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Donal stood and clapped him on the back. “You’re a good cheerleader, Linc Buchanan. Too bad you didn’t wear the cute little skirt.”
Bets gestured heavenward as she winced. “Thanks for putting that image in my head, Donal. Liam, are you really okay?”
If there was one thing Linc admired about Bets, it was her mother henning. She’d been calling and texting the boy more than usual. Linc figured Liam would tell her when he’d had enough.
“I’m fine, Mum.” He stood up and smiled, although it didn’t reach its usual wattage. “Now, I should probably go and assure Taylor. See you in five minutes, Linc?”
“That would be great,” he responded, already calling up his bullet points for the meeting.
Bets hit him a little stronger than her usual playful socks. “Is there anything we need to ask Patrick and our legal guys before they leave?” she whispered.
He shrugged as he watched their lawyers pack up their briefcases and shuffle into their wool coats. “I figure he’d tell us if there were.”
“Something still doesn’t feel right.”
Turning in his seat, he spun her chair to face him. “Sugar, we’re in unknown territory, but we have the best people and the best plans we can in place. Don’t borrow trouble.”
Because he knew from past experience that trouble had no problem finding you.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
Liam had never been much for walking tightropes, but there were moments when he couldn’t dismiss the fact that he was walking one now.
First, with his own body when it came to wanting Taylor. To keep control of himself, he’d limited their evenings to some fun flirting, dinner, a movie, and some increasingly hot interactions on her couch—never her bed.
Second, with his mum, who had surged into overprotective mode, checking in on him and his well-being way more than usual.
Third, with his friends, whom he had seen little of since devoting all of his free time to Taylor.
But he knew all about the seasons in life. He’d waited years for his soulmate, and now that she was here, being with her and building their relationship was his number one priority. Even after only living together for three days, more or less, they were establishing a rhythm, and he’d never been happier in his life despite the looming press conference this morning and a whole host of moronic power games he had no interest in participating in.
“Liam, have you seen my gray heels?” Taylor called out. “I swore I put them by the front door.”
She swept into the kitchen in a rush like usual, looking professional but breathtaking in a charcoal suit with a white silk blouse. He’d learned Taylor was so not a morning person. By the time she woke up, he’d usually completed his yoga, meditation, and morning check of emails.
He walked over and kissed her slowly on the mouth until she sighed, caressing the crease from her pillow still on her newly powdered cheek. “Morning. I believe you carried them into the kitchen and put them on a chair yesterday when you got home, thinking you’d stow them in your closet later.”
“You mean when I dropped them to kiss you hello after another hard day of interviews? Dammit, I forgot about that.”
He leaned in and kissed her bottom lip, a lip God had designed to drive him mad. “I’ll have to do a better job of kissing you tonight if you’ve already forgotten about it.”
“Imeantyour kisses made me forget.” Her hand trailed down his chest, igniting fire. “You look hot, and you smell even hotter. You don’t normally wear a suit and put on aftershave.”
He gestured to his clothes and ordered his body to calm. “I usually only wear this kind of outfit to weddings and funerals. I thought I should match your style. Plus, Ghislaine sent me a memo about dressing up.”
She laughed heartily. “The truth comes out. She picked my outfit too.”
He let his eyes scan the lines of her body while his fingers traced the edge of her blouse, teasing the bare skin peeking above the silk. “You look beautiful as always, and if it’s any assurance, I plan to be by your side whenever you need me.”
Her smile bloomed slowly before she rested her cheek against his chest. The simple gesture was like the ease with which they were “playing house,” as she liked to call it, and it gave him the kind of joy mentioned in his favorite books about sacred partnerships.
“By my side, huh? You have been since the beginning. I’m pretty happy about that, you know.”
“Me too. It’s been the best part of this whole week. Eggs? Oatmeal?”
She lifted her head, a fierce grimace on her face. “I might puke if I eat. You know, I’ve been to a million press conferences, but I’ve never been the main act. Yesterday, Sophie told me not to sweat it.”
“You got to talk to Sophie?”
