“The lights. Why the hell did you take me here?”
“Because I wondered if I could find something in you that was even likeable. Else pretending to be in love with you is going to be too fucking hard for even me to pretend.”
For some reason his words cut.
“If you can’t pretend then back the hell away from the property and give me a fair shot at it.” I was pretty sure I could convince Seph getting married was a good idea. I moved further away from Liam, needing to shift from the heat he was radiating. Not wanting to be close.
This time it was him who moved away. “I’ll drive us back.”
It was the longest drive, every mile taken in silence and all the while I could feel the heat radiating off him; not heat from passion but from anger.
“Let me know tomorrow whether you still want to work together to secure the property.” I didn’t look at him as I said the words, the slam of my car door the punctuation.
Liam didn’t say anything. He didn’t even look at me, walking away into the hotel with his back so straight and stubborn.
I froze and it had nothing to do with the temperature.
For a moment, I didn’t give a shit that I might not get the building. That wasn’t the reason for the churning in my stomach. I just didn’t want to consider what was.
* * *
Eight o’clock in the morning was a perfectly reasonable time to be hammering on the door of your best friend, especially when her husband was a notoriously early riser and would likely be at the gym.
Today though, he wasn’t, and Jackson was still trying to adjust his sweat pants when he answered the door.
“Shit.”
He shook his head and opened the door. Vanessa was opening the patio doors, a hotel dressing gown pulled around her, trying to rid the room of the smell of sex.
“You really need to stop saying that word.” Vanessa went on to half make the bed. “Think of another. And not the eff word.”
“I thought Jackson would be at the gym.”
I didn’t bother apologising for interrupting. There was no point.
“That’s where I’m off now.” He yanked on a top. “Second work out of the morning.” He winked at Van.
I shook my head.
“What’s up?” Vanessa’s focus became solely on me as the door closed behind Jackson. “You have that agitated, twitchy look you never get unless something’s about to get crazy.”
“I think I fucked up.”
“You’re going to have to give me more than that. Fucked up what?”
“You know about the fake engagement thing…” There was no way, given the Callaghan grapevine, that she wouldn’t have heard about the incident in the pool.
“And that you left to go somewhere with Liam and no one saw you since. Yes, heard all about that from Seph. He may start a search party for you later. At least that was what he was threatening when my phone woke me up buzzing about an hour ago.” She handed her phone to me, unlocking it. I scrolled up to where this morning’s messages started.
Seph:Is anyone else awake?
Seph:Seriously, anyone up, or are you all just ignoring me like normal?
Ava:I was trying to ignore you, but you kept messaging me photos of your toe. I really really don’t need to see your feet. Ever. It’s bad enough they exist.
Payton:Turn your phone off or on night mode or something. And I’m following my own advice in future. This is way too early to be awake.
Jackson:For those of us who have kids, our phones don’t have night mode. This had better be urgent, Joseph.
