I swallowed a long sip of coffee with a chuckle. “Not surprising. He is rather protective. He’d hate seeing her in any sort of pain.”
“Like you,” she observed, wrapping her hands around her mug.
I studied her over the rim of my mug. She looked different. More relaxed. There was color in her cheeks, and her eyes were gentle as they regarded me.
“Like me,” I repeated. “Which bothers you.”
“No,” she insisted. “I like how you make me feel, Van. I reacted to a memory the other day, not you,” she admitted and pushed her hair over her shoulder. “Every so often, my past creeps up on me, and I need to remember not to let it control my life.”
“Can you tell me, Liv?”
“My father,” she stated simply.
I nodded. I had figured that much already.
“He was a control freak. He ordered my mother around as if she were an employee. Everything had to be perfect. In its place. She had to look perfect. The house. Me. Nothing was ever good enough, though. He was never pleased, and he liked to express his displeasure.” She huffed a long breath. “I was a kid. A chubby, shy kid. I was far from perfect. He didn’t like that. He was critical and mean. Put me down all the time. How I looked. Spoke. Acted. The clothes I wore, my hair. Everything.”
I frowned. Her voice dropped, her gaze fixed on the table.
“He questioned every decision my mother ever made. He made me so frightened, I stopped talking. He told me everything I said was wrong, so I stopped trying.”
“Liv, baby…” I murmured, reaching for her hand to stop the constant movement of her fingers. She stared at our hands, clutching my fingers like a lifeline.
“I don’t know what caused it, but one day he was starting in on me, and my mother snapped. She told him off in no uncertain terms. There was a huge screaming match, and he stormed out. She didn’t hesitate. She packed a bag, and we left. She kept saying it was one thing to criticize her, but she was done with his treatment of me. We went to my uncle’s place, and he helped us. She filed for divorce right away and I never saw him again.” She met my gaze. “It took me a long time to talk again, to be able to speak for myself. Chris tried to take my voice away too, and I almost allowed it. I can’t let it happen again.”
“And it won’t. I love your strength and independence. I will never try to take that away from you. I overreacted to Vicky as well. It was a lapse, not a normal kind of behavior for me.” I squeezed her hand. “You know me better than that. I promise.”
She leaned over the table. “I know I do. You aren’t like either of them.”
“No, I’m not.” I regarded her in wonder. “I’m surprised you’re willing to even try, given your history, to be honest.”
She lifted one shoulder. “My father was controlling and mean. His words were meant to hurt, and he knew how to use them. Chris was controlling but more cunning. The way he spoke and the things he said were insidious. They got in my head and festered and ate away at me, making me feel worthless. That was how he controlled me until he decided he no longer wanted me. And Evan, well, he was simply selfish. Three men all of whom liked to use people. You aren’t a user.”
“I try not to be.”
She waited until our food was delivered before she spoke again.
“I’ve had enough experience with them to know.” She picked up her fork. “And you are not one,” she added vehemently, stabbing her salad.
“Okay, Livvy. Don’t take it out on the poor lettuce.”
She grimaced. “Sorry.”
Unable to resist, I leaned over the table, clasped the back of her neck and kissed her. “Don’t be sorry for feeling so strongly about me. I’m good with it.”
I sat back, grinning at the flush spread across her cheeks. I took a big bite of my burger, chewing it slowly. She ate quietly for a moment, then met my gaze.
“My mom leaves in a couple of days for Florida. I’d like you to meet her, if it isn’t too fast. Would you…would you like to come to dinner tomorrow?”
I dragged some fries through the ketchup on my plate. “Not too soon, and yes. I would love to.” I paused before taking another bite. “She has Mouse all night, though, right?”
“Yes.”
“So I get you until tomorrow morning.”
“Oh, ah…”
“Is that an issue?”
“No, if that’s what you want. I didn’t want to presume.”
I chewed and swallowed before replying. “Presume away. It’s what I want. I am nowhere close to being finished with you today.”
Her cheeks grew even darker, but she met my eyes, her golden pupils glowing in the light. “Maybe I should have ordered something other than a salad.”
