by Malone, Nana
Becca glanced at him, as if she were thinking the same thing, and all Liam could do was shrug. Becca knew everything there was to know about his family and his failed career.
Holden grew impatient, apparently wanting them both to ask him what the information was. He pinned Liam with a glare. “Does the name Addison Torres ring any bells?”
“She’s a friend of mine. We trained together. What about her?”
“Did you or did you not interfere with Becca’s career by contacting Addison Torres?”
“Becca told me not to interfere, and I didn’t.”
Becca put her hands on her hips. “Holden, when we were in lessons, I mentioned I was trying to land a big name for the Southland campaign and that Brett Jennings wanted Addison. Liam offered to contact her since she’s a friend of his and I told him then that I appreciated his offer, but I wanted to land her on my own.”
“And yet—” Holden snickered “—he went behind your back and contacted her anyway.”
Liam needed to shut this down before Becca discovered Holden was telling the truth. Everything was back on track with them. He didn’t need the asshole coming in here and ruining it.
But the only way to deal with this was to admit what he’d done. “He’s right, Becca. I was so eager to make you happy...I reached out to Addison after you told me not to, but just as an old friend. I mentioned the campaign but never said I knew you or anything specifically about her talking to you. She never returned my text, so it didn’t go anywhere, and I didn’t do it to undermine you. I totally believe in you, but you were under so much stress, I just figured if I could help, I should.”
Her eyes clouded ever so slightly. “But I told you not to.”
“I know, and I’m truly sorry. I was only trying to help. You had so much on your plate trying to deal with those women at work and the swimming lessons, and—”
Holden looked smug. “And you cost her her job.”
“What? No, I…” Liam felt like his world was crashing down again. “Becca?”
Her bottom lip trembled. “How many times did you text her?”
“I texted once and called her when she didn’t get back to me. That’s all.”
She hung her head and walked a few steps away. “That’s why she got pissed. Why her agent called and pulled the deal. My God, she thought I was harassing her. No wonder she refused to come on board.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Liam argued. “There’s no way she pulled the deal because of you.”
“It doesn’t end there,” Holden said, following behind Becca. “She stopped at the Dive office this morning asking for you.”
Becca whirled around. “She did?”
“Seems Mr. Loser over here called her yet again.”
Her eyes cut to Liam. “So now you’re stalking her for me?”
“Oh, come on. I wasn’t stalking her. We’re friends. I was checking on her to make sure she was okay since she hadn’t returned my call or my texts, that’s all. I swear, I never meant—”
Holden cut him off. “You never meant what, loser? To screw things up even more?” He puffed out his chest and put a hand on Becca’s arm. “I’ve smoothed everything over with Addison, and I’ve managed to get your job back for you.”
“What?” Becca said. “How?”
“After I talked to her, Addison now wants to work with you. In fact, she said, she’ll only work with you. Which, of course, means you have to come back, Becca. You’re the star of the campaign, and along with Addison Torres, you’re going to kick ass.”
Becca’s face morphed. A smile stole across her lips. “Are you kidding me?”
“Nope.” Holden grabbed her by her upper arms and gave her a winning smile. A smile Liam had seen his old man give his Olympic hopefuls right before a big race. “Say you’ll do it. Come back to work and turn this campaign into the biggest one Dive has ever seen.”
Becca stuttered and shifted her weight from foot to foot. “I don’t know. I mean, I guess I could.” Her gaze shifted to Liam and hardened. “But only if she’s doing it because she believes in our products and not because Liam had anything to do with recruiting her.”
His stomach dropped. She was actually considering returning to the Tribot nest and resuming her job, even after all she’d told him about how she didn’t fit in there. And on top of it all, Holden looked like her knight in shining armor. Perfect.
Liam raised his hands in surrender. “I won’t say a word to her ever again.”
“So you’ll do it?” Holden asked. “You’ll come back?”
“Well, I need to think about it.”
Liam heaved a frustrated sigh. “You hated that place, Becca. It’s not right for you.”
Her dark eyes turned on him. “Don’t tell me what’s right or wrong for me.” She pulled her arms out of Holden’s grip, looking between the two of them. “I can and will make my own decision about this, and I don’t need help from you. Either of you. Are we clear?”
Holden nodded. Liam reluctantly did as well.
“Now.” She rubbed her temple. “I think you both should leave.”
“Becca—”
She held up a hand to interrupt him. “I need some space.”
He waited for Holden to move. The asshole stayed planted.
“Of course you do, sweetie,” Holden patted her shoulder but brought a folded paper out of his inside jacket pocket. “But I really need to talk to you about your raise and a couple of other things.”
“Raise?” Becca sounded pleasantly surprised. “I’m getting a raise?”
“I figured as long as I was bargaining to get your job back, I should get you a new title and a raise.”
Liam shook his head in disgust. “I’ll call you later, Becca.”
She didn’t answer; her eyes were bright as they stayed glued on Holden.
Loser. Yep, Liam was sure he’d just lost the best thing in his life.
* * *
Becca was furious. But that didn’t mean she wanted to see that hurt dejected look on Liam’s face. She cared about him, but he’d lied to her. In some ways he was just like Holden. Rushing to the rescue. Though, in this case she was a tiny bit grateful to Holden and his tendency to try to take over her life. She needed this job.
