“There is something in Liam’s past. Something he struggles with. I have no idea what it is. He’s sure when he tells me, it will end our relationship….At first, I wanted to know. But now I’m not sure I do.”
“Do you think he is right?”
“No.” I stated firmly. Because I knew it didn’t matter.
She nodded her head, quietly processing what I was telling her.
“I’m not sure what to tell you, Val…All I know is what I see. I can see you’ve fallen for him. You’re happier with him. You seem stronger with him. And beyond the change he has helped you with, I genuinely like him. So does Rhett and your parents.”
“I love him, Ava.”
She smiled. Her eyes filled with understanding. “Have you told him?”
“Not yet.”
“Maybe you should. Maybe that will help make him understand.”
I nodded. I wasn’t sure I actually agreed, but I nodded anyways. We sipped our wine in silence for a few more moments before Ava lightened the subject with talks of the party next weekend.
It was a holiday party that Blackwood Industries was hosting for their employees and business associates. It was a pretty big annual event. They flew in all the staff from New York to attend. My parents normally flew in for it, also, but were unable to attend this year since they were off exploring Europe. Being a small shareholder of the company and a Blackwood, I was always expected to attend.
Normally, I didn’t look forward to it. It was a stuffy black tie affair that always bored me to tears. But this year, Liam was joining me as my date. The idea of seeing him in a tuxedo had me more than willing to put up with some of the pretentious idiots that would be there.
We had moved on from discussing the party to discussing the latest with Joce and Riley. Riley had finally proposed to Joce, after moving here three years ago to be with her. They were planning the wedding for next summer. Ava was giving me the details she knew when Rhett and Liam joined us on the patio.
Rhett crawled in behind Ava on the lounger while Liam took a seat next to me, pulling me into his arms. “We should go, princess. It’s late.”
I nodded, setting my empty glass aside. Liam helped me up from my chair. “Thanks for the wine,” I said to Ava, leaning over to give her a hug. “We’ll see you guys next weekend.”
I hugged Rhett. Liam followed behind me, giving Ava a hug and shaking Rhett’s hand.
I fell asleep on the drive home as Liam silently drove, holding my hand. I woke up feeling the car come to a stop. I opened my eyes to the view of my apartment building.
I rotated my head to look at Liam. “You’re coming up.”
I wasn’t asking.
“If you want me to.”
“You know I do. Always.”
His hand drifted down the side of my face.
“Okay, princess.”
He shut off the ignition before opening the door to step out of the car. He moved around the front, opening my door and helping me out. He held my hand as we walked quietly through my apartment building into my apartment.
Neither one of us spoke. We went through the now familiar motions of alternating brushing our teeth and getting ready for bed. I crawled into bed, waiting for Liam to join me. He walked out of the bathroom, stripping out of his clothes before crawling in beside me.
He pulled me to him, and I snuggled into my spot in his side. He played softly with my hair. I closed my eyes.
“Val?” Liam whispered.
“Hmm?” I moaned sleepily.
His chest rose and fell beneath me with a deep inhale and exhale. “Never mind…sleep, princess,” he commanded gently.
So I did.
CHAPTER 17
“Come in!” I yelled, popping my head outside of my bedroom door frame to the person knocking on my front door.
I assumed it was Ava here to pick me up. I was running late getting dressed. I had overslept. I hastily threw on a pair of skinny jeans and a loose, silky, black, buttoned blouse. Ava was picking me up this morning so we could hit the spa before the party tonight. We would be getting our nails and hair done. And I hoped to squeeze in time for a massage.
Ava walked into my room, with two to-go coffee cups in her hand. “You know your brother would have a nervous breakdown if he knew you left your door unlocked like that.”
I rolled my eyes. “He would die at a young age if he knew half the stuff I did. Besides, this place is like a high security prison. Nobody is getting passed the front desk without a background check, courtesy of my brother,” I joked.
