by Rica Grayson
Of all the people in Fortuity, I had to be stuck with him right now. Someone I couldn’t have.
“I have,” he murmured faintly. “Don’t know what I did, but I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t do anything,” I said quickly.
Hadn’t he heard everything I’d just said?
I tried to move away, but he remained on his spot.
I pushed my hair away from my face angrily. “Liam. Can you please move?”
His eyes warmed, as if something was greatly amusing.
Just what was so funny?
“You got icing over here,” he finally said, pointing at the corner of my mouth. I swiped it with my hand, but he only grinned. He lifted his hand up, about to remove it, when he stopped, his hand suspended in the air.
My eyes widened as I watched him, somehow unable to move. He dropped his hand immediately, his eyes darkening.
“Liam, what—”
He moved down closer, until I could feel his warm breath caress my cheek. His lips touched the corner of my mouth, and he licked it.
In my shock, I wasn’t able to move.
The elevator started to move, and we were frozen in surprise. He moved back slightly and we looked around us, at the ceiling, hoping that cable still held.
Please don’t let us fall.
The elevator jerked to an abrupt stop again. His hands went to my back, as if to make sure I was okay. My heart pounded in my chest. It sounded loud to my own ears. I wondered if he could hear it.
Without warning, the doors slid open.
People were standing outside—their expressions of curiosity and impatience turned to ones of shock.
…And all their eyes were on us.
Chapter Three
Liam
She left like her tail was on fire.
I didn’t kiss her.
I should’ve. The icing tasted like the darkest, most exquisite chocolate. I’m guessing she did, too. Maybe sweeter.
But what I really should’ve done was make her tell me what had scared her so damn much, so I could shoot all the reasons down and wipe the notion out of her head. Because there was no way in hell she was getting away that easily.
I thought she hadn’t been interested, but with her reaction earlier, now it was clear she was. And something was stopping her—I was going to find out what it was. I’d find her later.
Sherry found me, worry all over her face. She walked over to me, wearing a lavender summer dress that fell just above her knees. “Liam! Sorry about the elevator.”
I passed her an envelope—a little something to help her with wedding expenses. She gave me a “thanks” without making a move to open it, but she still looked concerned.
I shrugged. “I’m not. And it’s not your fault.”
If I hadn’t been stuck in the elevator, I wouldn’t have had the chance to talk to Bree, and I sure as hell wasn’t sorry for that.
Her brows drew together in confusion. “If something else happened…”
“Nothing else did. We’re both fine.” I took another quick glance at Bree out of the corner of my eye.
When I looked back at Sherry, she had a knowing smile. She told me I should eat, indicating all the food on the table.
I’d eat later. First, I needed to find someone. “Do you know where Caleb is?” I asked her.
“Hmm. He might be somewhere down the back.”
Caleb was an old friend who once left for the army. He was back for a short while to visit his parents.
Several months ago, my cousin, Alan, disappeared. His sister, Eva, left Fortuity, leaving nothing but the cryptic statement that she’d be back. I didn’t believe in coincidences. She was looking for him.
I’d contacted Caleb a few months ago, asking if he could send some feelers out for my missing cousin. Now he might have some news.
I briefly glanced at the other end of the room. Bree was chatting animatedly with a tall redhead—Kate.
I found Caleb at the back of the room close to the drinks table, politely in conversation with the man on his right.
“Hey Cal,” I said.
His expression was one of relief when he saw me, and promptly excused himself to end the conversation with the man. We moved to a quieter area, where no one was within earshot.
“How’ve you been?” I asked.
He smiled, flashing his teeth. “Been seeing a wonderful woman for three months now. Doing great. Yourself?”
I whistled low. “I’m doing good. Funny you chose to come to Fortuity now. Everyone seems to be getting married lately.”
“Still early in the relationship, but hoping it goes well.”
I went straight to the point. “What do you know?”
His expression turned grim. “His hands are tied at the moment. You ask me, he has it in him to change, but the moment he tries to get away, they’ll kill him.”
“They?”
“Peraltas.”
Peraltas was a crime syndicate that dealt primarily with drugs, counterfeiting, and prostitution. How the hell did he get involved in all of that?
“You plan to meet him, don’t you?” he asked, his frown deepening.
“I do.”
“What for, Liam? To what end? He’ll come back when they set him free.”
“Then they’ll never let him go.” I gritted my teeth.
“What can you do?”
“I’m gonna talk to him.”
“And then what?”
I knew what he was trying to do. He was getting me to back off so I wouldn’t dig myself deeper in this shit.
Too late. I already was. “I know him. That guy doesn’t belong in that kind of life. He’d never hurt anybody. I’m gonna make him see reason.”
“Fuck. You’re just like Eva,” he muttered under his breath.
I narrowed my eyes. “What do you know about Eva leaving?”
He froze, as if realizing what he’d just said. He shook his head once, firmly. “I made a promise. I’m keepin’ it.”
Christ. More secrets.
