Liam

by Katie Dowe

  *****

  Hanson looked up as she strode into his office and noticed the paleness of her expression and the set look on her beautiful face.

  “It did not work?”

  “It did.” She reached into her pocketbook and pulled out the capsule, handing it to him. “It worked perfectly.”

  He took it and uncapped the top, carefully pulling out the rolled canvas, studying the lines of the painting, his expert eyes salivating over the pricey art with satisfaction. “I will call the client and tell him that we were successful.”

  “Yes, but please do not mention that I had to give a little of my soul along with it,” she said with a trace of bitterness.

  Hanson rolled the canvas and carefully placed it back inside the capsule before looking at her. “Darling are you okay?”

  “Of course I am!” she said brightly. “I am going to have to disconnect my phone and get out of my apartment a few minutes from now. You said there is a place?”

  “A cabin in Mount Eagles, several miles from here. It’s isolated and no one knows about it, the perfect place to hide out.” His eyes searched her face. “Want to talk about it?”

  “There is nothing to talk about.” She turned away and then turned back. “He is going to come here asking questions.”

  Hanson nodded. “I already know what to tell him.” He reached into his drawer and took out a brand new phone, handing it to her. “Use this to keep in touch with me. I will let you know when it is safe to come back.”

  She nodded and took the phone, staring at it for a moment before lifting her head to look at him. “See you.” With that she left swiftly, barely keeping the tears from falling.

  Hanson stared after her, his thoughts troubled. He had never seen her like this before and he realized that he should not have pushed her to go so far to get physically involved with Liam Moses. He had known that she would not have come out of it unscathed and now she was paying the price!

  *****

  He frowned thoughtfully as the phone went straight to voicemail. He had tried calling several times after his meetings, which had gone into the late afternoon, and he was not getting through to her. He tried again and got the same result. He had spent the day in meetings and only half heard what the foundation had to say. His mind had been on her and how much he wanted to see her, wanted to be with her. He could not stop his thoughts from steering to the highly erotic and pleasurable night and early morning they had shared. He also could not believe that she had left after what they had shared!

  By late evening he had gotten anxious and frustrated and realized that he had left several messages, each one sounding more desperate than the last and she still had not returned his calls.

  “Dammit Amani! Please call me back, we need to talk.”

  By nightfall she still had not called and he went home to his apartment and drowned his frustrations in a bottle of highly expensive bourbon, his eyes on the big bed where he had spent last night in unbelievable pleasure with a woman who now wanted nothing to do with him! He laughed to himself, the sound harsh as it echoed throughout the room. She showed him! He thought bitterly as he abandoned the glass and drank straight from the bottle, welcoming the warmth burning a hole through his stomach. He had bet on the fact that he would be able to persuade her that one night would not be enough. It was not enough for him, but it was sure as hell enough for her! He emptied the bottle and felt the throbbing of a headache coming on. He closed his eyes, leaning back against the sofa wearily. “Oh Amani,” he whispered hoarsely. “Baby please call me.”

  *****

  Amani sat outside on the porch of the cabin and stared at the lingering sunset, her body aching and her eyes swollen from the tears she had finally allowed to fall. She had gone back to her apartment and packed hurriedly, making sure to turn off her phone and put it in a drawer by the side of the bed. Then she had packed up her car and headed out, driving at a moderate speed until she had gone out of the city. The scenery had been breathtaking the farther she went but it was lost on her. It was the beginning of September and the air had cooled somewhat, allowing her to wind down her windows and let the breeze stir her face. It had taken her five hours to reach the cabin and she had gone inside to unload her stuff before coming back to sit out on the porch. She wrapped her hands around her drawn up knees as she stared at the fiery sunset, sightlessly. It was getting late and she was in unfamiliar territory. As much as Hanson had assured her that it was perfectly safe, she did not like the feel of the silence surrounding her and the stillness of the area. She had passed a couple store fronts on her way through the isolated town and had even seen what looked like a mini mart. She was trying her best to take her mind off him! She was trying not to remember how she had felt when he was inside her, when his lips touched hers and the incredible ecstasy she had experienced as he made love to her. She was also trying not to remember how affected he had seem to be as well. He was an expert who had been with countless women and from the beginning she had known that there was something between them, but never in her wildest imaginations had she realized that it would have been so strong! So potent and so wild that even now she could still feel him inside her, on top of her, his mouth buried in hers, his tongue – she broke off with a moan and put her head on her knees, her body trembling.

  “Please let me forget,” she whispered achingly. “Please don’t let me be stupid enough to fall in love with him!”

