by Trisha Grace
“That’s great! I can’t wait to see you.”
“I want to see him.”
“Thanks. You make me feel so loved.”
“That’s his job.” Aunt Beth leaned forward. “Did he show you the ring?”
“No.”
Aunt Beth’s eyes narrowed. “Did he get a ring?”
“Aunt Beth, he only just left his house for me.”
“He could’ve ordered it online. I don’t care if it’s small, or even a fake diamond. He should give you a ring.”
“I thought you didn’t believe in those traditions.”
“I don’t. But you do. You’re a big romantic. I want you to have everything, or I’m not giving him my blessing.” Aunt Beth pulled her back straight. “I need to have a chat with him.”
“Aunt Beth, the ring shouldn’t be the main point.” She shook her head. “You’re supposed to be the adult in our relationship. You’re supposed to tell me that whirlwind romances don’t work.”
“I’ve had tons of whirlwind romances.”
“And none of them worked out.”
“What are you talking about? All of them worked out. I had great fun when I was with every one of them.”
Helena laughed. “How did we turn out so different? You raised me.”
“You raised yourself.” Aunt Beth’s gaze softened. “You’ve always toed the line since your parents’ death. I’ve always thought you didn’t dare make a mistake because you’re worried you might end up in a bad situation like your parents.”
“That’s not true.”
“Are you sure? You’re always living through your books.”
“You make me sound horrible.”
“That’s the thing, sweetie. You’re not. You’re amazing. I see how you go all out to help Nigel, to even care about people like Bobby and Edward. I just wish you would go all out for yourself, be brave and jump.”
Did Helena want to do that?
“Live. Have fun. Go explore the world. Forget about Nigel. We’ve both done what we can for him. If he wants to change, I’ll be there. But if he doesn’t, there’s nothing we can do. And you, darling, don’t owe him anything.”
This wasn’t the first time Aunt Beth had told her that, but this was the first time Helena agreed with her aunt.
“Do you think he’ll catch you if you jump?” Aunt Beth asked.
She nodded. Of course Liam would.
“Then what are you afraid of?”
“It’s irrational.”
“Real life isn’t like the novels you read, sweetie. Things are messy—crazy even. There’s no guaranteed happy endings. That’s why you need to be brave.”
“I’m not brave.”
“Yes, you are.” Aunt Beth glanced to the side when a female voice announced the opening of a boarding gate. “I have no doubt that if you ever received an email from me asking for help, you’d drop everything to come out and help me—even if you didn’t know what you were getting into. You’re always brave for others. Be brave for yourself.” Her gaze shifted to the side again. “I have to go, sweetie. I love you. See you soon!”
Helena waved, and the call ended.
She lay back on her bed. Be brave for yourself. Could she do that? Helena pursed her lips. If she had to risk it all, doing it with Liam didn’t seem so scary.
Smiling, she hopped off the bed and headed out of the room. No one was seated at the round dining table anymore. “Liam?”
On the couch, Trevor glanced over his shoulder. “He went for a swim. He asked me to stay with you.”
“You can join them if you want. I won’t leave the room.”
“He went alone.”
She frowned. “He went to the pool on his own?”
“I guess he wants you to see that he can survive out in the real world.”
Helena sighed. “I’m sure he can. If he has problems adjusting, we’ll figure things out.” She moved toward the door.
“Where are you going?”
“To find him.”
“You don’t think he can go out alone and survive it?”
She stopped. “I don’t mean that.” She forced herself to turn and walk toward the couch. “Where did the rest go?”
“Liam sent them off.”
She sat on the couch and turned her attention to the UFC match Trevor was watching. Among the brothers, Liam and Trevor seemed the quietest. But unlike Liam, she didn’t feel quite at ease with Trevor.
She didn’t want to just get up and go back to her room, though. It felt rude.
“Liam said he asked you to marry him.”
She nodded once.
“You didn’t say yes.”
She turned to him. “Are you happy or unhappy about that?”
He shrugged a shoulder. “I just want him to be happy.”
“And you’re not worried that he’d marry someone he barely knows?”
Trevor’s chest rose slowly, and he finally turned to look at her. “I’ve never seen Liam smile so much. I’ve never looked him right in the eyes without getting into a fight with him. Until two days ago.”
She blinked.
“I’ve never touched him, not even on the shoulder, unless we were fighting.”
“You guys keep talking about fighting like you actually get into punches and kicks.”
“We do.”
Her eyes widened.
“Not as much now.” Trevor turned his gaze to the TV. “We all have issues.”
She nodded slowly.
“I never imagined I’d see him looking anyone straight in the eyes, holding someone close—not because he was trying to choke the person.”
Helena cleared her throat and swallowed.
“I’m sorry,” Trevor said. “I wasn’t trying to scare you.”
“I know he won’t hurt me.”
Trevor turned to her. “I won’t either.”
“Of course.”
“My question is, why would you even consider his proposal?”
“What do you mean?”
