by Autumn Reed
When I opened the door to the suite, Jackson called from the bedroom, “Is that you, Haley?” Despite the fact that it was almost six o’clock, I was still somewhat surprised any of the guys were back already.
“Yep,” I said as I collapsed on the couch, kicking my feet up and scrolling through the TV channels.
Jackson walked into the living room followed by Liam. “Have fun today?” Jackson asked while Liam moved to the back of the couch.
“You look knackered,” Liam said as he gently pushed my messy braid to the side and dug his fingers into my shoulders, massaging the sore muscles. I would’ve teased him for his British slang, but instead, I sighed, closing my eyes and relaxing into his capable hands.
“Yes. I walked a lot. But I had a blast and everything was amazing,” I said, unable to help drawing out the word “amazing” as Liam turned me to butter.
“What did you see?” Jackson asked.
With my eyes still closed, I listed off a few sights.
“Wow, you kept busy.”
That’s an understatement, I thought, recalling the extra walking to and from the First National Bank that I hadn’t mentioned.
“Are you hungry?” Liam asked. “Jax and I were just contemplating dinner.”
“Dinner would be great,” I said, finally opening my eyes to find Jackson staring at me before he quickly looked away.
“There’s always room service, or we could easily order takeout considering all of the choices around here,” Jackson said as he headed toward the kitchen.
He returned and set a glass of water on the coffee table in front of me, then walked to the window. There had been a subtle shift in Jackson since the night he brought me ice cream, and I was still acclimating to his attentiveness and friendlier demeanor.
“Thank you.”
Liam removed his hands from my shoulders and sat in a chair, listing off dinner options. I sank down, resting my head on one of the arms of the couch. With the TV on in the background, I relaxed into the cushions.
“You guys are spoiling me.”
Liam’s expression softened and his eyes shone with something unfamiliar. “Hardly.”
When the meal arrived, we ate together and then I watched TV while Liam and Jackson were in and out of the room. I was getting ready for bed when the door to the suite slammed shut.
“Jackson, what the fuck were you thinking?” Ethan roared, his voice full of anger. I halted in the bedroom, still hidden from the living room, unsure what to do.
I had never heard Ethan, or any of the guys, so angry, especially not with each other. Sure, Liam and Knox stood up for me when Jackson had been less than forthcoming with updates on my dad, but this seemed different. I felt my body tense up. Should I close the door?
“Is there a problem?” Jackson asked.
Liam spoke calmly. “Let’s go in the other room, and you can tell us what’s going on.”
“No, I’m not going anywhere. And don’t think your silver tongue will solve this problem, Liam.”
What do I do? I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but Jackson and Liam knew I was in the suite, and the longer I waited, the more awkward I felt.
“Do you know what’s got his knickers in knots, Jax?”
“I have a good guess. I knew he may not like the decision, but I figured he could at least respect it.”
“Respect it,” Ethan spat. “Yeah, right.” What decision?
Liam spoke up again, unperturbed. “Why didn’t you voice your concerns earlier?”
“I would have if I had been given the opportunity. Jackson marches forward like a dictator, ignoring all other opinions.”
Where is Knox? If he was in the suite, I assumed he would have already jumped into the argument.
Jackson’s voice was firm and full of authority. “You’re certainly entitled to your opinion, but not when it jeopardizes our team or our objective.”
“Exactly,” Ethan bit out, “that’s precisely the kind of attitude I’m talking about.”
Liam responded, cutting Jackson off. “Look, Ethan, I understand your reasons for disagreeing with Jax’s decision, but it was his to make. You’ve always known how this team operates, and if you have a problem, you need to say something before it’s too late for us to adjust.”
“Of course you’d take his side, Liam. Everyone always does.”
I pulled my lips between my teeth; I hated that they were fighting.
Liam started to say something, but Ethan stormed out of the suite, slamming the door behind him.
What the hell was that about?
Good Taste
Flipping through the stack of tourist brochures Knox left on the nightstand, I debated my options for the day while I waited for the car service to arrive. After last night’s tense blowup between Ethan and Jackson, I was thankful for another day alone in the city. Hopefully they would resolve their issues quickly; otherwise, our Saturday adventures would likely be awkward, and the car ride home would be even worse.
I didn’t know the specifics of their disagreement, but I sensed it wasn’t the first time Ethan had felt like his opinion was undervalued or ignored. And while I sympathized with his frustration based on my own past dealings with Jackson, I also knew that Jackson acted with good intentions, even if he could benefit from being more transparent, as he put it.
By the time the car service arrived, I was ready and had decided on my plan for the day. First stop—shopping for a dress for the Zenith Christmas party. After bypassing a few shops that looked way too funky for my style, I stopped outside a boutique displaying cute but classy dresses in the window. Deciding it was worth a try, I opened the door and was met with the bluesy voice of Norah Jones and the faint scent of jasmine. Tables of glittering accessories were interspersed among the racks of neatly hanging tops, skirts, and slacks.
I looked through the selection of mostly casual and professional attire for a couple of minutes before a well-dressed woman in her mid-twenties appeared from the back. “Good morning! Are you looking for anything in particular?”
