“I never said that.”
Zach grunted. “You don’t have to say anything. You’re sending out glaring signals.”
Liam ignored the jab.
“If you’re leaving, we need to know.”
The back door slammed once more. “Who’s leaving?” Braxton asked.
Well, hell. Might as well do this now since they were all here. They’d given him the opening he needed and he might not get another easy chance like this.
Liam held Zach’s gaze. “I’m leaving.”
The muscle in Zach’s jaw clenched as he gave a clipped nod. “When?”
Pushing off the counter, Liam shrugged. “I’m not sure. Magnolias is for sale and I’m trying to buy it. I’ve been in contact with the owner, but this process could take a while.”
He’d been wondering when he should tell his brothers and make things more official. Looks like he’d done just that.
“All right.”
Liam narrowed his eyes at Zach. “All right? You’re not going to fight me on this?”
Even Braxton stared at their brother like he couldn’t believe the response.
“Would it matter?” Zach retorted. “If we fought, you’d still want to go and I’m honestly tired of fighting with you. I think a decade is long enough, don’t you?”
A year ago this scene would’ve been entirely different. And the fact that Zach had given in so easily, letting Liam off the hook, free to pursue his passion, only added to the guilt. Should he want to stay to help his family? Should he put his own needs aside like they had done?
“Will you find a replacement or are we supposed to?” Braxton asked, still standing in the doorway. Surprisingly, he looked pissed whereas Zach seemed detached. Apparently his brothers had reversed roles.
“I’ll find someone.” He wasn’t that big of a jerk to leave without taking responsibility. “I won’t leave until I know you’re in good hands. I want this business to succeed as much as you guys do.”
Cora’s and Sophie’s laughter spilled in through the screen door. Liam didn’t want to tell them, didn’t want to see the disappointment on their faces.
“Don’t tell Sophie just yet,” Zach stated. “She’s too happy right now.”
Braxton nodded. “Same with Cora.”
Telling both women wasn’t something Liam wanted to do, but they needed to hear the news from him. Granted, now was definitely not the right time.
“I’ll still help financially,” Liam added. “I’m not quitting this family.”
“If I even thought you were, this conversation would’ve already taken a different turn,” Zach stated.
Liam didn’t say anything more as the back door opened and Cora and Sophie came in, still chatting about the couple who had just left for their prom. Liam turned to the fridge and attempted to get back into his work.
Still, something wasn’t sitting right in his chest. Actually saying the words that he was leaving made things seem so much more real. And while this was ultimately what he wanted, he wondered how Macy would take the news.
Damn it. Why did he care what Macy thought? They didn’t have a relationship. Unresolved emotions, then a truce, then an understanding that they’d both crossed a line they weren’t sorry for.
He had no idea what would happen with her when he saw her again, but he needed to tell her he was leaving. Surprise settled into Liam as he realized this conversation might be more difficult than the one with his brothers.
* * *
Macy hung up her phone and clutched the cell to her chest. With a smile, she blew out the breath she’d been holding the entire time she’d been on the phone.
When she’d first started the process of foster care, she hadn’t thought she’d be a viable candidate because she was single, but she was chosen. She’d passed the home inspection, passed the background check, and her case worker said everything was lined up and good to go. They had a ten-year-old girl right now, but Macy had requested a younger child. She worried if she had one in school that she wouldn’t be able to run back and forth, plus attend to homework. A younger girl where she could give the child more one-on-one time, which is what any child needed. Macy could bring her into the store for a bit. As a kid, Macy didn’t know any different than growing up around PVC pipe and bolts.
She didn’t want to get her hopes up, but she couldn’t help it. This was just the first step in what she hoped would lead to full adoption. Maybe that family she’d always dreamed of would happen, just not in the traditional sense she’d thought. Regardless, she was going to change a baby’s life forever . . . and Macy knew her life would forever be changed as well.
The store had closed ten minutes ago and she’d yet to do anything with the receipts or the computer. But that would have to wait. The gutter on the back side of the building was coming loose and she needed to get up there and repair it while it was still daylight.
Suddenly fixing a gutter didn’t seem so daunting. The idea of having a little one in her home excited her. Macy knew the child she was getting would be a little girl no older than five.
She’d already ordered a crib, but she needed to get a toddler bed as well. Or maybe a twin bed against the wall with one of those side protectors.
Macy knew her online shopping tonight would be over the top. She didn’t care. She had been raised by a loving set of parents and she felt every child deserved to have that love and security. There was nothing she wouldn’t do to create a family, to bring in a child who didn’t have a home.
Oh, books. She’d definitely need to get a bookcase and fill it with colorful, fun books. Story time with her mother was one thing she remembered fondly. Night after night her mother would read to her while rocking her in a big, oversized rocking chair.
Which meant she’d need to order a chair, too.
Yeah, her credit card was about to take a major hit.
Macy went to the shed out back and found the extension ladder. With her tool belt in place, she propped the ladder against the side of the building and started to climb. She’d gotten about halfway when Liam’s SUV pulled in.