I cut my burger in half and slid it onto her plate. “Start with this. You’re gonna need it.”
Van
I stepped outside, the air cool and clear from the rainstorms that had swept the area yesterday. It was barely after five a.m.—the sun still a long way from being visible, but it might as well have been beaming down on my face, given the mood I was in.
Euphoric would be an understatement.
I left Liv slumbering in her bed, her sleepy goodbye kiss still lingering on my mouth, her double-sized bed that was too small for me. The only way I fit was angled across the mattress, and even then, my feet hung off. Liv slept draped over my chest, her silky, sweet-smelling hair spread out on my skin. I was as stiff as fuck, exhausted from lack of sleep, my shoulders ached from the odd position I had forced myself to lie in all night—and I couldn’t stop smiling.
We had spent the evening talking. Laughing. Confessing. Making love. I finally let her sleep around three and left even earlier than we agreed to make sure Mouse and her mother didn’t catch me leaving. It was too soon to try to have to explain to either of them.
I climbed in my truck, the sight of a parking ticket on my dash not even enough to dampen my mood. I had remembered I should go and move my truck but hadn’t wanted to disturb Liv, so the fine was worth it. I liked how it felt to have her sleep on me. She was warm, smelled good, and, every time I nudged her awake, was more than receptive to my advances. In fact, she woke me once, her talented mouth teasing my nipples as she stroked my hard shaft.
“You were poking me,” she explained with a wink.
I dragged her up my torso, settling her on my thighs, my cock at her entrance. “I’ll show you poking.”
She was astounding.
I glanced in the rearview mirror, her building fading from sight. I already missed her, which meant only one thing.
I was a goner and already totally pussy-whipped.
Surprisingly, I was good with that.
* * *
I heard her voice in the hall during the day. I saw her by Sandy’s desk, chatting excitedly about the birth of Bentley’s daughter, Addison. She glanced up as I passed, our gazes locking and a thousand silent words passing between us. The slight flush on her cheeks made me grin, and I winked but kept walking. If I stopped, I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist touching her, and Sandy was too perceptive not to notice the change in our relationship.
Around four, Liv knocked on my door, hesitating. I leaned back in my chair, smiling.
“Hey, Liv. Come in.”
She glanced toward Jordan’s desk, and I rolled my eyes.
“He’s in with Aiden.”
“Okay.” She entered and sat across from me, looking unsure. “Um, having a good day?”
Amusement burst from my throat. “Yeah, you could say that.” I hunched closer over the desk. “You could say you had a lot to do with my good day.”
“Oh. Ah, good. That’s good.”
“What about you, Livvy? You having a good day?”
“It could be better.”
I frowned. “What’s wrong? What do you need?”
“I’d like to kiss you, but I know that’s inappropriate here.”
Her words were unexpected since she was adamant our relationship remai
n private.
“I’d like to kiss you too.”
She nodded, tapping her chin and glancing around. “Do you have a pencil I could borrow? I seem to be fresh out.”
“Ah, yeah, we keep them in the cabinet behind the door over there.” I pointed to it, confused by the sudden change in conversation.
She pushed the door to the hallway closed. “This cabinet?”
“Yes.”
She opened the door and peeked in. “I don’t see them.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Maybe you can find them.”
I crossed the room and looked over her shoulder. “Right there, Liv. There’s a whole box on the top shelf.”
She rose up on her toes, tilted her head back, and leaned into me, her eyes dancing. “Right where?”
I started to laugh, realizing how slow I was being to her broad hints. I wrapped my arm around her waist, dropping my face to hers. “Right here, Liv.”
I planned to kiss her fast. A swift meeting of our mouths to stop the craving to feel her. Except, once our lips touched, fast went out the window. I slid my tongue into her mouth, gliding with hers, both of us groaning with relief and desire. I cupped her face, angling her neck and kissing her deeper. Harder. She gripped the back of my neck, returning my passion fully. Every rational thought evaporated, and all I could think of was taking her right there. Against my door. Burying myself inside her and hearing her moan my name.