“A beautiful woman like you could have anyone you want. You have Bobby Eolenfeld following you around like a lovesick puppy.”
“I’ve never met anyone I wanted.”
“But you want Liam. Why?”
“Why not?”
“I’m just trying to understand. As you said, you guys barely know each other.”
She leaned to the side, resting her elbow on the armrest. “The first time he came running to me when he heard me scream was after we had a fight.” Her lips curled as she thought about it. “Even when he was angry with me, he came running when he thought I was in trouble.”
“He’s softer than I thought.”
“And so sweet.”
“He might forgive you for a lot of things, but I wouldn’t say things like that to Elias or Killian if I were you.”
“There’s so much more.” There was a connection between her and Liam, something she never had with anyone else.
He looked over at her again. “Will you really marry him if he can prove that whirlwind romances work?”
“Would it be crazy if I said yes even if no whirlwind romance ever worked?” She took a deep breath after asking the question, her heart pounding hard at just the thought of it. “It’s scary.”
“He’ll have your back, that I can promise you.”
“I already know that.”
Trevor smiled. “I like you.”
She laughed softly.
“Thank you, Helena.”
“For what?”
“For everything you’ve done for Liam. For everything you’ve done for us.”
“I didn’t do anything for you guys.”
He patted her hair as if she was a child. “Come on. I’ll escort you to the pool.”
Liam grabbed the edge of the indoor pool and stood. He pushed his hair back, sending water down his back. It was after midnight, and he hadn’t been surprised to find the pool completely empty.
He was about to get out
when he spotted Helena from the corner of his eye. She smiled at him when they locked eyes, and he swam over to the side of the pool where she was seated on one of the eight white plastic lounge chairs.
“What are you doing here?” he asked. “Did Trevor say something?” He didn’t think his brother would, especially when he seemed supportive of his relationship with Helena.
“No.” She put down her Kindle, swung her legs to one side, and leaned forward. “I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
His lips hooked back.
Liam had spent his life thinking he was on his own. He wasn’t, not entirely. He had his brothers, and he had George and Kelly. He just didn’t realize it until Helena came along.
Still, hearing that she was concerned about him made his heart swell.
“Come here,” he said.
“What did I say about being bossy?”
“Come here.”
She made a face, but still strode over. “What is it, Mr. Black?” She put her hand into his when she got close enough.
“Did you bring your phone with you?”
“No. It’s charging.”
He gave her a scan. It didn’t look as if she had anywhere to keep any other electronic devices.
With a tug, he pulled her into the pool.
She screamed and landed right in his arms.
He laughed, but she glared at him after wiping the water from her face. “Am I in trouble?” he asked.
She clung to him, wrapping her legs around his waist. “I’ve already showered.”
He shrugged a shoulder. “Pool water has chlorine. Kills bacteria.”
“Eww. You’d better take a bath before you get in bed, or you won’t ever get in bed with me.”
She was still glaring at him, so he really shouldn’t be smiling. But he couldn’t stop himself. “So you’re thinking about being in bed with me.”
Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t move away from him.
“Do you know how to swim?” He assumed she did. She’d grown up rich. Rich people had pools. Bobby did.
“I do. I just haven’t swum in a while.”
“It’s like riding a bicycle. You don’t forget how.”
“I’m not in the right clothes for swimming, Mr. Black.”
“You’re really upset.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I was just playing around.”
Her lips eased into a smile.
“Want to try swimming?”
“I don’t know.” She ran her hand through his hair. “I kind of like where I am right now.”
He pushed away from the edge.
“What are you doing?”
“I like that you’re clinging on to me, and I’m trying to keep it that way.”
She laughed softly and allowed him to move them deeper into the pool. “Why did you suddenly come down for a swim? Feeling restless?” She tipped her head to the side. “Trevor thinks you’re trying to prove that you can survive in the real world.”
“Maybe.”
She pushed back a lock of hair that had fallen over his face. “Liam, I already said.”
“I know, but I don’t want you locked away with me.”
“You wouldn’t do that.”
He tugged her closer. “You have no idea how much I want to do that.”
Helena laughed softly and glanced around. “There isn’t anyone here, though.”
“It’s a first step.”
“Leaving the mansion was the first step.” She kneaded the back of his neck. “I’m not all that sociable myself. I love staying home. You don’t have to push yourself for me.”
“I’d like to take you out for dinner. Out out. Out to a restaurant. Out for a movie.”
She grinned. “I’d like that.”
“Tomorrow night?”
She shook her head. “Aunt Beth’s coming home. Would you like to have dinner with her tomorrow? She really wants to meet you.”
His brows rose. “You told her about me?”
“Of course,” she said. “I told her everything. Even how you locked me up.”
He winced, and she laughed. Gosh. He loved the musical sound of her laughter.
“I’m joking. I didn’t tell her that.” She adjusted her position, shifting closer to him. “I want her to like you.”
“What if she doesn’t?”
“She will. Are you done with your swim, Mr. Black? Your sweater feels really heavy.” She pouted as she looked down at it. “I only brought two of your sweaters.”