Though as much as she needed it, Liam had a point. Getting fired had been a good thing in many ways. She’d never been happy there. She’d always felt like she was running to catch up, to fit in. The work was good and challenging, but Van was the only person she liked in that whole building.
Holden pulled her in for a hug. “I’m sorry I had to put you through that. You know I don’t like to see you hurting.”
There was something so comforting and familiar about one of Holden’s hugs and the way he tucked her in close. Unfortunately, it didn’t feel as easy as it always had. Before when she was upset, he’d hold her, she’d feel better and see more clearly. Now she just felt confused. And mildly annoyed. And disappointed that he wasn’t Liam.
She pulled back and put some distance between them. Silently, she led them into the living room. “I appreciate everything you’ve done Holden, but I don’t want you fixing my life.”
“Baby, look. I know you didn’t want this, but I couldn’t stand by and watch this happen. You were unfairly fired. For something that wasn’t your fault. I had to do something.”
“And I appreciate it. I do. I need to think it through.”
He nodded. “The whole campaign is pretty much on hold without you.”
Becca frowned. “Fred and Tiffany would disagree.”
He clamped his jaw shut in a move she recognized as his annoyed expression. She’d seen it often. “Okay. I have to remember how you work. Make your decision, but just remember a whole team is counting on you.”
“Holden, didn’t you just promise to let me make my own decisions?”
“Yeah but—” He sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry. If I can’t talk about that, then maybe we can talk about us. I have to say I w
as really surprised to find Boy Toy here.”
Becca stifled her annoyance. “Liam. His name is Liam.”
“Fine. Liam. I thought you were going to give some thought to you and me getting back together.”
Oh that. She hadn’t even given it a second of thought. Not one. Her brain had been so consumed with Liam and getting him to understand, she’d completely forgotten that she was supposed to think about Holden. “I—listen, Holden. You know how much I care about you, but—”
He shook his head. “Don’t say it, Becca. You can’t say it until you really have a good think. We’re great together. Together, we can do anything. And you already know that I will do whatever it takes to make you happy.”
“I’m just really confused.”
“There’s nothing to be confused about. I love you. I have always loved you. Your enthusiasm and your smile and the way you attack new things with gusto. I know the Addison thing is only the first step, but I’m going to keep proving to you that we belong together, no matter how long it takes.”
She studied him closely. He was handsome. Beautiful even. He always managed to make her flush warm when he kissed her. The only problem was he wasn’t Liam. Just thinking about Liam made her insides start to melt. When she was with Liam no one else even entered into her mind. But he’d lied. Or at least kept his involvement with Addison from her.
She dragged her attention back to Holden. Solid, dependable Holden. Holden who had a plan. Holden who’d moved mountains to get her job back for her. “Holden, I want to believe that you can be this person. But I’m not sure.”
He held her hand tight and tugged her closer. “Then let me prove it to you. Let me show you. Just give me another chance.” His voice dropped low. The familiar cadence washing over her. “Let me show you how much I love you.”
He cupped her face and lowered his lips for a gentle kiss. It was familiar. He was familiar. Sinking his hands into her hair, he held her in place and deepened the kiss, his tongue dipping into her mouth.
Tentatively, Becca kissed him back, letting his tongue slide over hers. Allowing him to tease. But then he groaned low and slid his hands under her blouse so his fingers could tease the flesh of her back, she staggered back, breaking the kiss.
“What’s wrong?” He frowned and reached for her again
Becca backed away. “I’m sorry, but I need to think. I can’t just fall into this with you again.”
He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Were you thinking about him?”
Becca blinked. Then blinked again. Yes. “I’m just trying to think clearly. I’m not making any impulse decisions anymore.”
He sighed. “Take the time you need. But you have to know I’m the better choice. You know what I can provide. I can give you the kind of life you’ve dreamed of. He can’t.” He leaned in and kissed her on her cheek. “I’ll call you tomorrow. Just remember, I love you. And you love me.”
With a knotted stomach, Becca watched him leave. How the hell had she ended up here?
Chapter Twenty
Liam dove from the edge of the pool and started swimming. Alex followed him in. They made a couple of circuits, then Alex bailed.
Liam kept going.
Becca, Becca, Becca. With every stroke, his brain chanted her name. The water rushed past his ears, and his heart thumped in the same rhythm. How could he let her go?
Just give her time. But how much?
Swimming didn’t calm his nerves. After a dozen laps, he stopped and bobbed for a moment in the water, wondering if he should get on his bike and ride. His next lesson was in an hour, however, and there was no way he’d bail on his clients again. It was one thing to need a couple days off to take care of his mother, another to simply take off because his heart and mind were a mess over Becca.
“Liam,” Alex called
Liam turned in the water to face him.
Beside his friend, a tall, beautiful gal waved at him. “Hey, Caldwell!”
“Addie?” He swam to the edge, lifted himself up. “What are you doing here?”
She smiled and held out a hand to help him out of the pool. “Came to see you, you idiot. Stopped to say hi to your dad and check out his latest pool of talent. He told me you’re going to recruit for him. He was beaming from ear to ear! I can’t believe it.”