Considering she didn’t know what to say to him after their last encounter, Macy concentrated on the task at hand. As she reached the top and zeroed in on the loose section of the gutter, she spotted Liam from the corner of her eye climbing the steps to his apartment. She didn’t miss the way he kept glancing her way and the beat of her heart kicked up. That man’s vibe was potent and she wasn’t even close.
When Macy reached for the gutter to hold it in position, a rusty nail she’d missed caught her palm. Cursing, she jerked her hand back. Damn. It was the same hand she’d burned the other day. Thankfully she still had a Band-Aid on, but the nail had torn through it and gotten to her wound. The nail hadn’t gone deep, but deep enough to cause a sting and have Macy climbing back down. She couldn’t continue working with an open area on her skin. She needed antibiotic ointment and a new bandage.
Once she reached the ground, she attempted to undo her tool belt. Instantly, strong hands covered hers and jerked the belt off.
“What the hell happened? If you need help up there just ask for it.”
Stunned, Macy glanced up to Liam. “I don’t need help and if you’re already going to start with an attitude, go on upstairs and leave me be.”
“You need a tetanus shot,” he growled.
“I had one at my last checkup. I do know how to take care of myself.”
She brushed by him, heading for the back entrance to the store.
“Damn it, Macy.” Liam grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. “Let me see your hand.”
Still holding it against her chest, Macy shook her head. “It’s not bad. I just need to change the bandage. I have a first-aid kit in my office.”
In an instant he stood in her path, blocking her from getting inside. “Do not dismiss me.”
“Then don’t be an ass.”
Liam took hold of her elbow and led her toward the staircase. “Come up h
ere and let me fix this.”
“It’s a Band-Aid, Liam. I can handle it myself.”
His eyes turned to her. “Let me do this.”
And here was his white knight side. The side she didn’t want to find so appealing, yet she did. The side he brought out after he’d been a jerk, and she realized when he was a jerk, it was because he was afraid. He may have yelled at her moments ago, but he didn’t know what she’d done and he’d been worried.
Why did he have to have so many redeeming qualities? Couldn’t she just find his excellent muscle tone enough? Couldn’t she just be happy with the visual turn-on instead of getting inside that head of his and dissecting every move, every word he said?
Macy stepped from his grasp and gestured silently toward the stairs, giving him the green light to go on. The man really did need to learn that she’d been an adult for quite some time and could do this herself.
Liam unlocked the door and pushed it wide so she could enter. Strange having someone else let her in, but this was the new normal.
“Have a seat.”
He motioned to the couch and stalked off toward the bathroom. Macy remained standing.
When he came back with his first-aid box, he took one look at her and shook his head. “Do you have to be so defiant all the time?”
“Do you have to be so bossy?” she threw back.
With a growl, Liam sat the box on the coffee table and took her arm and jerked her toward the couch. Okay, maybe he didn’t jerk her, Macy thought, but he didn’t leave her much option. Stubborn man.
He took a seat on the coffee table, leaving her no choice but to put her legs on either side of his. The scenario was much too intimate for her comfort level.
When it came to Liam, she was a mess. He occupied way too much of her mind, way too much of her life. And the last time she’d been near him he’d issued an ultimatum that she was still trembling with need from. Would he follow through or had he been just matching her words?
Liam reached for her hand and carefully pulled off the old, torn Band-Aid. The burn was healing nicely, but the nail had scratched the surface pretty good.
With a clean swab, he applied more antibiotic ointment, then placed a new bandage on her palm. His face lifted to hers, the left side still turned so she couldn’t look at him straight on.
“I hate seeing your skin marked,” he muttered, still holding on to her hand. “I know this wasn’t a big deal, but I can’t stand the thought of you hurt.”
Her heart clenched. “Is this your way of apologizing for yelling at me?”
Those dark eyes briefly met hers, held, then shifted back down to focus on her hand. “No. I’m not sorry, because you could’ve been hurt worse and you’re too stubborn to ask for help.”
Macy wanted to snap back, to throw a defense in his face, but the fear lacing his words had her biting her own retort back. He’d legitimately been worried.
He continued staring down at her hand like he was lost or confused . . . or didn’t want to let go.
“What are you doing?” he whispered, so low she almost questioned if she’d heard him right.
“What are you doing to me?” With his head still bent down, he raised his brows and sought her gaze. “I’m not angry with you, I’m angry with myself for wanting you, for letting things get too far out of control with us.”
Her heart kicked up. “We haven’t gotten too far out of control.”
Heavy lids lowered, a quirky smile hinted on one side of his mouth. “In my mind, baby, we’ve done it all, in every way you can imagine.”
Macy’s breath caught in her throat, and her heart clenched. For a man who pushed her away, called a truce, and then promised to bring his A game next time he saw her, he was well on his way, and she didn’t know if she should be afraid or jerk off her clothes and make this happen.
“My imagination is pretty vivid,” she said.
The muscle in Liam’s jaw clenched. “Don’t challenge me.”
Macy pulled her hand away and did the only thing she could. She pulled her shirt over her head and flung it across the room.
Let the battle of the “A games” commence.
