam, not a requirement,” I chirped at him. “At least in my line of work.”
Liam's lips twitched, but he turned back to his laptop. It’d been a few days since our scorching interaction in his office, and while he’d responded quickly, politely to my emails and texts, there’d been no more physical developments.
I gulped.
But I had to change that tonight. No one in the world would believe Liam Macklen was dating a woman he never touched.
“Okay, first photo, you’re good as is. Now, don’t smile,” I sang, drawing another glare. “Perfect. You’re so good at that.”
“I’m good at everything,” he said, smirking at his laptop.
“Humble too. No wonder this everyday girl fell for you,” I said, wiggling my brows as I scrolled through the pictures I had just snapped.
Liam spoke suddenly, his big body close enough I could smell the scent of his soap, rich and heavy. “You are not an everyday girl, Ashlyn,” he said.
I gaped up at him. “At least for this exercise, I am.” Wetting my lips, I leaned in. Liam eyes immediately went dark, his hands settling on my hips as he pulled me in against his body. My heart stuttered as he leaned in.
Finally, I sighed, a chance to feel those lips. Phone at the ready, I suddenly balked at the idea that our first real kiss would be for publicity. Gritting my teeth, I turned at the last-minute, sending Liam’s handsome face straight into my neck versus letting his mouth land on my lips. His fingers tightened, his thumbs swirling against the skin that he’d exposed there.
“Outfit number two please,” I said softly. Liam’s hands lingered as I moved back to my room, snagging a cute tank top and jacket off the edge of the table. Obediently, Liam grabbed his new clothes plus a leather bag which contained his shaving kit and stepped into my bathroom to change as well.
Safe in my room, I pressed my phone to my chest, taking a long breath. Then, with overly eager fingers, I scrolled through the pictures I’d just captured.
My heart fell through my stomach. They were good. His beautiful jaw was clenched as his face pressed into the side of mine. Instead of being focused on the camera, his attention was completely on me as I grinned like a lovesick idiot.
Warmth curled low in my belly. But my mind was flashing huge red warning signs. Because either Liam was a very good actor, or he truly did want me. I let my fingers sweep carefully across the screen. We looked good together. His dark beauty contrasting so completely to my bright fairness.
“Ashlyn?” The voice was soft through my shared door to the bathroom.
“One second.” I tore off my T-shirt and had barely pulled the tank on when Liam pushed the door open.
“Liam, I said one second.”
His brows raised. “Sorry. But I did wait like thirty seconds after that.”
I rolled my eyes. “You are painfully literal sometimes.”
“And that’s a problem? I feel like women love a man who follows direction.” He meanders across the room, a hand brushing across his freshly shaved jawline. That thing could cut diamonds, and for a moment, I was struck by the strange but wonderful effect of having Liam in my bedroom.
“No, not a problem. I’m just adding it to your profile for next time.”
His lips curled. “Next time?” Liam looked, as always, completely at ease. Whereas my brain was short circuiting the moment he sat his fine ass down on my bed and bounced. Actually bounced.
I blushed profusely. What the hell was he thinking about? That was my bed, and seeing him on it was doing funny things to my mind. “There doesn’t need to be a next time. Our contract is only until the shareholders’ meeting. After that, you’re a free man. Within limits, of course.”
