“Can one of you answer my question?” Charlee asked. “How do you guys know each other?”
Liam slid an arm around her waist. “We’re cousins.”
Her eyes went big. “Cousins?”
“Yeah, I told you about him.”
Royce folded his arms across his chest. “Oh, so you told her about what happened with the girl, huh?” The words were spat out in a way that made Liam wonder why the guy acted as if he was the victim.
“He mentioned the incident but didn’t use your name. I didn’t realize you were that cousin. Now that I see the two of you together, I can see the family resemblance.”
Growing up, most people thought they were siblings. Liam even considered him a brother until that one Sunday afternoon that changed everything between them.
“Yeah, he’s that cousin.”
“Give it a rest, man. I was young and dumb back then. I can’t believe you’re still trippin’ over BS that happened years ago.”
Liam moved closer, anger boiling deep inside his gut. Royce still didn’t get it. The fool still didn’t understand what really happened that day. What he had destroyed.
“I’m not tripping over you screwing my college girlfriend,” Liam ground out, barely hanging on to the control that had kept him from hunting his cousin down after so many years. “I’m tripping over the fact that you, my cousin, my best friend, my family, betrayed me. You disrespected me, as well as Gram and Pop’s home.”
Royce huffed out a breath. “Get over it. That happened a lifetime ago. Like you said, we’re family. Sometimes we mess up. I don’t know why I went after your girl. All I can say is that I’m sorry.”
“You’re stupider than I thought if all this time you thought this was about you sleeping with Jasmine. This ain’t got shit to do with her. This is all about knowing my own blood would do something like that to me. Something so low and underhanded without thinking twice. That’s my issue with you.”
“I already told you I was sorry. What else do you want me to say?” His gaze went to Charlee, who was standing a short distance behind Liam. “Besides, you’re married, and married to a very beautiful woman. I would think you could let that mess in the past go. Now, I could see if I was tryin’ to push up on your wife. Then…”
Something snapped inside of Liam. He lunged forward before he could stop himself. Slamming his fist into his cousin’s jaw, he put just enough power behind the punch to sting, but not enough to break anything.
“Liam!” Charlee screamed, grabbing his arm, probably thinking he was going to hit the bastard again.
Royce’s head jerked and he staggered, barely keeping his balance. He braced himself against a nearby wall while he rubbed his jaw.
“Are you all right?” Charlee asked him, her hand still gripping Liam’s arm.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I had it coming.” Royce pushed away from the wall, still rubbing his jaw. “I see you still have a solid right hook, Cuz.”
“Maybe you should go,” Charlee told him.
“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea, but first I owe you both an apology.” Royce’s eyes connected with Liam’s. “I don’t know how to fix what I broke between us, but I really am sorry. I know I messed up, and I’ll understand if we can’t go back to what we had.”
Breathing hard, Liam struggled to control the anger still stirring within him. “We’ll never be able to go back to what we had.”
He nodded. “I know, and losing our bond is one of my biggest regrets. I also know ‘I’m sorry’ can’t change what happened between us. I just hope over time you’ll be able to forgive me.”
Liam didn’t respond. It would take a long time to trust his cousin again.
Royce grabbed his laptop bag and swung it over his shoulder. “Charlee, it was nice meeting you. Sorry about this. Hopefully, what happened here doesn’t affect the working relationship between our companies.”
“It doesn’t, but going forward your contact person will be Bradley Handler. I’ll make sure I pass your information and what we discussed on to him.”
Royce nodded, and Liam kept quiet. He never wanted to do anything to hinder her job or work environment. Even though he trusted her completely, he was glad she wouldn’t be dealing with Royce.
Once his cousin was gone, Liam closed the door and locked it. He turned to his wife. The softness of her eyes did him in each time he looked at her. He never knew he was capable of loving someone as much as he loved this woman.
“I am so sorry,” he said. “I came to surprise you with dinner just in case you were working late. I had no intention of barging in here and messing up your meeting.”
“It’s all good.” She gripped the front of his Henley and tugged hard enough to bring their faces within inches from each other. “I’m just glad to see you.”
Before Liam could respond, her mouth covered his and all thoughts of dinner and Royce flew from his mind. She kissed him with a passion that left no doubt that she loved him as much as he loved her.
When he stopped by, he hadn’t planned on christening her office, but the urgency of her kiss sent heat charging to every cell in his body. His need to be buried deep inside of her grew with every lap of her tongue, exploring the inner recesses of his mouth. And when she ground her softness against his hard shaft, he knew they wanted the same thing.
“You know when you rub up against me like this, it’s game on,” he murmured against her lips then broke off the kiss. Breathing hard, his lips went to her neck, nibbling on her soft, scented skin. “I want you so bad. Right here. Right now. So if you’re expecting more visitors, stop me now.”
“No visitors. No stopping.”
Liam backed her to the wall. This was one of those times when he was glad that she had on her way-too-tall, high heels. Their bodies aligned perfectly with the extra height the shoes provided.
