After Emily’s stint in the HR clinic, from what I can gauge she’s been acting unprofessionally to Daniel in the office, who has now demanded she be demoted citing that she’s a professional liability who can’t meet performance standards.
Just another shining example of my colleagues being unable to keep it in their pants at the office.
But who am I to talk?
Just as the doors are about to close, a hand shoots out, forcing them back open. Liam.
My heart does a dance in my chest as he settles in beside me, giving me a nod.
One of the executive board members, Rubert, squeezes in too, because apparently this lift is the place to be today.
“Liam,” Rubert booms, his voice entirely too loud for enclosed spaces. “I haven’t seen you all day. How did the sailing trip go? I heard it was quite the adventure.”
I tense up like I’ve been tasered. As if everyone knows what happened between Liam and me on that boat. As if Rubert’s only asking because he’s privy to the sordid details of our little tryst.
“It was eventful,” Liam says evenly, his expression giving nothing away. “We didn’t win but it proved a worthwhile networking opportunity nevertheless.”
“Yes, yes, I heard you were neck and neck with Alastair right up until the final stretch!” Rubert continues. “Must have been quite the physical challenge, eh?”
A muscle ticks slightly in Liam’s jawline. “We certainly didn’t hold anything back,” he agrees, his voice low and smooth.
I feel my face flush even hotter. Didn’t hold anything back indeed.
“And what about you, Gemma?” Rubert asks, turning his attention to me. “Did you enjoy the experience? I’m sure it was quite the ride.”
I cough slightly, and Liam lifts a brow. I don’t know why I’m reacting like this. It’s not like Rubert is asking if I enjoyed getting railed by Liam McLaren in front of Liam McLaren.
But damn if it doesn’t feel that way.
I try to compose myself, but it’s hard when vivid flashbacks of me straddling Liam assault my brain.
“It was . . . good.” The struggle to maintain a politely bland expression is very real. “An educational opportunity overall, though not necessarily one I plan to repeat any time soon.”
Liam’s eyes narrow. “Educational,” he repeats, his tone neutral. “That’s one word for it.”
He clearly doesn’t like my choice of phrasing, and a petty, immature part of me feels a thrill of victory. Take that, you emotionally constipated bastard. After the way he verbally eviscerated me earlier, I can’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction at getting under his skin.
I turn away from him, plastering on a smile for Mary.
The thing is, Liam isn’t even acting weird after our nautical nookie session. It’s like it didn’t rattle him at all. And maybe that’s what annoys me the most, because I’m finding it difficult to do the same.
When I glance up, I catch Liam watching me through the elevator reflection.
Thankfully, the elevator chooses that moment to finally reach the ground floor, dinging cheerfully as the doors slide open. I stride out as relaxed as I can.
It’s not even the end of my first day back in the office following the squirty sailing debacle, and I’m already a rambling mess around Liam. Who am I kidding? There’s no way I’m going to be able to maintain this whole unaffected ice queen facade.
CHAPTER 28
Liam
“I think we havea spy,” Gemma says as she stands on the other side of my desk, anger and determination swirling in her eyes in a way that shouldn’t be as attractive as it is.
She’s wearing that damn blue dress again. The one that makes me want to forget I own the company.
I resist the urge to vault over my desk and close the distance between us. I need that barrier.
What happened between us on that boat . . . it’s uncharted territory.
