His head snapped up, his expression now cold. “No one.”
“I think we both know that’s not true.”
He shook his head, but said nothing.
“Liam, I can see you’re hurting. And it’s about more than just Michelle.”
“You’re wrong.”
“There’s no shame in talking about it.”
“How very New Horizons of you.”
“Well, the program has its merits. They helped me. Let me help you.”
“Kate,” he groaned, running his hand through his hair in exasperation. “We’re having a nice moment here. Why ruin it with needless talk?”
Needless talk? Boy, she knew she was stubborn, but he took the cake. “Liam, you told me you were ready to hit rock bottom. You can’t do it unless you open yourself up.”
He glared at the sheets. “Maybe this rock bottom thing isn’t such a good idea.”
“Liam…”
“Look, it’s not important.”
“You’re important.”
He stood up and gathered his clothes, frowning as if he didn’t quite believe her. “I don’t know why you’re fishing for information. You want me to tell you I had a hard life? Fine, I had a hard life. Yeah, it’s pretty sweet now but I had to work for it. I worked my ass off for it.”
“I’m not disputing that.”
He looked at the bunched up suit in his hands. “I know what you think. Nice clothes. Nice career. Fancy cars. Oh, and women. Lots of women, if I so desire. And you’re right. I can have all of it, if and when I want it.”
Ouch. She had a sneaking suspicion he’d said that to wound her. Mission accomplished. “How very nice for you.”
“It’s fucking awesome.” He twisted his hand in the wad of designer clothing. “So I don’t need you playing shrink, getting me to admit my deepest, darkest fears, and expect some kind of breakthrough. That shit only happens on TV.”
Kate was dumbstruck. What had happened? He’d turned on a dime, and all because she’d tried to help the man who’d helped her.
Yet she couldn’t help feeling he was pushing her away on purpose. She’d struck a nerve, and it made him scared. So did she let him walk away, or did she continue to probe?
Well, she’d never been the sort to accept defeat. She wouldn’t now.
She hauled her body out of the bed, ran to the door and blocked it.
“Get out of the way, Kate.”
“No.”
“I mean it.”
“No. You are going to stay here and you are going to tell me what happened to you. And I don’t mean the bullshit you’d find on a press release. I mean the real you.” She put a hand on his chest. “The real Liam.”
He stared at her, his face drawn and sad. Then he laughed in such a way her blood ran cold. Once again, he resembled the man Bridget had described, the man who got off on punishing others.
“You don’t ever wanna meet the real Liam. Trust me. Now move out of the way, Kate.”
“No,” she said, quiet but firm. “You’re trying to push me away to see if I’ll come running after you. Well, here I am. Running. What happened in the bedroom felt real. It wasn’t some random fuck. And I know you felt it, too. When you looked at me in the mirror, I felt…centered and scared all at once. I don’t understand any of it, but there it is.”
