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“You won’t get past me.”
Nigel walked around the front of his car and opened the driver’s side door. “We shall see,” he said before sliding inside and shutting the door behind him. The engine roared to life and he shifted the car into gear. I watched his taillights disappear down the drive, then I spun on Liam.
“What. The. Hell. Was. That?” I stalked toward him. “One kiss and you think you get to act all possessive? You don’t own me. What do you think you’re doing, acting all macho and chasing him off like that?”
He stepped backward. “It has nothing to do with you.”
“The hell it doesn’t. We had a date.” What had happened to that kind, sensitive guy who’d offered to share his job with me? Where did he get off acting like he had any right to butt in?
He snorted. “Oh, you had a date. Do you have any idea who he is?”
I shrugged. “I know him at least as well as I know you.”
“But your aunt and uncle know me. Do they know who he is? And you invited him here! What were you thinking?”
“How bad could it be? It’s not like he’s a thief, or a land developer, or something. What’s wrong with inviting him here?” I put my hands on my hips and stared at him.
Liam just shook his head and walked toward his motorcycle. “You have no idea.”
“Then tell me. If you know him, tell me who he is and why it should matter that I was going to dinner with him.”
Liam kicked his kickstand up and began rolling his motorcycle toward the carriage house. He shook his head. “I don’t know him.”
“Then what was that scene all about?” I stalked after him.
“Just go inside, Eve,” he said over his shoulder.
I jogged ahead of him and turned to face him when he stopped in front of the carriage house door. “I’m not going inside until you tell me what in the hell is going on.”
“Open the door, then,” he said, nodding toward the carriage house.
I lifted the handle and held the door open for him.
“And I want to know why you think you get to act like that after one kiss,” I added as he slipped past me.
I followed him to the back of the carriage house. He parked his motorcycle against the back wall and hung his helmet from the handlebars. Then he spun to face me. “First”—he took a step closer to me—“it was more than one kiss.” He was standing close enough that I could feel the heat of him. “Second, I told you, what happened out there had nothing to do with you.”
“So you just met this person and instantly have some grudge against him that has nothing to do with me, even though I’m about to go on a date with him and you say you don’t know him.” I pushed my hand against his chest. “And what difference does it make how many kisses there were when you were the one who left without saying goodbye.”
Liam shook his head. “I may not know him, but I know his kind, and his kind are not welcome here.”
“His kind? You mean well-dressed, educated gentlemen who have manners and are about to take me to dinner?”
“You want to go to dinner? I’ll take you to dinner. For the last time, this has nothing to do with you.”
“I find that hard to believe.” I placed my hands on my hips.
He took a step closer to me and lowered his voice. “I’m gone for one day, and you manage to walk directly into the arms of the most dangerous bloke around. I must say, that’s quite a talent.” He ran his fingers down my cheek.
I narrowed my eyes and scowled at him.
“It’s too bad I ruined your date. You look lovely.”
I pressed my hands against his chest to shove him away, but he placed his hands over mine and stepped closer. “I’m sorry I left without saying goodbye. My mother’s dying.”
I closed my eyes and my chin dropped to my chest. His words drained the anger from me. Uncle Oscar had said Liam’s mother was sick. I had no idea it was that bad.
Liam’s fingers lifted my chin until I met his eyes.