  It was several minutes later before she got up and went inside. When she had first arrived she had not had time to notice the interior of the rather rustic and charming cabin with its shiny wooden floors, complementing the log wood walls and the very cheerful furnishings and cozy fireplace. She sat in the living room and started to reach for the remote and then changed her mind. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes wearily as she thought about him, unable to help herself!

  Chapter 9

  Hanson was standing by the window of his second floor office when he saw him come in. Liam Moses had a purposeful stride to his steps and Hanson could see the determined squaring of his shoulders. He was a man bent on getting answers and Hanson was prepared to answer the questions he would be asking! He squared his own narrow shoulders and watched as the man spoke to someone on the floor and smiled slightly as he imagined the demanding tone of a man who did not take no for an answer. He walked over swiftly to his desk as his buzzer sounded and answered it. “Liam Moses is on his way up, Hanson.”

  “I know darling. I am waiting.” He released the button minutes before there was a knock on the door and without waiting for a response he pushed the door open and strode in. The man was a dynamic force up close and even more handsome than his pictures. Hanson had seen him on magazine covers, as well as on television, escorting some actress or the other to a red carpet event. He had also seen him at museum and gallery openings but had never seen him this close. He was beautiful with a breathtaking quality about him that was irresistible!

  “I take it you know who I am?” His deep voice was carelessly arrogant as his gray eyes boring into Hanson’s light blue ones.

  “Of course Mr. Moses.” Hanson stretched out a slender hand and Liam took it briefly after slight hesitation. “I am Hanson. What can I do for you?”

  “Mind if I sit?” he asked, arching a thick brow.

  “Of course.” Hanson gestured to one of the padded chairs around his desk and went to sit around it. “Would you like something to drink?” He reached for the button to get someone to bring them refreshment but Liam shook his head.

  “I am looking for someone who works here.”

  “Who might that be?”

  “Amani Smith.”

  “We do not have an Amani Smith working here.”

  Hanson saw when his eyes smoldered. “I do not have time for games man,” he was told in a steely voice. “I came to an opening here some weeks ago and she was right here. She told me that she worked here several days a week.”

  “You did not let me finish,”
Hanson said smoothly. “I take it that you are referring to Amani Lincoln, who is not only an employee but also my daughter of sorts.”

  Liam’s eyes narrowed at the two bits of information. “Of sorts?”

  “She grew up in a group home and I took her in.”

  “I see,” Liam said slowly as he stared at the man. “Why did she lie about her name?”

  Hanson shrugged. “I think you should ask her when you see her.”

  “She is not answering her phone. Where is she?”

  “Might I ask you why you are looking for her?”

  “That’s between her and me,” Liam’s tone was implacable. “Where is she?”

  “I have been searching for her myself. I have not seen her in a couple of days.”

  “Have you checked her place?”

  “I have and I have been calling her as well.” Hanson leaned forward and clasped his hands, a pensive look on his face. “What happened between you two?”

  “Why?”

  “Amani is someone who would not disappear without a trace unless something detrimental happened. The only time she did that was when she was battling over whether or not to search for her birth parents.”

  “What happened?”

  “She went away for a week and was not in contact with me. I was frantic out of my mind until she reappeared and behaved as if she had not been gone for a week. She never spoke of the subject to me again.” Hanson looked at him levelly. “What happened between you and her?’

  Liam got to his feet slowly and reaching into the pocket of his custom built dark blue jacket he withdraw an embossed card with his name on it and handed it to Hanson. “If you hear from her please ask her to call me.”

  “Mr. Moses?”

  The man turned to look at him. “She is a daughter to me and I would not like to see her get hurt.”

  He smiled slightly. “Are you trying to tell me something?’

  “I think it is clear. I know your reputation with women and Amani is far too special to be grouped in a clique. She deserves more, so if it is a fling you want please look elsewhere.”

  He inclined his head mockingly. “I will keep that in mind.” With that he strode from the room leaving his magnetic presence to lingering along with the expensive cologne he wore!

  *****

  Liam looked at the man seated across from him. He had spent the afternoon trying to call her again with no success and he was letting the frustration get to him. He was also troubled by the fact that she had lied to him about her name. Why the hell had she done that?

  “I need you to be discreet,” he started without preamble, as he handed the newsprint to him. Blake Williams was head of security for the security firm that was a part of the vast holdings that was owned by the Moses family. “And I need you to be the only one working on this.”

  “Of course,” the former FBI agent told him softly. “What do you want me to do?”

  “Find someone.” Liam waited until the man came over to the desk and pointed to the picture of a smiling Amani next to him. The picture brought her beauty into sharp focus and he found himself staring at each exquisite feature. “Her name is Amani Smi–” He shook his head. “Amani Lincoln. I just discovered her real name.”

  “And when I find her?”