Charlee hiked up her dress, revealing the skimpiest panties he’d ever seen on her, and his thoughts jumbled. Need spread through him quicker than an uncontrollable forest wildfire.
“Damn, you look good.” He glided his hands slowly up the side of her thighs, finding pleasure in the way she shivered under his touch. “Let’s get you out of these,” he said.
He began sliding the tiny strip of nothing over her hips, and his shaft grew harder, throbbing with need as he glided the material down her shapely legs. He stood in awe of her incredible body, bare before him, as he stuffed the panties into the front pocket of his jeans. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her.
“You are truly one sexy woman.”
She gave him a shy smile but then it turned wicked, mischief sparkling in her big brown eyes.
“Your turn,” she said, still holding up her dress. “Let me see what I know you’re working with.”
He chuckled, quickly unfastening his pants to free himself. “I can do better than showing you. How about I let you feel what I’m working with.”
“Liam!” she gasped when he lifted her off the floor. Her arms went around his neck, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He braced her against the wall for extra support as they stared into each other’s eyes.
“You know I love this position.”
“I know.” His lips met hers and he devoured her mouth as he slid into her sweet heat, marveling at the way her inner muscles contracted around him. She felt so good.
And wet, and hot, and tight, he thought as he moved inside of her. It didn’t matter how many times or how many ways they made love, he didn’t think he would ever get enough of her. Each time was just as amazing as the first time.
It didn’t take long before they both were panting as he pumped in and out of her with more force, going a little deeper with each thrust. The erotic moans she made, spurred him on, causing him to move faster and harder. What Liam didn’t want to do was bruise her back as it rubbed against the wall, but he couldn’t stop.
His heart was practically pounding out of his chest as his release neared. With her unsteady breathing and the jerki
ness of her body, it was safe to say that she was almost at that point, too.
“Liam…” Charlee whimpered. She tightened around him. “I—I… Oh yes, right there. Ri—”
She moaned, and her body shook violently against him, making it hard to hold her up. But he held firm, pumping into her like a man possessed until his body stiffened. A growl rumbled in his throat and his release plowed through him like an out of control locomotive pushing him over a cliff.
He wobbled on unsteady legs and pressed Charlee firmly against the wall, ensuring that they didn’t collapse to the floor. While he fought to get air into his lungs, he slowly set her on her feet but didn’t remove his arm from around her.
She laid her forehead on his shoulder. “That was…”
“Intense,” he said, still breathing hard. “I’m glad you’re the boss.”
“Why?”
“Because you have a bathroom in this big ass office.”
She released a tired laughed. “I’ve been trying to figure out the advantages of being the boss. Now I know.”
“How about we get cleaned up and get out of here.”
She lifted her head and kissed him sweetly. “That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Liam is going to kill me.
The last thing Charlee wanted to do was miss their date, but she was already three hours late. Not just any date. They were celebrating their three-month anniversary.
She should’ve been home with her man. Instead, she was still at the office.
“Oh good. You’re still here,” Bradley said as he strolled in carrying a manila folder.
The whole day had been one disaster after another. The worst being that there had been an accident at a job site in Detroit and one of their cranes was at the center of the investigation. This was the first time that she could remember, that a crane had snapped at the boom point. In this case, it had damaged not only the building the client’s company was working on, but thousands of dollars’ worth of material had been destroyed.
OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, was investigating the incident, but Charlee also wanted her own investigation done. She had already contacted their lawyer and a private investigator.
“We need to go over—”
“Bradley, I have to get home. Whatever else you need to discuss with me will have to wait until Monday.”
Charlee scooped up her cell phone from the desk and slid it into the side pocket of her oversized Chanel bag. The files that she still hadn’t had a chance to review also went into the bag.
“Charlee, this is important. It’ll only take a minute.”
“I’m leaving.”
She had let him impose on her time too often over the last few weeks. There’d been presentations, new contracts, and a new employment program that they’d implemented.
But not tonight. Tonight, she had to hurry home to her husband with hopes that he hadn’t finally given up on her.
For over the past month, she’d been getting home later and later. At first, Liam hadn’t complained. He often brought her dinner. Stopped by during lunch, insisting that she take a break. There had even been one late night that he brought his work to her office and stayed there with her, not wanting her to drive home alone so late at night.
Now that was love.
How’d she pay him back? She started working even longer hours.
“This can’t continue,” she said, more to herself, but didn’t care that Bradley heard her. “This is the last week that I’ll be staying in the office this late.”
“Okay, but right now, we have to discuss the marketing plan for the new tractors we’re rolling out in a few months. I know you wanted to let Diane take lead on that project, but I don’t think she can handle the work.”
Charlee stood and double checked the top of her desk, making sure she had everything she needed to work from home during the weekend.
She looked at her co-worker. “Whatever you want to discuss, including Diane’s project, will have to wait until Monday. I’m out of here.”
“Come on, Charlee. Whatever you’re rushing off to can wait, but this,” he held up the manila folder, “can’t.”
