"You're just being overly cautious because you're being burned on this real estate deal." Liam motioned around the tower. "We should be in control of some baseline of our production."
"I'm not moving out to the country," I said flatly.
"Harrogate is only two hours outside of New York City," he countered.
"I don't care," I said. "I'm not moving out there. Areyouvolunteering to move?"
"I can travel back and forth," Liam said.
"What does Greg say?" I asked.
"We have to present a united front. You know he and Hunter don't get along all that well. I don't want Greg to perceive it as some sort of weird power play. You know how paranoid he can be."
"I don't know if I can survive Christmas and deal with a temper tantrum from Greg. I'm already on thin ice with him over this real estate deal," I told Liam.
Liam looked a little disappointed, but I said, "Why don't we hash out some more details, then we can really pitch it and sell him on it."
"Yes! This is going to be great!" Liam said as he grinned and pumped his fist.
"I bet you start singing a different tune once you're stuck out there with all your younger brothers. How many half-brothers do you have out there anyway?"
"I think it's like close to fifty," Liam said. "The older ones go off to college, but my father keeps shipping the younger male children across the country."
"There's nothing anyone can do about your father?" I asked. As bad as my parents were, they paled in comparison to the Svenssons' father. The man should have been locked up.
"Hunter has been trying. He and Greg report my father to the authorities every other month, it seems. The state, of course, says my father can raise his kids however he wants. They have running water and beds, so the state doesn't care beyond that." Liam looked frustrated. I knew his family was a sore subject for him.
"Change of topic?"
"Yes, please," Liam said then waggled his eyebrows. "Let's talk about Chloe. How are you going to have her wrapped and waiting under your tree? Have you even tried to make yourself enticing? It's such a tragedy that you have absolutely no game."
"I don't want to drive her away," I admitted.
"You really like her," Liam said.
"She made me special cookies."
"Chloe made you special cookies? What does that mean?"
I showed him the box.
"You're eating cookies?" Liam waved a hand in front of my face. "Where is Jack Frost, and what have you done with him?"
"You don't understand," I said. "These cookies are amazing! They're salty and melt in your mouth."
Liam took a cookie. I resisted the urge to snatch it out of his hand. He ate the cookie, and his eyes closed. "This is amazing."
"Right?" He reached for another. "Okay, that's enough," I said, taking the box from him.
"Now I see why you like her," Liam told me, dusting the powdered sugar off his hands. "As much as I want to stay here and eat Chloe's food, I have to go."
"Have a hot date?" I asked him.
Liam barked out a laugh. "Hardly. I'm too busy. No, unfortunately, I have to meet Greg. Not here," he said in response to my concerned face. I couldn't face Greg Svensson today. "It's something about some Holbrook drama he's caught up with."
"That man has his fingers in every pie in this city."
After Liam left, I wandered around the penthouse. I felt restless. All the talk of Chloe had sent my thoughts barreling back to last night when she was here in my kitchen, cooking, baking, and making insane noises while she melted like butter in my arms.
