Page 26 of His Price

Liam’s eyes widen, seemingly I’m surprising him. Soon enough calmness and confidence replaces the shock. “Your loyalty has shifted to me.” He shoves his hands into his pockets. “Did you honestly think I wouldn’t come for you when I heard Jackson represented the Pioneer Group?”

“Of course, I knew you’d come,” I whisper, emotion clawing at my throat. Because maybe I want that. Maybe I don’t want to be alone anymore. “But just because I made that choice doesn’t mean I have to feel good about it. And I don’t.”

Liam’s brows draw together, expression thoughtful, while he keeps a careful distance, studying me intently. “So, is that what’s upsetting you? You feel guilty?”

I know he wants to understand. Hell, even I want to understand everything that happened today but my mind is spinning, the world unsteady beneath my feet. “If only it was that simple,” I say to the both of us.

Liam exhales a heavy breath, softening his expression. “Aria, do not go through all this alone. You don’t have to. I’m here. Tell me what’s wrong, and I’ll do whatever I can to help fix it.”

I don’t know if it’s what he said, the strength and meaning behind his words, or how he looks at me, like he’d run through flames for me, that hits me straight in the heart, but that’s exactly what happens. He’s what I need. I draw in a deep breath then suddenly everything I’ve been holding in all day comes out in a blubbering mess. “Everything is all fucked up.”

I’m standing there alone and then I’m not, wrapped in his powerful arms, the woodsy scent of his cologne a comforting aroma, his arms the perfect strength I need. “Tell me what’s happened,” he says, gently soothing his hand across my back.

I press my face against his dress shirt, warm tears flooding my cheeks. “Jackson is really pissed off.”

Liam keeps an arm around me, shutting the door then moving us to the couch. We lower together against the cushion. My head on his shoulder, he wraps an arm around me. “Now what’s this about Jackson? Did you talk to him and he got upset?”

I get the feeling that if Jackson had been angry with me, Liam would handle him. “No, in fact, it was the exact opposite,” I correct, grabbing a tissue off the coffee table and wiping my nose. “Jackson showed up at work this morning, found out we lost the merger to you then left, without saying a single word to me. And he wouldn’t answer any of my calls or texts.”

“That doesn’t sound like Jackson,” Liam says, his finger slowly trailing over my shoulder, brows drawn. “He’s not the type of man who runs from anything.”

I agree with a nod. “It doesn’t make sense,” I say. “We’d come to an understanding about the weekend date before I left, and he seemed to accept it.” I pause, trying again to think this through, like I’d been trying to since the second I realized he walked out the door without speaking to me. “The only thing I can think of is that he knows that you told me about Sophia and maybe he doesn’t want to face that truth, but how would he know that?”

One eyebrow arches. “Believe me, he knows that I would tell you at some point this weekend. Jackson is not stupid. I can only imagine he’s aware that once I had you, I would refuse to let you go, including telling you about the real guy he is.”

I sigh, believing that to be the truth. “God, what is he thinking now?” My heart clenches, throat tightens. “He must believe I think the very worst of him.”

Liam’s brows arch higher. “You don’t?”

He’s not upset, I can tell. He is curious, however, so I set to explaining. “What Jackson did to you was wrong. So wrong.” I pause and add gently, “But he did that to you, Liam, not to me. And it happened a really long time ago.” I draw in a long breath collecting my thoughts before continuing. “I’ve made quite a few mistakes in my life. I can’t judge him for making a mistake, no matter how terrible it was. Jackson has been nothing but supportive, loving, and kind to me. The thought that he’s alone somewhere, hurting, thinking that I hate him breaks me.”

Liam stays silent, obviously assessing me. He eventually asks, “You really care about him, don’t you?”

I nod, tears on my face. “I love him.”

Liam’s gaze flicks up to the coffered ceiling a moment, his jaw muscles clenching and unclenching before he gives the longest sigh I’ve ever heard. “We’ll make this work,” he says, returning that potent stare on me.

I blink. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that I will make peace with Jackson,” he states. “I will do whatever I can to ensure that Jackson is not angry at you, and I will forgive him, putting the matter to bed once and for all.”

My eyes go wide. I can’t help it. “You. Will. Forgive. Him?” I’m not sure I ever could.

“For you, yes.” He tucks a finger under my chin, commanding all my attention. “Though don’t forget, I will do this only for you because as much as I want you to be with me, I also want you to be happy.”

I want to believe him. God, do I want to, but life isn’t that easy. “While that paints a pretty picture, how will that work? If I go out for dinner with Jackson sometimes, will you honestly be okay with that?”

“Yes.”

I snort and shake my head softly. “I don’t believe you. I know you want to believe that, but the hatred you two feel is nothing I’ve ever seen in anyone before. You can’t simply get over that from one weekend.”

Something crosses his expression then. Something intense. Liam shifts on the couch facing me, his hands slide possessively across my face. “I want you, Aria. That’s the endgame here. I refuse to spend another goddamn hour without you. If that means I have to tolerate Jackson and deal with you spending time with him without me, then I will deal with that. That’s on me, my shit to deal with. And I will deal with that.”

“Really?” I ask, my heart hoping that’s true.

“Really.” He leans forward, his mouth moving closer to mine. “Tell me what I need to hear, Aria.”

There are things I know he wants to hear. But I have things of my own to tell him first. “Do you want to know what makes you so unforgettable, Liam?” I ask, slowly dragging my lips across his.

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