"Any particular reason?"
A maid came forward to take his jacket and the bottle of wine.
"May I put your flowers in a vase, Mr. Stanton?"
"Thank you."
Taking the bouquet, the woman dipped her head before she left them alone.
Zach looked like his picture, dark hair, athletically lean. Handsome, Liam conceded. Right now, he didn't care if the guy rivaled Adonis for looks, or was Quasimodo's double, hump and all. He wanted an explanation.
"Do you have a problem with me?"
"Hope not." Zach crossed his arms. "I love Bryce. Adore her, to be honest."
"Handy, since you plan to marry her."
"Adam and Noah feel the same about Calder and Andi."
"I assume you have a point—other than to give me a romantic update on Destry's sisters."
"The Benedict sisters are close. Very close."
"Freakishly so?" Liam quoted Destry.
Adam nodded.
"When a man is lucky enough to win the heart of one, he makes a commitment to them all. Now, they're my sisters, too. Since Destry is the youngest, and I care about her, I want to make sure your intentions are honorable."
Certain he was in the middle of a Zach Devlin directed farce, Liam's eyes scanned the room as he wondered where the camera was hidden.
"You're serious?" he asked when Zach didn't crack a smile.
"As a heart attack. Noah, Adam, and I drew straws to see who would take you aside. I won."
Before he met Destry, Liam thought he'd done and seen it all. She proved him wrong time after time. Seemed the men of her extended family were determined to continue the trend.
"Have you met Destry?" Liam had to laugh. "She doesn't need you, or anyone, to look out for her."
"You have a lot to learn."
"For instance?"
Zach slung a friendly arm around Liam's shoulders.
"Son, you've entered a different world. No one can teach you how to handle a Benedict sister. No instructions included. However, if you're lucky, damn lucky, you'll get to stick around long enough to figure her out."
Stick around? Liam felt a wave of panic.
"Who said I wanted to?"
"You already want her. Can't help yourself, am I right? After want comes…" Letting the rest of his advice dangle like a tree's last leaf in autumn, Zach shrugged.
"What?" Liam didn't buy into what Zach had to sell. Still, no harm in hearing the man out. "What happens next?"
"You'll find out soon enough. Best thing to do? Jump in with both feet and enjoy the ride." His hand on the sitting room doorknob, Zach paused. "Unless you want to leave now. Destry will be disappointed, but she'll survive."
Liam easily dismissed Zach's bizarre warning. The Benedict sisters were beautiful, accomplished women. But none was so irresistible a man with his wits about him would lose his way forever. Yes, he wanted Destry. But when the time came, when he had his fill, he would leave, just as he planned.
"Are you going to open the door or not?" Liam said.
"Don't say I didn't warn you."
~~~~
LIAM QUICKLY PUT his conversation with Zach in the back of his mind, easily forgotten by a combination of tasty food and excellent company. Though they'd already met, tonight, he had a chance to interact with Destry's sisters in a more relaxed, convivial setting.
Once he dropped the big brother attitude, Zach turned out to be friendly and funny as hell. Adam and Noah fit right in, pieces in the growing Benedict puzzle.
Talk around the table was light and breezy. Liam answered questions from everyone. However, he never felt outnumbered. He sat next to Destry, not as an outsider, but as a welcome member of the group.
"You're pulling our legs," Calder accused Zach after he told a particularly outrageous story about a certain Hollywood superstar. "He didn't really show up on set naked."
"As the day he was born." Zach held up his right hand as if in court.
"Someone must have videotaped him on their phone. Right?" Destry grinned. "If he really ran around with all his bits hanging out, why haven't we seen proof online?"
"Once he sobered up, he sent his assistant around with a boatload of hush money."
"When you say boatload…?"
Zach met Adam's inquiring gaze and shrugged.
"Rumor says—which I can't confirm—in the neighborhood of fifty thousand for each video."
"Holy blackmail, Batman," Calder snorted. "Nice work if you can get it."