Until Eva left, I didn’t know she’d had it in her to do something like that—recklessly leaving without telling anyone. Although I suspected her best friend might’ve been aware of her plan to do it.
Turned out there were more things Eva was hiding.
Bree
“We didn’t kiss,” I told Kate for the third time. Kate was my first friend in Fortuity, and she was also a dentist. The first thing she told me when we met was that I was probably responsible for half her clients the past year. In her appreciation, she bought a mud cake from me.
I twisted my bracelet around on my wrist. It was one that had multiple charms that you could buy and add to it. Right now I had the Eiffel tower, a cupcake, a star, and a heart. Frivolous trinkets, my grandmother would call them. All the more reason I wore it.
I kept a safe amount of distance between me and Liam after the elevator incident.
I’d learned that not only did he recognize me, he’d noticed that I wasn’t around in Stardust when he was there.
It was mortifying for people to see us in that kind of position. I was pretty sure after this, things would go back to the way they were anyway. Liam was just being friendly.
After seeing my sister active in social networking sites the past couple of months, I knew how fast news spread in Fortuity. It was a little scary.
She’d be mad for missing this event. Not that I really cared.
“Hmm. I don’t know. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but he’s kept stealing glances at you this whole time.”
I whipped my head around to check, but I saw him still talking to the man at the other end of the room. The man had a stocky build, with tanned skin, his expression tight.
I looked back at Kate, and I rolled my eyes. “He’s not.”
Why would he? He had someone else.
Sherry popped her head in. “Hey,” she said brightly. “We heard the elevators had to be fixed. We were worried, but looks like
Liam had you covered. By the way, your mud cake’s amazing. Thanks so much for making it!”
I smiled. “It’s no problem. I’m glad you liked it.”
It never got old—that feeling when the work you did made people happy. It was one of the reasons I loved what I did.
A woman with dark, curly hair plopped down in the seat next to me. She turned to me, her curls bouncing, and her smile broad. “Hi. I’m Sierra.”
My lips quirked up when I recognized her. “I’m Bree. I think I saw you in Stardust once.”
There was a bit of a brawl in my bakery—someone tried to get the last mud cake from her once. It made me wary not to cross her path.
It was as if I got swept up in the middle of some storm, and they welcomed me right in.
I didn’t lack company for the night. And more, the conversation and the company made me forget about being stuck in the elevator. Almost.
I thought that was it when it came to Liam Sinclair. I thought we were done. Presto.
Kate nudged my shoulder. “Behind you,” she whispered in my ear.
I took a brief glance behind me. Liam started heading my way with single-minded purpose. He tugged his arm away from a guy with glasses who was talking to him in a rush. Liam’s eyes went to mine, and a hint of a smile wiped away his earlier impatience at the arm that was stopping him. The guy with the glasses gave up and let him go.
Maybe I should go home.
My feet didn’t move. No, I wasn’t going to make him force me to go home. I did nothing wrong.
“Bree.” I found myself liking the way my name rolled off his tongue.
“Liam,” I acknowledged.
A couple of drunk people burst out singing out front. There were giggles in response to the out-of-tune chorus. We moved a little further back.
“Finally got away from everyone. How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Better, thanks.”
“I had your cake,” he said. There was an almost mischievous glint to his eye.
My throat suddenly felt dry. “Did—did you like it?”
“The best I’ve ever had.”
There was a quiet intensity to his gaze that made me feel like he’d meant every word. “Told you it didn’t stand a chance with everyone.”
I blinked. “There’s no more left?”
That was…really fast.
It was then that I realized he’d led me to a quieter area. The venue opened up to a balcony, large enough for several people to fit and have some drinks, and he had me cornered. Here, the music and the chatter was now more distant and muted.
“Liam—” Sierra started, emerging from the doorway.
Liam’s eyes squeezed shut.
“Ah—nevermind,” she said quickly before she slid the door shut with a resounding click.
“Are you okay?” I poked at him. “Everyone seems to approach you about something.”
“Fuck, I can’t seem to make them go away. I’m fine,” he added, and he waved a hand. “They’ll deal without me for a bit.”
“What did they want?”
“A broken shelf, or some table that lost its leg. Some ask for last-minute projects, and when they discuss it, it takes them a full hour.”
“Ouch.”
“But let’s not talk about work,” he said, his fingertips tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. His eyes roamed over me. “You look amazing tonight.”
“T-thanks,” I stammered in reply. “So do you. Look amazing—” what? “—I mean, I don’t really know what I’m saying. I’ll shut up now.”
He shook his head slightly, his eyes alighting with humor. Then his smile dropped, and his eyes, thoughtful, met mine. “I like you, Bree.”
I liked that he just told me unapologetically, like it didn’t matter what anyone thought, because he just wanted me to know.
But it was wrong.
This was wrong.
And I couldn’t pretend otherwise.
I took a step away, and I started to pace. He was infuriating and confusing.
What was he doing, acting like he was interested in me? He had someone else.