During their competition days, Addison had kept her hair short. Now it bloomed in crazy corkscrews around her head, reminding Liam of Becca’s hair. He grabbed a towel and wiped off his face and neck. “Don’t let it get around.”
“So what’s this about Dive and the watersports campaign?” Addison’s parents hailed from Australia before moving to the US, and Addie’s voice held a bit of accent. “I went to see your girl, but they said she was on a short leave and would be back today. I go back today, and she’s still not there. I called the number you texted me, and her voicemail box is full. I wanted to talk to her about a special project I’m developing as well as this campaign with Dive.”
Becca wasn’t at work? Had she decided against returning? “Sorry about that. I’m not sure what’s going on.”
Alex chose that moment to jump in. “He and Becca broke up. She was pissed about him asking you to do him a favor and talk to her.”
Addison lifted a brow at Liam. “You were using me to impress your girl?”
Why did everyone believe he had ulterior motives? Probably because he did. “She was worth impressing.” He tossed the towel on his gym bag. “Doesn’t matter now.”
“Why is that?” Adds asked.
“She’s gone back to her fiancé,” Alex said.
“Ouch. Because of me?”
Liam shook his head. “Because of me. I was a stupid ass.”
Alex patted his shoulder. “Yes, you were. And you’re letting that dickwad Howard win.”
“Holden,” Liam corrected. “And I’m just giving her time. She wanted space.”
Addison rolled her caramel-colored eyes. “What happened to the Liam we used to know, Alex?”
“The competitive one?” Alex shrugged. “That shark is MIA.”
Liam crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m still a shark in the water.”
“You’re a dolphin, my friend. Sharks eat their competition. You swim out to sea and frolic.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Liam lied. “Don’t listen to him, Addie.”
Addison moved so she was front and center. “Do you care about this girl, Liam?”
Care? He more than cared. Just talking about her made his pulse race. The back of his neck felt hot thinking about her and Holden together. “I wouldn’t have texted and called you if I didn’t. I wanted her to knock them dead at work on this campaign—she’s that good at what she does, and I know she could have pulled out something amazing—but I wanted to help. She probably could have landed you on her own, it was just…”
“Just what?” Addison’s eyes bore into his.
“I thought I’d make it easier for her. She hasn’t been in San Diego all that long. Networking isn’t her strong suit. I realize now that I failed. Miserably. I actually turned into my father for a moment and put my need to be the hero above what Becca needed.”
“You’re not your father, and you never could be,” Addison said. “You have morals and ethics. He doesn’t.”
Liam frowned. “He was your coach, and you loved him.”
“I owe him my Olympic medal, it’s true, and I have the utmost respect for him as a coach. But as a man I can trust? You win hands-down. And if you believe in this Becca so much, you need to fight for her.”
Behind Addison, Alex was nodding. “Revive the shark, man. Find your balls.”
Something inside Liam snapped. A flood of adrenaline warmed the blood in his veins, like the surge right before the finish line. He didn’t just believe in Becca or care for her. I love her.
The realization hit him with the force of a belly flop. He plopped down on the bench behind him. “Shit. What am I doing here? I need to
talk to her.”
“That’s the spirit,” Addison said, doing a fist pump in the air. “I’ll go with you. I need to talk to her too. I’m hoping her friend at the agency gave her the message I left about my proposition.”
“No,” both Liam and Alex said in unison.
Liam added, “What proposition? What’s this secret project you’re working on?”
“I’ve done some digging, and she’s exactly what you say, Caldwell. She’s worked on other major ad campaigns that caught my eye, and I have an idea for her.”
Liam pulled a pair of sport pants on over his wet trunks. “What kind of idea?”
“It’s top secret, mate.” Addison grinned from ear to ear. “I can’t talk about it until all my ducks are in a row and quacking.”
He tossed on his T-shirt. “Just please don’t contact her until you hear from me, okay? I’ve already got her mad at me over you, so lay low for a few hours at least.”
She punched his bicep, still grinning. “A bit too late for that since I’ve left her a bunch of messages, but I hold up for now. By the way, I met that Howard guy. He’s a dickwad, like Alex said.”
“It’s Holden, and yes, I agree, total dickwad, but he’s the competition nevertheless.” He grabbed his bag and slid his feet into his flip flops. “He helped her get her job back, although I’m guessing he manipulated you and her, Addie, ʼcause that’s the kind of guy he is. But I can’t win Becca back by trying to make Holden look bad.”
Alex sidled up to Addison. “Then how are you going to do it?”
It was Liam’s turn to grin. “I’m a shark, remember?”
He left his two friends and went to plan his attack.
* * *
Two hours later
“Honey, you know I love you, right?”
Van’s voice felt like a fist squeezing Becca’s gut through the Bluetooth. Whenever her bestie said that, it usually meant Becca was about to hear something she wouldn’t like. “Yeah, Van?”
“I hate to have to say this, but it’s true, and I am well aware that you can’t want something for someone that they don’t want for themselves. But if you get back with Holden, I swear to God, I am breaking up with you.”