"Gotta love modern technology," Zach agreed. "In the past, maybe a still photo would sneak through—if the photographer was fast enough. Now, everyone is a Spielberg in the making."
"If Spielberg made nudie pics starring stupid-ass movie gods." Bryce kissed Zach on the cheek before she turned her sparkling gray eyes on Liam. "What do you think of my fiancé? Quite the storyteller."
Zach Devlin was quite something all right. Just what, Liam hadn't decided. But, he returned Bryce's smile, kept his thoughts to himself.
"Speaking of storytellers. Your latest book? Terrifying."
"Really?" Bryce beamed.
"The ultimate compliment," Destry told him.
Under the table, she patted Liam's leg, leaving her hand on his thigh. When he raised an eyebrow, she gave him a look as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Then, proceeded to move a few inches higher.
"Are you trying to make trouble?" Liam whispered.
"Always."
"Eventually, you'll have to pay for your sins."
"Three more dates, Mr. Stanton." An inch higher, her fingers tightened their grip. "I can't wait."
~~~~
"PLEASE TELL MRS. Finch how much I enjoyed her spectacular meal."
Destry, her hand in his, walked Liam to the door and onto the outside landing. The evening was mild, a hint of yesterday's rain still in the air. She breathed and slowly exhaled.
"She wanted to be here. Unfortunately, she received a phone call just before you arrived. Her cousin in Queens took a nasty fall. Mrs. F. rushed over to babysit the woman's grandchildren who are up from Georgia for a visit."
"Sounds like your Mrs. F. is a good person to know."
"The best." As they looked out at the park, Destry leaned against him, arm to arm. "Everyone liked you."
"I liked everyone. Even your somewhat overprotective future brothers-in-law."
"Overprotective?" She scoffed. "You must be mistaken. They know I can take care of myself."
Liam didn't push the point.
"Did I tell you how good you smell tonight?"
"Tonight? How do I smell the rest of the time?"
"You know what I mean, smartass."
"My new body scrub. Citrus Whammy." Destry tipped her head, baring her neck. "Come a little closer and tell me what you really think."
"You like to play with fire, Ms. Benedict." But Liam was happy to do as she asked.
"I've always preferred the heat, Mr. Stanton. The hotter, the better."
Liam was a man with tremendous appetites. Yet, he prided himself on his excellent control. Destry had a way of making him forget everything but the need for her delectable body.
"Another second and you'll feel more than the heat—you'll get burned."
"I'll take my chances."
Destry wrapped her arms around Liam's neck. He saw her lips curve into a sultry smile. A second later, her mouth was on his.
Better than I remember, was all Liam could think as she pressed her body to his. He grasped her hips for balance, and because he'd be a fool not to. Liam's memory of Destry in his arms was vivid. Reality was better. So much better. He couldn't get enough, deepening the kiss as his hands moved to her back.
"Wow!" Destry gasped.
She licked her bottom lip and made a little humming noise as if the lingering taste of him was the best thing ever. Liam groaned. So damn sexy.
"I thought kissing came with date number
…?"
"Yes?" she urged. She gently nipped at his chin.
"Give me a minute." The fog around his brain made even rudimentary math seem impossible. Destry moved to his neck. Fine with him, but her warm breath on his already fevered skin did nothing to help his concentration.
"Date number three?" she asked between tiny kisses.
"Sure. Why not." Liam didn't care anymore as long as Destry's lips never stopped.
"I decided too much anticipation can be a bad thing." She raised her head to look him in the eye—much to his disappointment. "Performance anxiety is a very real thing. If our first-second kiss was a dud, you might be so traumatized, you'd decide to skip the sex altogether."
"Skip sex? With you?" Has she gone temporarily crazy? "Believe me, I'm glad you moved up the kissing timetable. But, I've never suffered from anxiety in my life. Especially the performance variety."
"Okay." Destry shrugged, a glint of the devil in her eyes. "If you claimed any trepidations, I was going to invite you up to my bedroom."