I sat down on the bench to slip on my sandals. In spite of it being the middle of December, I didn’t want to run the risk of messing up my pedicure. Winters in L.A. were basically like an early summer in New York, anyways.
“Then I guess it’s best we do keep secrets from him. I’m too young to be a widow and single mother.”
She shoved the coffee at me as I stood. “Here.”
“You’re the best sister-in-law in the world.”
She smiled. “Let’s go. We’re going to be late for our appointment.”
I grabbed my phone and purse, following her out the door, locking it behind me.
We spent the rest of the day rejuvenating at the spa. It had been a long time since I had allowed myself to be this pampered. It was long overdue and much needed. I’m pretty sure they had to bring out the heavy duty nail file for my toes. I cringed.
It’s not that I had let myself go. I just tended to self-pamper over the last few years. And by self-pamper, I mean I would make Lexie paint my nails. She was much more talented at it than myself.
After feeling so refreshed and relaxed after our spa day, I decided I may have to reconsider my previous determination to watch my spending and staying away from my trust fund. I had made it through college, after all. It was time to reward myself.
Ava dropped me back at my apartment before heading home to get dressed. I had only a few hours to get ready before Liam would be here to pick me up. He ran to the shop to help Frankie while I spent the day with Ava. He would be getting dressed at his place before heading to mine.
I went to my closet, removing my gown from the hanging bag to air out. I hung it on the back of my closet door and then perused my jewelry for the perfect accessories. Lexie entered my room in search of me.
“You’re home.”
“Yeah, just got back.”
“Wow. Is this the dress?” she asked, skimming her hand along the silky fabric.
“Yes, isn’t it gorgeous? Wait until you see it on me.” I grinned confidently. It had to be my favorite dress I currently owned.
The strapless dress was a long train of emerald silk fabric that dipped into a sweetheart neckline. The mermaid silhouette clung to my body, trumpeting around my knees into a sweeping train. It wasn’t necessarily the easiest thing to walk in, but the graceful look of the dress was worth the effort. Even if my walk wouldn’t be as graceful. At least tonight, I had Liam’s strong arm to hold onto.
“It almost makes me wish I was your date this year, instead of Liam.”
I laughed. Lexie had been my plus one the last few years. She had kept me entertained at on otherwise bland event. We would both gorge on the unlimited expensive champagne and food.
“You know you still could’ve come…you and Dax. My brother wouldn’t have cared.”
“I’m not sure it’d really be Dax’s thing.”
“And you think it’s Liam’s?” I raised my eyebrow.
That made us both laugh.
“I think we’ll just Netflix & Chill tonight,” she grinned. “He should be here in a little bit. What time will Liam be here?”
“Less than two hours.”
“I’ll leave you to it then, princess. I know it can take you at least an hour just to do your make-up,” she goaded me.
I tossed a shoe towards her as she ducked out of my closet, laughing. After finding the earrings and tennis bracelet I planned to wear, I took a seat at my vani
ty and began plastering on my makeup for the night. It would not take me a full hour…it would only take forty-five minutes. Fifty-five tops.
I had just finished dressing, pulling on my silver stilettos and clasping my bracelet around my wrist when Lexie knocked outside my door.
“Liam’s here,” she grinned, running her eyes over me. “I have to admit….you were right. You look gorgeous, Val.
“Thank you,” I beamed
“It will be a tough call on which one of you looks hotter tonight…Wait until you see, Liam.”
The mischief danced in her eyes, making me more anxious to see him than I already was. I hastily grabbed my clutch, dropping my phone inside as I walked out of my room.
My steps faltered as my eyes scanned the backside of Liam. He was facing towards Dax, talking in a low voice. I didn’t need him to turn around to know how devastatingly handsome he looked in that tuxedo. I could already tell it hugged him perfectly.
Dax’s eyes widened as they fell on me, looking over Liam’s shoulder. He knocked the back of his hand on Liam’s chest, nodding his head towards me to signal Liam to turn. It was liking watching a film in slow motion, as he turned painfully slow to face me. My heart tightened in my chest and my breathing became nonexistent.
