“I didn’t know that,” I truthfully admit.
“I researched the area after I decided to base myself in Brooklyn, and I rented this place mostly because of the balcony and those views,” he says, jerking his head to the side where a large balcony juts out from the building overlooking the water and the bridge. “Pity it’s too cold for outdoor eating.” His arm winds around my shoulders while mine aches a little from holding the bag laden with ingredients. “We’ll eat outside in the summer. I’m hoping you’ll be living here by then.”
My brow arch is natural, and he chuckles. “In case it’s not obvious, I’m serious about you, Emma. Very serious.” His fingers sweep over my cheeks. “I put in an offer to buy this place today. Made it so the owner won’t refuse.”
“Wow. You don’t waste time.”
“Life is for living.” He swats my ass and waggles his brows.
I work hard not to slap him. “I need to get started, or we’ll be eating dinner at midnight.”
“Knock yourself out, sexy.” He points toward the kitchen. “I have some work to finish so I’ll leave you to it.”
He walks off, disappearing into a hallway, as I head to the kitchen tucked at the rear of the main living space. He didn’t even offer to give me a grand tour. His manners suck, and I don’t think much of how his mother raised him. My mom would berate my brothers if they ever treated their girls like this.
Shucking out of my coat, I place it and my purse on the back of a high stool and set about unpacking my supplies on the large island unit. I switch the oven on before walking off in search of the bathroom, purely so I can locate where Liam is and get mybearings. I leave my shoes in the kitchen and pad in my bare feet down the hallway that leads to the rest of the apartment.
Quietly, I open each door, finding a couple of guest bedrooms, a small home gym, and a family bathroom. I take pictures of everything with my camera pen. Muffled voices can be heard coming from the door of the last room on the right. That must be his office. I inch the door open on the left, poking my head inside what is obviously his master suite. I’m tempted to snoop now, but it’s too risky when he’s in the room across the hallway even if he appears to be occupied on a call.
I press my ear to the office door, but I can’t hear anything. I make a mental note to ask Joshua if we have any kind of tech device that can penetrate walls.
There was lengthy debate over whether I should bug Liam’s place, but it was deemed way too dangerous. Most made men regularly check for surveillance equipment, and we can’t risk Liam discovering one. His list of suspects would be short, and I’d most likely come out on top. So, for now, we’re not planting any bugs.
I tiptoe back to the kitchen and get started on our meal, compiling the apple tart first and getting it in the oven. Then I work on the carrot and coriander soup and the shepherd’s pie. I decided to cook him an Irish meal in the hopes it will impress him and garner more trust. His comment about me moving in took me by surprise, but I’m not unhappy. This is working out perfectly. Now, if I can just get the intel I need so I can cut him out of my life sooner than later that would be the cherry on top of the cake.
When the apple tart is cooling, the soup is simmering, and the pie is in the oven, I make him an Irish coffee using a bottle of JD I find in his liquor cupboard, and I head toward his office.
I knock on his door and wait for him to call me inside. “I thought you might like a drink.” I smile as I walk toward him.Papers are strewn across the desk, and I’m itching to go through them, but I keep my eyes fixed on him as I walk around the desk and set the tall glass mug down in front of him. He flicks a button on his keypad, and the screen saver appears on the large desktop Mac. “Dinner will be ready in thirty minutes.” I lean in to kiss his cheek.
I yelp when he pulls me down on his lap, narrowly avoiding elbowing the drink and spilling it. “I really like having you here,” he says before slamming his mouth down on mine. He grabs my ass, holding me in place, and I feel his disgusting erection growing underneath me. I kiss him passionately as I slip my pen from the pocket of my dress and discreetly take pics of his desk. “Damn,” he says, breaking our lip-lock and nuzzling my neck. “You make me so horny.” He thrusts his hips up. “I need to fuck you, baby.”
“Patience.” I press my lips to his to distract him while I slip the pen back into my pocket. “I told you I’m not that kind of girl. I don’t hop into bed with just anyone.”
“I like that about you.” He runs his hand up my back and fists it around my hair, tugging my head back a little. “I like you’re not a slut, but I have needs, baby, and if you won’t service them, I’ll find someone who will.”
“Go fuck yourself, Liam.” I struggle against him, trying to get free, but he tightens his hold on my hair. “Let me go.” I let my anger flow freely because Emma wouldn’t tolerate such blatant manipulation and disrespect. “If I’m only a fuck toy to you, we might as well end this right now. I’m going home.”
“Don’t be so sensitive.” He squeezes my ass with his free hand. “You should be proud I’m so hot for you.”
“I don’t know what kind of women you’re used to, Liam, but I won’t be spoken to like this by anyone. Now get your fucking hands off me. You’ve ruined the mood, and the last thing I feellike doing now is eating dinner with you.” I shoot daggers at him, gripping his arms tight when he doesn’t budge.
“Don’t go.” He softens his tone. “I didn’t mean to piss you off. I just want you. Is that so bad?”
“You can’t rush me, Liam, and threatening to fuck someone else because I won’t put out is hurtful and disrespectful.” I have zero doubt he’s fucking other women behind my back and he’ll continue to do so for the entire time we’re dating. It’s second nature to arrogant dickheads like him. “We’ve only been dating a month. I really like you, Liam. This feels serious between us already, but I won’t let any man push me before I’m ready. I thought you understood that?”
A heavy sigh escapes his lips, but he finally frees my hair and loosens his tight grip on my ass. “I do, and I’m trying to be patient, but it’s hard.”
“Try harder.” I lock eyes with him in a brief stare-off.
“Okay, but I won’t wait forever, Emma.”
God, he’s insufferable. “I won’t make you,” I lie. I slide off his lap. “I’m going to set the table and you should drink your Irish coffee before it goes cold.”
I subtly scan his office as I make my exit, blowing him a kiss before I close the door. I wait a couple minutes until I hear him on another call, and then I take a calculated risk and slip inside his master suite.
I snap pictures of his king bed dressed in black silk sheets and the two samurai swords crossed and mounted to the wall over the bed. Slowly, I open the drawers of each bedside table, quickly inspecting the contents, but it’s nothing of importance. Then I check out his en suite bathroom and his closet, looking for any boxes that might be hidden underneath or over the wardrobes, but I find nothing. The only discovery is a safe with a lock hidden behind a framed picture on a side wall in his bedroom.
Ducking out of his room, I close his door super slowly, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I tiptoe down the hallway and back to the kitchen. My breathing levels out after a few minutes, and I breathe a sigh of relief I got away with it.