Then I heard Jordan’s voice humming as he walked down the hall. He often hummed as he walked, a fact that I was grateful for since it gave me a chance to move. I tore myself away, hurrying back to my desk. I was glad for the thick wooden surface hiding my throbbing erection. Jordan pushed open the door as I sat down and reiterated, “There’s a whole box of pencils on the top shelf, Liv.”
“Oh, found them!”
Jordan stopped. “Sorry, Liv. Didn’t see you there. I thought maybe Van was catching a nap at his desk and pushed the door shut so not to be disturbed.”
She laughed, lifting one shoulder. “Hardly surprising. Such a slacker.”
“Hey,” I snarled playfully. “Some respect. If I’m going to nap, I flake out in the chair—never behind my desk.”
Jordan chuckled, dropping his armful of files on his desk. “Of course. My bad.”
I gazed at Liv, wondering if Jordan saw what I did. Her bright eyes and full lips that screamed, “I was just kissed,” or if he noticed anything at all.
“Anything else you need, Liv, or is stealing my last box of pencils enough for today?”
“Nope. This is good. I have to get to work. I’m having dinner with my mom at six sharp, so I need to be out of here at a decent time.”
I tried not to chuckle at her covert message. “Sounds good. Enjoy your evening.”
She waved and hurried off. Jordan flipped open a file, scanning the contents, while I reached for the next week’s schedule I’d been working on when Liv came in. For a few moments, the only sounds in the office were the scratching of pens and turning of pages.
Then Jordan cleared his throat. “Van…”
I glanced his way. “Yeah?”
He never looked up, his eyes fixed on the file in front of him. “Call it experience or friendly advice, but if you’re gonna kiss your girl in the office, make sure to wipe the lip gloss off your mouth before pretending it never happened.” A chuckle burst from his mouth. “Pink isn’t really your color.”
I swiped at my lips, cursing when I saw the pink streak on my hand. “I, ah, we—”
He held up his hand, meeting my eyes. “Your business. I think the two of you work great. I also appreciate the need for privacy, so this stays between us. But next time you’re gonna kiss her, I suggest shutting the door completely. Watching you tear across the office to your desk was amusing.”
“You saw that?”
“You aren’t exactly easy to ignore—or the lightest person on your feet. Good cover, though. Pencils.” He stared to chuckle again, picking up his file. “Too bad she took a box of Sharpies.”
I began to laugh.
Apparently neither of us were good at cover-ups.
“Thanks, Jordan,” I muttered, grateful for his friendship, humor, and understanding.
He grinned and went back to work.
“A coffee and a snack wouldn’t go unnoticed,” he said.
I stood.
“On it.”
* * *
Liv’s mom was an older version of her. In fact, watching the three of them across the table was like seeing the same person at three stages of their life. They shared the same body type, hair color, mannerisms, and smiles. And although the shape of their eyes was the same, the main difference between them was the color. Liv’s mom had hazel-colored eyes, Liv had the gorgeous golden-brown, and Mouse’s eyes were a deep chocolate. I had to assume both Liv and Mouse had inherited their father’s eye color. I enjoyed watching them together. It was easy to see their closeness.
Liv’s mom, Eleanor, or Elly, as she insisted I call her, was intelligent, direct, and blunt. I liked her. She refused the hand I held out to shake, instead enveloping me in the kind of hug only a mom could bestow. I had a feeling she and my mom were going to get along well.
Dinner was a loud affair, Mouse excited to have a captive audience at her disposal. She was lively and chatty, often making me laugh with her drollness. She watched me eat, her eyes wide with amazement.
“Are you sure you’re not a giant, Mr. Van? You eat like one.”
Liv groaned and Elly chuckled.
“Nope. But your mom’s cooking is awesome and a big treat.”
Mouse stared at her plate, mystified. “Treat? It’s meatloaf.” She poked at the meat, pursing her lips. “A treat is a chocolate bar.”
I laughed and helped myself to more of the meatloaf from the platter on the table. “Not for me, Mouse. I live alone, so meatloaf is a huge treat.”
