He smiled. “If there’s one thing I know, Kate, it’s that I’m never going to watch you walk away again. I did last time because I knew you needed a better man. I wanted to be a better man for you. But this time,” he said, his voice trembling with a low growl. “You’re mine.”
The hairs on her arms stood on end at his wonderfully-possessive tone.
“So,” he said, kissing her. “Where would you like to eat? I know some nice French restaurants, or maybe a Korean barbeque.”
Kate grinned. “How about pizza?”
Liam laughed. “I offer her swanky dining and she wants pizza. Doesn’t sound gluten-free.”
“Fuck gluten-free. Let’s get pizza.”
He folded her in his arms and buried his face in the crook of her neck. “Whatever makes you happy.”
Chapter Seventeen
An hour and a half later, Kate and Liam sat at the back of Massimo’s Pizza Parlor, polishing off the remains of a large double-cheese and pepperoni pizza. Liam sat back, stuffed, and smiled when Kate peeled the pepperonis off his discarded slice and popped them in her mouth. His cock hardened at the sight of that beautiful tongue licking her fingers with glee.
Damn. He so needed to see her naked again.
But business first. He needed to know they were on the same page before he could feel comfortable enough to lose himself in her sweet body. “So, full disclosure from now on?”
She gazed at him for a moment and then wiped her hands. “That would be awesome.”
He leaned forward and grabbed her hands, linking them with his own. “I’ve been seeing a therapist. He’s helping me comes to terms with my issues. My need to control my environment. You, Michelle, my work. God, even mychoiceof work. Do you know what one of the oldest sayings of the casino world is, Kate?”
She shook her head.
“‘The House always wins.’ That’s how I treated my life. I needed to be in charge to make up for the times I had no power.” He raised one of her hands and kissed it. “I’ve blamed myself for years for things over which I had no control. Including what happened to me while I was homeless.”
She squeezed his hand but didn’t say a word.
“I was hungry. I was cold. As a fourteen-year-old boy, I had to deal with big men who wanted to fuck me and women who wanted to buy me. To get by I lost my virginity way too young and learned it was a commodity. People were commodities. I was a commodity. It took me a long time to realize I was wrong.”
She tipped her head and gnawed on her bottom lip.
“But I was one of the lucky ones. I was smart enough to get off the streets. When I went back to Aunt Margaret’s, it was as someone who’d seen too much, someone who held grudges. I don’t want to be that person anymore.” He exhaled. “It’s still hard for me to share the details, but I’ve shared more with you than anyone else. Can you be patient with me?”
She nodded, her eyes welling up.
“Thank you.” He watched her for a moment, full of fascination and love. “There’s one more thing. I want to open a piano bar with you. A proper piano bar, all on its own. With you as the headliner.”
“I can’t accept that. I can’t let you buy me a bar to sing in.”
“I wouldn’t be. We’d be partners. You can invest as much as you like, but the papers will show we’re co-owners. Hearing you sing was the first thing to get me excited in a long time. Not opening Vice, but you. Your talent. I will walk you through every step of the process, but I want you to be my partner. There won’t be a single gaming device in the building, I promise.”
“This is Vegas. Will people even come if there isn’t a slot machine somewhere or if I don’t show my boobs?”
“Actually, I don’t want to build in Vegas. I’ve been talking to Alex. He’s pointed out some great opportunities in New York. I’d like you to come with me.”
“New York.” Kate couldn’t seem to close her jaw. “I don’t know what to say…”
“Say yes.” He bit his lip, a silent reminder to himself not to be so pushy. “Or at least say you’ll think about it.”
It took a few seconds, but soon she bobbed her head. “I want to be with you.”
“Then we’ll take it slowly and we’ll make it happen. I want to make you happy, Kate.”
“Then take me home, Liam.” Her slow smile made his heart hammer in the best of ways. “Now.”