“Let’s go. I need to lock up my office. If you want, you can fill me in on the way to the parking garage. That’s all the time I can give you.”
He huffed out a breath and followed her into the hallway, waiting for her to lock the door.
“Clearly, your priorities are out of whack,” he grumbled, keeping up with her as she hurried to the elevator. “How do you expect to be CEO when the business doesn’t come first? You’re going to throw everything you’ve worked for away for a man?”
Charlee rounded on him, getting in his face. “I’m going to say this one time. So you’d better listen good. My personal life is none of your business, but for the record, Liam is not just a man. He’s my husband, and I’d give up everything for him.”
“Charlee, I didn’t mean to—"
“And when I become CEO, you’d better make sure you can do your job. Coming to me for everything or to the person who will fill my current role is not gonna fly. Some of these issues you claim are super important, you should be able to take care of. So, whatever is in that file folder you’re holding, handle it. I’ll see you Monday morning.”
Twenty minutes later, she pulled into her garage, cringing at the fact that it was almost ten o’clock. Way past the time they were supposed to have a nice, romantic dinner.
“I have to do better,” she grumbled, grabbing her things out of the car.
Liam had called her twice. Once earlier just to hear her voice, and again around five to confirm that she’d be home by six-thirty. She’d had every intention of getting home early. When she texted him a couple of hours ago, explaining that she’d be a little late, he’d been okay with it. Telling her that he was looking forward to spending the evening with her. But when she texted him an hour ago, she hadn’t heard back.
No doubt he was pissed. At some point, he was going to quit trying to make their marriage work. She had recently postponed their wedding, claiming she didn’t have time. Liam was understanding but did express concern that the wedding would never happen if she couldn’t make time to help with the planning.
Charlee huffed out a breath, frustrated with herself. She walked into the house, leaving her bag and jacket in the mudroom. When she entered the kitchen and dining room area, the lights were dimmed. Candles, that looked as if they’d been burning a while, graced every available flat surface. A beautiful bouquet of pink roses sat in the center of the dining room table that was set for two.
Guilt pierced her chest. How could she have messed this night up, especially knowing how much they both were looking forward to it? Some of the work she’d done earlier, could’ve been passed on to someone else. Yet, she had insisted on doing it herself. Now, she’d have to pay the cost for not delegating.
A jazz melody flowed through the surround sound. Seeing that Liam listened to music by ThaSaint practically every night, Charlee recognized the tune immediately. The Way I Feel For You played softly, making her feel even worse about being late.
God, he really is going to kill me.
“Liam?” she called out, and pulled up short when she reached the living room.
He was sitting on the sofa, his feet propped up on the coffee table and a glass with dark liquid in his hand. He looked the epitome of calm, but she knew better. Only those who knew the brooding man would notice his simmering anger.
“Where’ve you been?” he asked, his words surprisingly slurred.
“At work.” She slowly approached him, knowing a simple sorry wouldn’t make up for ruining their evening. “I miss calculated how long it would take me to finish up today, and then Bradley came to—”
“Don’t mention that asshole’s name in my house,” he snarled.
Charlee clamped her lips shut. He didn’t like Bradley much, especially when her
co-worker called the house on Sunday mornings to discuss work. Tonight, though, this was all on her. She was the one who had screwed up. Her husband had every right to be upset. He had been nothing but patient for months, planning their time together around her crazy work schedule. All he had asked was for her to commit to a date night during the week, and that they spend some time together on the weekend. Yet, she struggled to do either. It wasn’t because she couldn’t. Her priorities were out of whack just as Bradley accused, but not the way he meant.
Something had to change. She had to start delegating more or risk losing everything that was important to her. Just the thought sent panic racing through her body. She couldn’t lose Liam. She couldn’t let the man she absolutely adored walk out of her life again.
Not this time. Not ever.
Liam tossed back the rest of his drink. Then slammed the glass on the side table.
Oh, no. This is not good, Charlee thought when she noticed the half-empty bottle of bourbon.
Her husband was a casual drinker. A beer once or twice a week, but rarely did he indulge in hard liquor unless he was playing poker or watching a game with some of his cousins. Apparently, he also drank when he was pissed.
Charlee’s pulse thumped loudly in her ears as she tried to think of some way of salvaging the evening.
“Liam, if you haven’t eaten already, we can still—”
“I—I’m not do—doing this anymore.” His voice was a low rumble, the agony behind his words cut through Charlee like a shard of glass.
“Baby, I’m sorry. I know I’ve been messing up our plans lately, but I promise, going forward—”
“No. I’ve heard it t-too many ti—times.” He stood on wobbly legs, tilting to his left and Charlee rushed to him.
“Let me help you.”
He jerked away, stumbling into a side table, but righting himself. “Don’t touch me. Ge-get your bags.” He drunkenly lifted his arm and pointed to a couple of pieces of her luggage that were near the front door. “And ge—get out of my hou—house.”
When he headed toward the hallway that led to their bedroom, panic crawled down Charlee’s spine. Then within seconds it was replaced with annoyance.
Unplanned Love Page 19
