“What?” she said.
“Who are you and what have you done with Cerise?”
“What do you mean?”
“You just swiped my beer. And drank after me.”
She straightened. “Oh. I did. I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
I laughed. “Don’t apologize. It’s nice to know you aren’t always so put together.”
“I’m too hot to care right now. It’s sweltering out here.” She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and dabbed at her neck and chest.
Fuck, that’s sexy. No, Liam. Stop it.
“The heat and humidity here are torturous. A cold shower sounds perfect right about now. Or,” I said, mischievously, “we can sneak off and take a dip in that little pool that’s not far off.”
“What? Absolutely not. I will not ‘take a dip’ with you.”
“Another time then,” I said, then offered the beer again. “More?”
She sighed and took the drink. “Thank you.”
“Cerise?”
“Yes?”
“About earlier…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply…I don’t think you’re boring.”
She was quiet for a moment, searching the treetops and not meeting my gaze. “Apology accepted. I may have…overreacted a little. The topic of Ambrose isn’t my favorite.”
I quirked a brow. “The topic of Ambrose. So there’s a story there, then?”
She chewed her lip, still looking away as she took another long swig of beer. “He’s my…we were in a relationship.”
Well,thatwasn’t what I expected to hear. “Oh?”
“Yes.Oh.”
“He’s an asshole.”
“Well aware,” she said with disdain.
“Why did you date him if you so obviously despise the man?”
She toyed with her braid over her shoulder. “My mother introduced us.”
“So?”
She turned to me. “You don’t say no to Anya Thornheart.”
“Ah, so this was a career move then. How long were you two together?”
“About a year.” She paused. “And it wasn’t a career move. I did like him at first. But yes…there was pressure from my mother because of his status. Whatever. It’s complicated.”
“Who ended it?” I was genuinely curious—and admittedly slightly concerned she would tolerate someone so terrible for a year. Maybe he was a good partner behind closed doors.
“I did.”