Lexie was wrong. It was not a tough call. Liam was definitely the hottest one in the room.
If the tuxedo didn’t have me feeling faint, the breath-taking smile that overpowered his face did. He stood casually. His hands were in his pockets as if being in a tux was the most normal thing in the world for him. My eyes traveled repeatedly up and down his body, before finally landing on his mesmerizing eyes.
I could feel the heat of his own stare doing the same to me. Tingles prickled through me. I suddenly wondered how upset Rhett would be if we just skipped the event all together.
“Princess,” Liam spoke through his sexy smile as he prowled towards me.
I remained unmoving. Still unable to get my brain to function. He closed the distance between us. He ran a hand through my long hair that fell down my back and over my shoulders in soft waves.
“You look beautiful,” he whispered in my ear as he leaned in, placing a soft kiss on my cheek.
“You don’t look half-bad yourself, rock star.” I grinned, wishing his lips had landed on mine instead of my cheek.
“Aww, look at them, dear. They look so grown up,” Lexie joked as she swiped at a fake tear, holding onto Dax who was laughing under his breath with her.
I rolled my eyes as Liam’s chest rumbled with a chuckle.
“Okay, get together. We need a picture!” Lexie demanded, pulling out her camera phone. We played along with her, doing typical prom poses before taking a more natural one.
I felt my phone vibrate with a text from Jim. He was waiting with the limo downstairs. He had already dropped Rhett and Ava at the party and had just arrived to take Liam and myself.
“We have to go,” I told them.
“Wait just one more!” Lexie begged. We gave her one more silly pose before heading towards the door.
“Now son, you better have her home by midnight or I’m hunting you down,” Dax pretended to be the protective father. Liam playfully punched him in his shoulder as we walked out of the apartment.
“You kids have fun tonight!” Lexie yelled behind us before closing the door. We both laughed, shaking our heads at our ridiculous friends.
As soon as Jim had closed the limo door behind us, Liam moved in a rush, instantly landing his mouth on me as he gripped my head in the palm of his hands. His kiss was fierce, bold and demanding. I deepened the kiss. Thankful he had finally given me what I had so desperately wanted from the moment I saw him. He pulled back. Both of us breathing heavily.
“This is going to be a long and fucking painful night,” he said, adjusting himself.
“We could always just make a quick appearance and leave,” I grinned.
I was more than happy to stay less than thirty minutes at the party. As much as I liked seeing Liam in that tuxedo, I would prefer to see him with nothing on.
The Limo stilled to a stop outside of the Alexandria. The valets opened the door. Liam exited before rotating and offering his hand to help me out of the limo. The flashes from the paparazzi’s cameras were going off like strobe lights as I stepped out of the car. Liam held our arms tightly locked together. His face remained devoid of emotion, but the tension in his body told me he hadn’t been expecting this kind of welcoming.
“You better get used to it, rock star,” I smiled up at him, trying to ease his discomfort as we walked into the building. He grinned back down at me, all terseness gone.
I was used to being in the spotlight, but this was the first time I was in it with the man I loved. With that thought, I stood taller, ready to stake my claim in front of the world.
We entered through the private entrance of the grand hall, which lead to the historic ballroom where the event was being held. We walked through the cocktail lounge, stopping to pick up our drinks before entering into the main ballroom. The room had been extravagantly decorated with silver and gold holiday décor. It was tastefully done as to not overpower the natural elegance of the white trimmed ballroom with its high arched ceilings and enormous, original, shimmering chandeliers.
The room was already filled with elitists, but it only took a minute for me to spot Rhett. My brother could easily command a room, dominating it with just his presence. Ava was by his side, looking as beautiful as ever. As we edged closer to them, I realized Riley and Joce were the couple they had been talking to.