"Tonight?" Destry nodded, and he knew he was officially the stupidest man ever born. "On second thought, could be I do feel a bit of anxiety creeping in. Another three dates, the worry, the tension, I might not be able to perform. Better we take care of the problem now."
"You're cute." Destry patted his arm as she stepped out of his embrace.
"I'm dying." Liam's shifted his leg and mentally told his dick to stand down. As usual, the thing had a mind of its own.
"Literally dying?" Destry didn't look convinced.
"If I say yes, will you put me and my raging appendage out of our misery?"
"Raging appendage?" Her burst of laughter only made his problem grow—so to speak. "Poor baby. Want me to apologize?"
"I want you to magically make the next three dates zip by."
"But think about the fun we'll have." Destry's gaze lowered to just below his waist. She let out a silent whistle. "I hear a cold shower helps. Think I'll try one myself."
"A shower does help—when you invite someone in to wash your back."
"Nice try." She took another peek and sighed. "Really nice."
The fact they were in the same boat helped, Liam supposed. And he understood why Destry wanted to wait—sort of. She set the rules and was determined to follow them. Luckily, he knew the prize was worth the wait.
"Meet me tomorrow for lunch?"
"Date number three?"
He nodded.
"When and where?"
"One o'clock. My hotel, the main dining room."
"I'll be there."
Liam waited until Destry was inside, door closed, lock engaged, before he jogged down the steps and to his parked car. He wasn't a patient man by nature. Whatever he wanted, whether business or a woman, he made his move and sealed the deal in a quick, timely manner.
Destry was the first person in a long time who made him wait. So much for taking control, he thought as he pulled into traffic. Liam chuckled. Seemed the alpha male had met his match in the alpha female.
But Liam would have his day. And night. Once Destry was in his bed, a different kind of game would begin. And, he would make certain they played by his rules.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
~~~~
DESTRY HIT THE punching bag with expert timing. Her fists, arms, and shoulders worked in perfect rhythm as she concentrated on keeping the beat fast and consistent. She didn't give herself a time limit or count her punches; she worked until her muscles sang. The exercise was one of her favorites and kept her upper body toned and limber.
One last burst and she dropped her hands to her sides, flexing her fingers. She removed the gloves, tossing them onto the bench. Taking a towel from her bag, she wiped the sweat from her face and arms.
"Smiling? Really?" Bryce groaned as she soldiered through a final set of lat pull-downs. "I don't know which annoys me most. The definition of your biceps or the fact you actually enjoy putting your body through what amounts to daily organized torture."
The health club was half full, not bad for a scant hour after sunrise. Destry already warmed up from a five-mile run, felt like some company and who better than one of her sisters. Since Calder spent the night with Adam out on Long Island at his mother's place, and Andi was in Montreal to premiere her latest ready-to-wear line in Canada, Bryce—lucky girl—was her choice by default.
"You need a change of attitude." Destry tossed her sister a bottle of water. Opening her own, she chuckled when Bryce stuck out her tongue. "Very mature. You can grumble all you like. And still, you thank me every swimsuit season."
Destry was the hardcore athlete in the family. However, her sisters liked to stay in shape because, as she reminded them, their bodies were machines. The food they ate was the fuel, exercise, the necessary maintenance.
She shook her head in defeat when Bryce used her teeth to rip open an Almond Joy.
"Candy defeats the purpose," Destry pointed out. "I brought power bars because I knew you and your endless appetite would never last until breakfast. At least pretend to eat nutritious until my back is turned."
"You talk a big game, little sister. But you hate those healthy snacks as much as I do." Bryce bit into the chocolate-covered coconut and sighed. She took another bar from her bag. "You know you want one."
Snickers—Destry's favorite. She held out for a full twenty seconds before she snatched the empty calories from a laughing Bryce.
"Do I know you, or do I know you?"
"After a lifetime living so close, you should" Saliva pooled in Destry's mouth. When peanuts and nougat hit her taste buds, she sank to the ground next to Bryce, sighing with pleasure. "Yum. Almost as good as an orgasm."