  “Tell me where and I will do the rest.”

  Blake nodded and took up the newspaper. “Do you have a number for her?”

  “It’s no longer in service.”

  “I will need it.”

  Liam reached for his phone and searched for the number, handing it to him for him to write it down. “How long do you think?”

  “Give me a couple of days or maybe a week, but no longer.”

  “Thanks.” Liam nodded, feeling the sense of relief going through him. He had no idea what he was going to say to her when he found her but he just knew that he had to!

  *****

  “Hanson?” she sounded breathless as if she had just been involved in a very hectic activity, which she confirmed immediately. “I just got back from my run.”

  “How do you find the place?”

  “Very remote,” she told him with a laugh.

  “Your friend came looking for you.”

  Amani felt her heart slamming against her ribs. “When?”

  “He left an hour ago. I was going to call you straight away but I got tied up. He is very determined to find you darling.”

  “What did you tell him?”

  “I told him your real name and that you are like a daughter to me. I also implied that it was something that he did that made you run away.”

  “Why would you do that?”

  “To throw the blame onto him. When he eventually finds out about the painting which I am sure will happen, he is not going to think to look to you.”

  “That should not happen for a long time, if ever. The one you gave me to replace the original was pretty damn perfect.”

  “Except that it was not the original and if I know collectors like Liam Moses, I also know that the painting is appraised ever so often to make sure that it is still the original.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “I am saying that I can bet you that Liam Moses is now looking to appraise every painting the foundation owns. You are a woman he met and one who insisted on him taking you to his apartment, so after the glow of the amazing sex you two shared has dimmed somewhat he is going to call for an appraisal. When he does he is going to start putting two and two together.”

  “Thank you for effectively ruining my day,” Amani said shakily.

  “I am just giving you the heads up darling.”

  *****

  “I cannot believe that you are still going through with this,” Liam complained as he leaned forward and kissed his sister on the forehead. She had started nursing school in August and by all indications it appeared that she was enjoying it. She had also insisted on staying on campus like a normal student. She had to fight to not let her name overshadow what she wanted to do and for the other students to take her seriously. That was why she had told her brother not to come and visit her there. She had slipped away to have lunch with him at an exclusive restaurant in town.

  “I am.” her eyes scoured his face and noticed the strain against his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

  “Other than you breaking my heart with this nonsense of wanting to become a public servant?” he asked her dryly as he nodded to the hovering waiter. “Why, nothing of course.”

  “You have not been seen with anyone new, Liam.”

  “Ah so instead of studying and doing assignments you have been following social media.” His tone was light and amused but it did not fool her. “I am taking a break and concentrating on self-improvement.”

  Lorelei laughed at that. “You are funny. What is the real reason?”

  “I met someone, and she broke my heart,” he told her with an amused lift of his thick brows.

  “That is even funnier. Okay, so don’t tell me.”

  “I won’t,” he assured her as he leaned forward. “How are you darling? Are they treating you the way a Moses should be treated?’

  “I do not want special treatment and I have been trying to make them understand that.”

  “How are you succeeding at that?”

  “A little bit at a time. I have made friends who do not care that my last name is Moses. Do you know how frustrating it is to be recognized every time you walk into a classroom?”

  “It never bothered me. As a matter of fact I thrived on it. Girls used to clamor to take notes for me and some even offered to do an entire course if I slept with them. I refused of course, because as much as it would have been convenient I would not have gotten the satisfaction of knowing I worked for the grade.”

  “You are incorrigible!” his sister said with a laugh.

  He lifted one slender delicate hand and studied it for a moment. “I cannot believe that you will be dissecting disgusting animals and handling people’s wastes,” h
e said with a shudder. “You are breaking my heart darling.”

  “You will get over it.”

  *****

  The valuator examined the painting again, a furrow on his brows. He had done it three times already and was now making sure before he raised the alarm. It was an almost perfect copy of the original and if he was not an expert in his field he would have missed the signs. He settled back against the chair and stared off into space, wondering how he was going to tell Liam Moses of the switch! He looked up as Liam strode into the office that had been loaned to him so that he could do his work. He had appraised all of the paintings in Liam’s apartment, the ones in the manor where his mother and sister resided and also the ones that had been loaned to the museum recently. He had done the appraisal a month ago and had found nothing wrong! His expression became pensive as he braced himself to tell the news.

  “Are you finished?” Liam asked, as he went to pour a cup of coffee from the dispenser in the large conference room.

  “Yes,” the man said tensely, causing Liam to look at him. Mikhail Gerard was a small, part French and part German man who always had an intense look on his lined face, his gray hair standing on end as if he was constantly combing his hair through the thin strands.

  “What is it?”