“Yes, I need a cocktail dress for a work Christmas party. Can you point me in the right direction?”
“Of course, follow me,” she said, leading me toward the back of the store. “We don’t carry a large collection of cocktail attire, but we do have some pretty dresses that would work for a holiday party.”
The glitzy, and mostly slinky, dresses that were draped over mannequins gave me pause. Maybe this is going to be more challenging than I expected, I thought. Examining one of the dresses closer, I realized that it was backless and barely had a front.
The saleswoman laughed. “I can tell by your expression that the racy gold mini-dress is not your style.”
Embarrassed, I smiled. “I’m sorry, but no. I was hoping for something a little more . . . appropriate,” I said, after searching for a non-offensive description for the shiny scrap of material.
“Don’t be sorry. I wouldn’t be caught dead in that either.” She pointed to the back wall where a number of dresses were hanging. “But, you might find something you like back there. Do you have an idea of what you’re looking for?”
Not a clue. “I think I’ll browse for a while and see if anything catches my eye.”
“Sure. My name is Kate, and I’ll be over there,” she said, pointing to a counter on the opposite wall. “Let me know if you have any questions or want to try something on.”
“Thank you.”
I skipped over the first couple of racks that were filled with skimpy sequin dresses and headed for the more modest options. Rejecting the dresses that were too short, too long, too old, or too young, I managed to pick up a few that looked like possibilities.
The first two dresses I tried on were just okay, but the third was a distinct improvement. I tied the matching navy satin sash into a bow as I assessed it more closely. The V-neck wrapped bodice and flared skirt were flirty, and it definitely felt like a party dress. Unsure whether it was the perfect choice, I con
templated asking Kate her opinion but heard her speaking to another customer and didn’t want an audience.
Oh, I can text Jess, I realized, pulling out my phone and snapping a photo of myself in the mirror.
Me: What do you think about this dress for my work Christmas party?
Jessica: Pretty! Any others you’re considering?
Me: Hold on a sec.
Turning to the last dress in the pile, I had no idea what it would look like on but decided I might as well try it. And once I zipped it up and peered in the mirror, I was thrilled. This is the one. After taking a photo of the front and another that showed the side and most of the back, I texted them to Jess.
Me: How about this one?
Jessica: I LOVE IT!
Jessica: Seriously, it’s perfect. You HAVE to buy it.
Me: Haha, calm down. I will. Thanks for your help!
Jessica: Anytime. And, I want to hear all about this party. You should finally give in and call me.
Me: Maybe I will.
As I was hanging the dress back up, I glanced at the price tag and cringed. It wasn’t obscenely expensive, but it was significantly more than I’d ever spent on clothing at one time. Ignoring the practical part of me that was urging me to put it back on the rack and run, I grabbed my purse and the dress and headed straight for the counter to purchase it.
“Oh, I love this dress,” Kate said when I passed it over the counter. “You have good taste.”
“Thank you.”
When she stated the total, I handed her a Visa gift card. It was something Theo suggested a while back so I didn’t have to carry so much cash around when I went shopping.
“Here you go,” Kate said brightly, returning my card and handing over the dress and receipt. “Enjoy your party!”
After wandering through a few more shops and stopping for a quick lunch, I texted the car service to pick me up. Although I felt kind of ridiculous using what amounted to a modern-day chauffeur, I was glad I didn’t have to worry about figuring out the bus schedule and necessary transfers. It’s not a crime to be a little spoiled . . . right?
Back at the hotel, I sat down on the edge of the bed to remove my boots before falling back on it. The last twenty-four hours felt like a whirlwind, and I was still having trouble processing everything. I desperately needed to talk to someone.
Dialing Jess’s number for the first time in months, I breathed a sigh of relief when she answered on the first ring. “Haley,” she shrieked into the phone. “It’s about damn time you called me! Tell me everything!”
Laughing, I said, “Hi, Jess. What’s going on with you?”
“Me? Please tell me you’re joking. There’s no way I’m wasting a precious minute talking about my mundane life. You! You! You! I want to hear all about you.”
I groaned. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“Start with your little shopping expedition. A party? That sounds fun.”
“Yeah, I’m not sure how fun it’ll be. I’m not into the whole party thing.”
“How would you know? It’s not like you’ve ever been to one.”
“Well, actually . . .”
“What! You’ve been to a party?”
“Yeah, it wasn’t a big deal. Just a birthday party for Theo. It was . . . interesting.”
“Theo,” she said, no doubt thinking through my catalog of six guys. “He’s the hottie roomie with the retro style, right?”
I laughed. “Yeah, that’s Theo.”
“Did you drink?”
“I had a couple of mojitos, which were super tasty, by the way.”
Jess gasped. “You bad girl, you. I’m so proud!”
I rolled my eyes at Jess’s exuberance. “Oh, whatever,” I sighed. “Anyway, the Christmas party is a work event, so I’m guessing it’ll be pretty tame.”
We talked about frivolous things for a while before I filled her in on in the situation with my dad. I kept my explanation vague, but I needed the opinion of an outsider about what I should do next.