"I used to think so—B.Z."
"Before Zach?" Destry chuckled. Her sister loved her food, but she loved her fiancé more. "Sorry I dragged you away from him and your warm bed."
"No, you aren't." Bryce licked the last of the chocolate from her fingers. "Zach's an early riser in the best possible way—if you know what I mean. He gave me my favorite morning treat a good hour before you knocked on our bedroom door."
"I know we're close. But do you ever think we share a bit too much personal information?"
"Nope. Do you?"
Shaking her head, Destry drained the bottle of water.
"Just thought I'd check."
"Speaking of sharing, how are things going with Liam? Wasn't last night date number four? One more until the big bang."
"Charming." She popped to her feet. Grasping Bryce's hand, she pulled her up. "As a writer, can't you think of a less crude image for me to carry in my head all day?"
"Splendor in the grass?" her sister offered as they walked to the locker room. "A hard day's night? Rocketman?"
"You watch too many movies."
"And my all-time favorite…"
"Please don't," Destry begged.
On a roll, Bryce ignored her.
"Destry rides again." Her sister snorted, then broke out in a belly laugh. "Or, to paraphrase, Destry rides Liam again."
"You aren't as clever as you think."
"Sure I am. If you have doubts, check the many, many glowing reviews for my books."
"Right. How much does your publisher pay per review?" Destry kept a straight face as she stripped off her sweaty clothes.
"Now who's the clever one?" Her aim deadly, Bryce used her towel to swat her sister's bare butt. Snap. The sound echoed through the changing room.
"Ouch." Destry rubbed the offended area.
"Don't be a baby."
"Want to bend over and let me return the favor?" They stepped into the steaming shower. "Then call me a baby."
Twenty minutes later, they were dressed and seated in the coffee shop located directly across the street from the health club. Bryce ordered a double latte—full fat. Destry settled on a cup of straight, black coffee.
"You never told me. How did you settle on five dates?"
<
br /> "The number randomly popped into my head." The smell of coffee was almost as good as the taste. Destry breathed in the heavenly aroma before she took a sip. "Honestly, I thought Liam would balk at the idea."
"A test?" Bryce asked as she dipped a biscotti into her drink.
"No. At least not a conscious one." She shook her head when her sister offered her a bite of the cookie. "He's rich."
"You and your odd ideas." Bryce rolled her eyes. "For an open-minded person, you have the hardest head I've ever seen."
Destry didn't see why the two had to be mutually exclusive. In fact, she considered her stubbornness one of her best features.
"Liam may be an exception." She hadn't decided yet, but she was close.
"I agree," Bryce nodded.
"However, he's also used to getting what he wants."
"Sounds like you have a lot in common."
"Ha, ha." In spite of herself, Destry smiled. "Maybe, just maybe, I hoped Liam would tell me to stick my five-date rule where the sun don't shine."
"Why?" Bryce's gray eyes widened as if Destry had grown another head. "He's gorgeous. Sexy as sin. Funny, smart. What's the problem?"
"Sometimes he makes me…" What was the word? "Jumpy."
"Ah."
Destry didn't like the smug, knowing look on Bryce's face.
"What does 'ah' mean?"
"You've met a man you can't scare off."
"I don't scare them—exactly. I assert my personality." She liked her explanation better. "Not my fault if the world is filled with wimps."
"Liam Stanton isn't one of them."
"No."
"He took your challenge and survived." A twinkle entered Bryce's silver gaze. "Must really want you. Or…"
"Go on."
"The man's a glutton for punishment."
When her sister's smile turned into a self-satisfied grin, Destry sighed. She really needed to expand her range of friends to people who didn't know her so well. Anyone with half a brain would think twice before yanking her chain so many times in such a short period. Bryce, the little dear, understood Destry's bark was worse than her bite. Her sister knew the time to worry was when she grew silent—deadly silent.
Four Simple Words: A Badass and the Billionaires Contemporary Romance (The Sisters Quartet Book 4) Page 14