I greeted them all, introducing Riley and Joce to Liam. Riley shook Liam’s hand firmly, giving him an unnecessary protective brotherly glare. Rhett chuckled and Ava smacked his chest in warning, rolling her eyes. Liam seemed unbothered and accepting of it. As if he wouldn’t expect anything less from the two men.
After the awkward introduction and visiting for a few minutes, I pulled Liam onto the dance floor. We swayed together naturally. He held me close as we moved through each song, singing softly into my ear to the songs he knew. His voice stimulating the hunger within me.
We continued dancing through the night, laughing and joking as he teased my body, giving me private kisses on my neck when he thought nobody was watching. I repaid him the favor.
Needing a break from dancing, he dragged me from the dance floor. I searched the room for Ava and Rhett, so we could join them while we rested.
“There they are,” I pointed across the room to where they were standing with a couple I didn’t recognize.
Liam followed my gaze as we walked towards them. As we neared closer, his body came to a sudden halt, stiffening as he clutched my hand painfully tight. Startled by his grasp, I looked up at him. His face had darkened. His fun and light-heartedness gone.
“Liam?”
He didn’t respond.
“Liam,” I said more firmly. He gave a slight jolt as if being knocked out of a haze with the sound of my voice. He looked down at me blankly.
“I’m going to get another drink. Do you want anything?” he asked.
“Sure… another glass of champagne…I’ll come with you,” I offered, getting an uneasy feeling. I was suddenly afraid to leave his side.
“No. I’ll just be a few minutes. I’ll find you.”
My head nodded, despite everything inside warning me not to let him go. He released my hand. I watched him walk out of the room while trying to figure out what had caused his sudden change in mood.
I turned back to where Rhett and Ava had been standing only to find Rhett and the couple were gone. Ava was now standing with Joce. Riley was nowhere in sight either. I maneuvered through the crowd. Ava smiled as I approached them.
“Where’s Liam?”
“Getting us drinks. Rhett and Riley?”
Ava rolled her eyes with annoyance, “Said he had some business to discuss. He should be back in a little bit. Riley went with him.”
“Who was the couple you gu
ys were just talking with? I’ve never seen them before.”
“Oh. The guy is a potential business associate of Rhett’s. His name is Scott Lewis and that was his wife with him. Her name is Tessa. Sweet girl. I really liked her…kind of timid, though.”
Joce nodded in agreement, before changing the conversation to Nate, asking about how he was doing. Ava spoke animatedly, telling Joce various stories. I pretended to pay attention as their conversation went on, periodically searching the room for Liam. He had been gone longer than I would have expected. Rhett and Riley hadn’t returned either, but Ava and Joce didn’t seem to notice. They were too enthralled in their conversation of weddings and babies.
I waited another few minutes before excusing myself to search for him. I scanned the main ballroom for him, knowing it was unlikely he was in there. I quickly moved out into the cocktail area, since that was where he had claimed to be going. He wasn’t there.
My pulse quickened and my lungs tightened as a feeling of dread fell over me. I pulled out my phone, sending him a text, inquiring where he was. He didn’t respond. I dropped my phone back into my purse and headed towards the hall where the restrooms and coat check were.
He wouldn’t just leave me would he? I knew something had startled him. I knew he was shutting down - shutting me out - but I didn’t believe he would just walk away from me without saying anything. I couldn’t believe that.
I started to turn the corner into the hallway with the restrooms but was distracted by voices coming down the hall in the opposite direction. It was a male and female voice. A male voice I knew all too well. I walked slowly towards them, my heart now pounding at an ungodly speed. I clenched my clammy hands into fists of nervous tension.
I could tell by their tone they were in a heated argument. As I drew closer, I saw him. Liam was standing with the woman that had been with Rhett and Ava earlier. Tessa. And she was beautiful. Petite with long blonde hair that stretched to the middle of her back. There was a familiarity about her. I watched her body language and flinched when she reached to touch him. He didn’t remove her hand from him, but he wasn’t staring at her with desire either. He was angry.
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