“The thing is, I kept thinking that I would stay with the guys just until I had a chance to visit the safe deposit box. But, things have changed. I’ve realized that all they’ve ever done is try to help me. And although my dad now has a way to contact me, I don’t have any more information than I did before unlocking that mysterious box.” I paused, thinking through the words I’d finally been able to say out loud—the ones admitting I honestly did trust the guys. “What do you think I should do?”
“Do you even need to ask? It seems like you’ve already figured it out. And, if you really want my opinion, Haley, you sound happy. Probably happier than I’ve ever heard you. And before you get all indignant on me, I know how much you love your dad and miss him. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still live your life and enjoy it along the way.”
“You’re right, I know you’re right.”
“Okay, then. I solved your problems, now on to world peace.”
Laughing, I said, “Good luck with that. Maybe you should focus on finding a date to winter formal first.”
As Jess started in on her frustration with the male species, I heard a sound from outside the bedroom door I’d left open. Startled, I sat up and almost dropped the phone when I saw Liam leaning against the door frame.
“Ummm, I gotta go,” I interrupted.
“Wait, Haley, what—”
“I’ll talk to you later.”
Trying to delay facing Liam, I slowly pressed the “End” button on my phone and placed it on the bed. Oh my god. How much did he hear? When I peeked his way, I noticed that his stance was relaxed and expression pleasant. Hopefully nothing.
“Hi, Liam. I wasn’t expecting any of you to get back until later.”
“I can see that. Girl talk?”
I looked away, trying to decide what to tell him. Before I could come up with a believable response, he said, “Why don’t you tell me over dinner? I’m done for the day, and I thought we could walk around down at Pier 39, then grab something to eat. And, before you consider saying no, remember that you still owe me dinner.”
Thankful for the reprieve, I hopped up. “Sure. Should I change?”
“No, you’re perfect.”
As we meandered along the pier, I was pleasantly surprised by Liam’s playfulness. Despite his usual sophisticated tastes, he was rather like a kid in a candy store . . . especially in the Candy Baron shop. As soon as we entered the vibrant store, I had a feeling I’d have to drag him out of there.
“Ethan may lay claim to most types of candy, but salt water taffy is all mine,” he said excitedly. Gesturing to the endless barrels of colorful taffy, he continued, “And you happen to be looking at a world famous selection in any flavor you desire—cotton candy, hot chocolate, pomegranate, maple bacon . . . they have it all.”
While he started filling a bag of his favorites, he said seriously, “Please tell me you like taffy.”
Holding in a laugh, I responded, “I’m not sure I’ve ever tried it, but it looks good.”
“I’ll just have to buy you one of every flavor then, to make sure you find one you like.”
Spotting a sign listing the shop’s sixty-six varieties of salt water taffy, I gasped. “Liam! You can’t buy me all sixty-six flavors.”
“Why not?”
After ignoring my protests and purchasing a ridiculous amount of taffy, Liam grasped my hand and tugged. “It’s time for sea lions.”
Continuing to hold my hand, he led me to the end of the pier. Although I’d read about the sea lions at Pier 39 in one of the brochures Knox gave me, I wasn’t prepared for the sight of hundreds of them sunning themselves on the floating docks. Most appeared to be sleeping, but occasionally one would stretch or slide into the water then easily climb back out.
“Look at that one. He’s so cute,” I said, pointing out a huge sea lion that was slowly waddling on the platform. Releasing Liam’s hand, I reached for my phone to take photos.
Liam tapped my n
ose with his forefinger. “You’re so cute.”
After taking a number of pictures, including ones of each other and together, we watched the sea lions for a while longer before heading to dinner. The bistro Liam chose was relatively casual, but he insisted the food was “delightful.” Once we’d ordered, I tried to come up with a topic to distract him from my conversation with Jessica, but he beat me to the punch.
“Haley, about earlier at the hotel,” Liam began. Great, here we go. “I’m not going to coerce you into telling me who you were talking to.”
“You’re not,” I responded, my tone clearly skeptical.
“No, but I wish you would anyway. I know you don’t take me seriously, and I get it. Flirting with you is my new favorite pastime,” he said with a roguish grin. “But, I’d like to prove to you that there’s more to me.”
Taken aback by his sudden earnestness, I considered his offer. It was true that I tended to think of Liam as fun and over-the-top flirtatious, but I’d never really given him a chance to show another side to his personality. And it wasn’t like I intended to keep my interactions with Jessica a secret forever. But, if I was going to open up to him, I wanted something in return.
“I’d like to offer a trade.”
Liam laughed. “Why am I not surprised? Okay, let’s hear it.”
“I’ll tell you who I was on the phone with if you tell me what was going on with Ethan last night.”
Rubbing the dimple in his chin with his thumb, Liam appeared to be contemplating my offer. “You drive a hard bargain, gorgeous. I can’t get into the details, but I’ll tell you what I can. Deal?”
“Deal. You go.”
“As you well know, Jax can be an overbearing arse.”
I snickered. “Yes, he can.”
“But, when push comes to shove, that’s what makes him such an amazing leader. He has the ability to think on his feet and make the difficult decisions. And even though he can be high-handed at times, we all respect him and accept his word as final . . . at least we all should.”
“Ethan doesn’t?”