“I don’t like players,” I blurted out, unable to help myself. I stopped mid-pace, surprised at my own outburst of temper.
My comment seemed to surprise him.
“I’m not promising or looking around for a relationship, Bree, but I don’t play around with women either. One is already more than I can handle.”
I stopped. I couldn’t help the regret that filled my voice as I replied, “Then quit it.”
His voice gained a darker edge. “I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying.”
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and quickly glancing at it, saw that I had a message from Rona.
“I have to go. I have to get up early tomorrow.” I turned around, adjusting my purse on my shoulder. To my surprise, his arms wrapped around me, pulling me close.
His body was solid and warm. His lips brushed my ear, making me shiver. “Okay. You’re going to tell me why you’ve been trying to avoid me.”
I closed my eyes, wishing things were different. “I know, okay?” I said, and it felt like my heart was being scraped raw. “I know you have a girlfriend. And this isn’t being fair to her.”
I felt him stiffen behind me. Then he asked me a question that had my heart stopping. “Bree, what girlfriend?”
Chapter Four
Liam
What the fuck?
I turned her by the shoulders so she faced me. The light reflected on her hair, and I found myself fascinated with the way they bounced off her bare shoulders, my eyes tracing the smooth, exposed skin.
“I don’t have a girlfriend,” I stated plainly. If nothing else, I needed to make sure she understood that one thing.
This was why she was staying away?
“But you gave her…” She stopped, a frown marring her forehead. “The person you’re seeing, then,” she amended. Suddenly she pulled her eyes away, and they settled on the ground, as if she was unable to look at me.
I needed to set things straight, because for some reason, she had it twisted up in her head that I was with someone. “I’m not seeing anyone.”
Her blue eyes went back to me, and confusion swam in those depths. “But…”
Where the hell did she get that idea from?
“This why you’ve been avoiding me?” Then it occurred to me, “Did someone tell you that?”
“No,” she mumbled softly. “I saw you.”
This was fucking bizarre—in a town our size, the truth should be immediately obvious. Because it was the last thing I expected her to say, and it came out of left-field, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Bree, I don’t even remember the last time I took someone out on a real date. When?”
She looked embarrassed now, her cheeks slightly pink. It spread up to her neck.
Fuck. She was charming and sweet, and now she was cute.
“I don’t know. A week or two ago,” she said softly. She tugged at the handle of her purse again, her eyes sliding back to the exit like it was a lifeline. Like she couldn’t wait to get away.
Oh no you don’t.
Her shoulders stiffened, her lips pressed together. Then I realized that I hurt her when I’d laughed. That was the last thing I ever wanted to do.
I sobered, and said more gently, “I’m sorry, but that’s impossible. I’m not seeing anyone.”
“Are you calling me a liar?” Her eyes flashed, sparking with temper.
My Bree had a temper.
“No. I’ve just been too busy to even see anyone.”
“You gave her flowers,” she said in a small voice. “Yellow. They were beautiful.”
There was a timidity in the way she spoke that got to me.
I didn’t want her to feel that way ever again.
And it struck me what she’d meant, because now I remembered, and I understood what she was talking about. “She wasn’t my girlfriend. She was a
good friend who came to visit. She’s engaged to an old colleague.”
If she thought they were beautiful, I was going to buy her lots. As much as she wanted.
“You’re not…” She frowned, as if she struggled to reconcile the new piece of knowledge to what she’d thought. “You’re not together?”
“No.”
She was silent for a minute, then she raised her eyes back up to meet mine. “Now I feel stupid,” she muttered.
“Don’t.”
She didn’t move from her spot. Her grip tightened on her phone.
“I should go,” she said, and it sounded like it was the last thing she wanted to do.
We jerked in surprise when the sliding door opened, and in a loud drunken slur, someone burst out, “Liam! Come here!”
Oh, you fucking idiot.
Pete, my friend who was a computer genius and who was now also completely drunk popped his head out, and his eyes squinted. He stopped. “Am I interrupting something?” He frowned, stumbling a little as he walked forward.
Bree bit her lip. When she spoke, her voice came out in a rush, almost panicked. “I’ll—I’ll leave you two. I really do need to go, I have an early morning tomorrow, so… Bye.”
Of course she’d use it as a chance to escape.
I was slowly learning more about Bree Carmichael, and I found I liked what I knew.
Now I had an answer to why she’d been avoiding me. She ran away, going back to her own safety net. Probably hoping I’d forget all about her ridiculous assumption.
Not gonna happen.
Bree
I bumped my head on the door a few times.
Maybe a few more times, and I could shake the stupid out.
He didn’t have a girlfriend.
I groaned, remembering what happened earlier when he told me he wasn’t seeing anyone.
I felt beyond silly. I jumped to conclusions and I avoided him because of it. And now… Now he knew.
My phone played out soft, jazzy music—Rona was calling. “Hey. I’m home,” I answered, phone between my neck and ear as I tugged my sandals off. I went straight to the kitchen to have my usual tea.
“So early?” Rona asked, surprise filling her voice.