Her eyes grew even bigger. “You should eat here all the time, then. Mom makes stuff like this every night.” She sighed. “My best friend Sharon’s mom doesn’t cook. They order in every night.” She whined. “It’s so cool.”
Liv grimaced. “And unhealthy. Not to mention expensive.”
I leaned toward Sammy. “You know what, Mouse? I bet if I asked Sharon, she’d think having a mom who cooks is better than ordering out all the time. I know I do.”
“Really?”
I wiped my mouth. “Yep. Cooking is a talent. One of your mom’s many talents.” I winked at Liv. “I’d be happy to eat here anytime.”
She stared at her plate, then broke off a piece of meatloaf with her fork. “Yeah, Mom is pretty cool. And I like meatloaf.”
I locked my eyes on Liv. “Yeah, she is.”
Elly watched us, clearly amused. After dinner, she kept Mouse busy giving her a bath, while Liv came downstairs and helped me carry up the bookcase I’d made for Mouse. We got it into her room, and I stood back, brushing my hands on my pants.
“Damn glitter. Even sealed, it attaches itself to me.”
Liv agreed. “It goes everywhere. I live in a state of perpetual glitter.” She ran her hand over the bookcase, inspecting it. I plugged in the lighting I had added, making the glitter sparkle.
“This is beyond anything she ever dreamed of, Van. She’s going to go crazy.” She stepped back and placed her hand on my chest. Her eyes were tender and glowing as she spoke. “I can’t thank you enough for making it for her.”
I covered her hand with mine. “I wanted to. She’s an awesome kid. I like her, Liv. I like her a lot.”
“I know.”
“I like her mother too.” I snaked my arm around her waist, pulling her close. “I really like her mother.”
She rose up on her toes, brushing her lips over mine. “She likes you.” She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled herself tight to me in a warm hug. Her breath on my neck made me shiver. She felt so right nestled in my arms, fitting to me perfectly. “She likes you so much.”
I hel
d her close, acutely aware of two things. How much closer I wanted her, and the fact that her mom and Mouse were ten feet away and would appear at any moment, so I couldn’t. But I held her tight, enjoying the sensation of her body pressed to mine. From down the hall, I heard Elly telling Mouse to go to her room.
Liv eased back, running her fingers across my jaw. “Are you ready for the squeals?”
“Bring them on.”
Liv chuckled. “You have no idea.”
I rolled my eyes. Sammy was a little girl. How bad could it be?
Mouse tripped in, her long nightgown trailing on the floor behind her. Her hair was damp, already curling into ringlets around her face. She beamed at us, then stopped, her gaze riveted to the bookshelf beside me. Her dark eyes widened to the point of hilarity, and she clasped her hands in front of her in delight but remained silent.
“Is it what you wanted, Mouse?”
I thought Liv was being funny when she warned me. But I swear, the sound that came from Sammy’s mouth could shatter glass. A shriek pierced the air, and she lunged toward me. Bending, I caught her, still reeling from the sound she’d made. She was laughing, pointing, talking, and somehow, still squeezing my neck at the same time. Even her voice was a higher pitch.
“Mr. Van! Look at the turrets and the lights!”
“Mommy, the glitter! All the glitter!”
She turned her head, calling loudly for Elly. “Grammie! Come see my bookcase! Mr. Van made it for me like our drawing!”
She turned to face me, her face anxious. “Is it really for me?”
“Of course it is, Mouse. It’s all yours. I made it for you.”
A thousand little kisses were plastered on my face before she kicked away, sliding down my torso and rushing over to her bookcase, running her hands over the turrets and shelves, excited and showing Liv everything she had asked me for.
“Can we put my books on it now, Mommy?”
Liv looked at me, almost pleading. I cleared my throat. “It needs to dry one more night, okay, Mouse? You can load it up tomorrow.”
“Okay,” she acquiesced easily. “May I leave it on for a bit to look at, Mommy, once you read me a story?”
Vested Interest Box Set Books 4-7 Page 38
