Me: How was your day?
He responded a few seconds later.
Liam: Taken up with thoughts of you.
I smiled at the screen.
Me: Can’t wait for tomorrow.
Liam: Me either. It’s late. You need to sleep,astéri mou.
He’d never called me anything but Quinn. Since I didn’t speak a word of Greek, I immediately searched the term on the internet. He’d called me “my star.” Heat radiated through my chest, and a smile stole over my face.
Me: I couldn’t sleep until I talked to you.
Liam: I hate that you’re so far away and I can’t show you what your words do to me.
Me: Tomorrow.
Liam: Tomorrow.
Putting my phone down on the kitchen island, I pulled on my pajamas, the smile still on my face.
Vlad’s handon mine stopped me from getting out of the car. I knew this talk was coming. Had been surprised it hadn’t happened already.
“Are you sure this is the right thing to do?”
“It’s the only thing that makes sense. I’ve never felt like this about anyone. And if I don’t see where it goes, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”
“You barely know him. His family aside, he’s the most dangerous man in Chicago right now.”
Nothing he said was new information. I was going into this with my eyes wide open. They said love made you blind. In my case, it didn’t make me blind; it made me reckless.
“I’m not giving up my life. I’m taking a break. I know the restaurant is in good hands with you and Amara.”
He looked down, his face pinched. “I wish you’d reconsider.”
“I can’t.” The need to be with Liam overrode anything else.
“Then promise you won’t forget that I’ll always be there for you. If you need me to get you, call. No matter what time.”
Hugging him, I kissed his cheek. “I don’t know what I did to deserve a friend as loyal as you, but I’m keeping you. And don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
He waved me off, and I disappeared inside the sliding glass doors, Pete right behind me. He’d ridden in the car with us, much to Vlad’s disgust. But since he was still following me, it made sense.
Check-in was a quick process, since I only had carry-on luggage. When I was standing in front of the gate, it all hit me at once. I was going to see Liam again. All my fears that we’d only get one night disappeared, replaced with happy butterflies. I felt lighter than I had in days, my thoughts scattered, too excited to think straight.
A woman with a tight bun and business suit approached me. “Miss? I’m Mary and will be your flight assistant today. Please come with me. Your plane is this way.”
My plane?“You must have me mistaken for someone else.”
“Are you Quinn Lombardo?”
“Yes?” I sounded like I didn’t know my own name. But this was all too strange. I looked at Pete who gave me a nod. I guess if he wasn’t worried, I shouldn’t be either.
“Then you’re the person I’m looking for.” She held her arm out to the side, indicating a side door. “It’s through here.”
Stunned and entirely too trusting of strangers, I followed her through the passcode-protected door and into a stairway. There was a golf cart waiting for us once we reached the bottom.