“You have sweaters of your own.”
She shrugged a shoulder. “I like yours. It’s so big and comfy.”
He moved toward the ladder and stayed right behind her as she climbed out of the pool.
Her gaze roamed across his face as he grabbed a towel and draped it over her. “She said I should do it.”
“Do what?” He grabbed another and wrapped it around his waist after giving his hair a few rubs.
“Marry you.”
He stopped and arched a brow.
“So don’t worry. I’m sure she likes you just fine.”
He sighed. “She hasn’t seen me yet.”
Helena dropped her gaze to his scars. “Aren’t you afraid that someone will walk in here and see your scars?”
He ducked his chin to look at her. He hated how the line between her brows deepened at the sight of his scars. He hated how she looked sad and angry at the same time. “Hey. Stop ogling me.”
She grinned and patted herself down with her towel. “Then cover up.” She wiped the smile from her face. “Liam, I’m going to say this once more, then I won’t bring it up again.”
He frowned.
“I’m sorry for what happened to you.” She traced one of his scars. “I hate what you went through.” She gave the scar she traced a peck.
“It’s over.”
She nodded slowly. “It is.”
“You need to stop looking at me like that, or I’m going to get impatient about making you Mrs. Black.”
She threw the towel on the bench and squeezed a sleeve. “I can’t walk around dripping wet like this.” She sneezed, and Liam winced.
Pulling her into the pool was a bad idea. “Take it off. I’ll wring it out for you.”
She pursed her lips.
He grabbed another dry towel. “I’ll turn around.”
She scanned the place. “What if someone walks in here?”
He didn’t like the idea of anyone seeing her. He threw the towel on the bench, grabbed as much material he could and wrung it out. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She took his hand. “I like that you’re having fun.” She kissed his hand and grabbed the dry towel he’d dropped on the bench. She draped it over her shoulders and pulled it close.
Just then, the hotel manager who welcomed them into the hotel strolled in.
Liam stiffened. He had prepared himself mentally for running into others while he was here, but actually having someone here was an altogether different matter.
“Mr. and Mrs. Black.”
Hearing that was enough to ease Liam’s nerves.
Belinda Wells hurried over. Her gaze immediately locked on Helena. “Mrs. Black, are you all right?” she asked, her eyes wide and her hands clasped together.
“Yeah. Mr. Black was trying to be funny.”
The manager sighed with relief and smiled. “Would you like me to fetch a robe?”
“We’re fine.” Helena stepped up next to him, wrapped her arm around his waist and leaned into him.
It would never fail to amaze him that she didn’t recoil from his touch, that she could love him.
Belinda’s focus shifted to him, but she kept her gaze firmly on his eyes. “I’ll leave you and Mrs. Black to enjoy yourselves. If you need anything, let me know.” She turned and strode away.
Helena rolled onto the balls of her feet and kissed him on the cheek.
“What’s that for?”
“Nothing.” She cocked her head to
the side. “Come on. It’s getting cold.”
Liam bent and scooped her into his arms.
“Liam! We’re in public.”
“You’re cold. I’m trying to keep you warm.”
“People will stare.”
“I’m trying to get used to people doing that anyway.”
She nodded and snuggled closer. “Carry on, then.”
Chapter 23
Liam checked his phone again before dropping it back into the front pocket of his jeans.
“I’m sure she’s fine,” Trevor said while they waited in the basement parking garage. Edward Eolenfeld had sent a team of men to clear out all the tenants on the ninth floor due to a suspected gas leak.
The men were in dark blue overalls with a sewn-on ‘maintenance’ label. They even had lanyards. They assured Liam that Mr. Eolenfeld was clear about making sure no one took their laptops or bags with them. They would ensure his instructions were carried out.
So now, Liam and his brothers waited in Killian’s car, which felt overcrowded.
Elias leaned forward, popping his head between the front seats. “You should’ve just sent one of us with her if you’re so worried.”
Liam couldn’t say he hadn’t been tempted. “She wanted a girls’ day.” It had worried him when she first told him about the outing. It sounded like she needed a break from him, but she had followed it up with a sweet smile, asking if he would be okay on his own. She even said she could cancel it; she could always go out with her friends another time.
He couldn’t make her do that, especially since he would be busy. Most likely her stalker would be here, so she was safe. “I’m sure none of you qualify to participate.” Liam looked at Elias through the rear-view mirror. “Unless there’s something you’d like to tell me.”
Elias’s hand covered his mouth as he gave an exaggerated gasp. “Did you hear that?” He nudged Cassian and Trevor with his elbows. “I think it was a joke.”
His brothers laughed.
Trevor pointed out the window. “They’re back.” He opened the door and got out, as did the rest of them.
Cassian moved forward and spoke with the men while the rest of them made their way toward the elevator. “I told them we’ll come get them when we’re done,” he said when he caught up with them. “And they made sure no one took anything with them, except maybe their phones.”