Chapter Twelve
Liam couldn’t help himself. His eyes went directly to Macy’s pale yellow lace bra. The scalloped edging against her skin practically begged for his fingertips—or his tongue—to trace an outline. She sat there so perfectly, so confident. And while he had talked quite a bit about taking charge, he was actually a poser, relatively inexperienced in this area. He’d only been with a few women, and since his fiancée, he’d been alone.
He knew what he wanted, though, and no way in hell was he turning Macy away. He sure as hell wasn’t going to sit here and let her pretend this was just like any other sexual encounter. This was more. As much as he didn’t want more, he couldn’t deny there was something substantial happening between them.
Reaching out, Liam framed her face with his hands and eased forward until his face was within a breath. “You’re mine.”
Her eyes widened, her breath tickled his lips.
“Say it, Macy. If you’re staying here, you’d better damn well know who you’re with.”
“I know,” she whispered. “I know who I’m with, Liam.”
The final thread of control snapped the second his name slid through her lips. He crashed his mouth to hers and jerked her body to his. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he stood, pulling her with him. He lifted her off the floor, keeping his mouth locked onto hers. Macy’s legs instantly wrapped around his waist.
Liam’s hand ran up her back, clutched the back of her head, and tipped her in the other direction to dive in deeper. He couldn’t get enough of her, couldn’t get to his bedroom fast enough. But he also wanted to make this last because in the end, he had no clue where this would take their relationship.
Shoving that thought out of his mind, Liam started heading toward the bedroom.
“No,” she panted against his lips. “Not the bed.”
“I want you in my bed.”
Looping her arms around his neck, she pulled her head back farther. “It’s not negotiable.”
Fine. Whatever her thing was, he’d go with it, but he was retaining control here. Liam turned around, heading back toward the couch.
“Any other demands?” he muttered against her lips.
“Stop talking.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
He stared down at her, fully committing her body to memory.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
“I always feast with my eyes first.” He let his eyes travel slowly up until he caught her heavy-lidded gaze. “Occupational hazard.”
Liam followed her down to the couch. He straddled her legs and eased up to get a full visual sample. Macy’s bright blue eyes held his, her dark hair falling all around her bare shoulders. That bra continued to mock him, but those jeans had to go. He reached down and jerked the button, slowly pulling the zipper down, all the while keeping his eyes locked on hers.
Her breath came in pants and Liam was nearly shaking in an attempt to keep his emotions in check. He didn’t remember having this ache in him, this all-consuming need inside that pulled him toward a woman. Why Macy? Why couldn’t this be just sex?
He scooted off the couch, yanking her jeans as he went. “Damn boots,” he muttered when the denim got caught.
Macy laughed. “Easy there, Trigger. I’m not going anywhere.”
Quickly he removed the boots, socks, and jeans. Glancing back up her curves, he appreciated the matching bra and panty set. Of course she could’ve had anything at all beneath her clothes and he would’ve still found her perfect.
“Do you always wear sexy things under your jeans and flannels?”
Her smile had his heart flipping. He didn’t have room for his heart in the mix . . . not tonight, not with Macy.
“I have a thing for lingerie.”
Liam swallowed at the instant image of what her collection mig
ht contain. “Mercy.”
Macy reached for the hem of his T-shirt. “I’m done looking at this, and I want to know what you have underneath.”
No reason to make the lady wait. He reached behind his neck and jerked his T-shirt off, tossing it across the room. Macy’s eyes widened, then roamed over his chest.
“Better. You’re still wearing more clothes.”
Liam quirked a brow. “And the second these jeans come off, this night will escalate quicker than I intend.”
Macy’s fingertips walked over his abs, moving up as high as she could reach. “Then what did you have in mind?”
Tracing the edge of her yellow bra, Liam smiled when she trembled beneath his touch. “More of you. As much as I’m ready to finish stripping you, I want to take my time and remember this.”
“Oh, I’ll make sure you remember it,” she vowed.
Liam slid his hand up, tracing her lips with the tip of his thumb. “And I guarantee to ruin you for any other man. Don’t rush me.”
Why the hell had he just promised that? Why did he want to ruin her? Because he hated the thought of her with anyone else. The mere idea of another man pleasuring her, making her smile, making her tremble, was unimaginable.
“Liam.”
The whisper of his name settled heavy between them. He didn’t know if she was silently pleading for him to do more or trying to find answers to his statement. Regardless, Liam was done talking.
His lips replaced his thumb as he slowly claimed her. Macy would know his touch, his kiss; she’d crave it when they were apart and she’d dream of him when she was alone.
When he ran his hands down her bare sides, she arched against him. All of that smooth skin trembling beneath his touch was nearly his undoing, but he held strong. Hooking his thumbs inside her panties, Liam started sliding them down her legs. He eased up enough so she could assist. Once she was freed, he lifted her to unhook her bra and quickly jerked it out of his way.
Finally, she was completely bare to him. How long had he dreamed of this? Fantasized about this moment? He’d never let himself fully believe this was a possibility, but since he’d been back, the images of her beneath him had been stronger and stronger.
Lost in You Page 16
