“Hugo and I have known Liam most of his life,” she said. “He’d stay with us during the holidays, sometimes.”
“Yes.” The less I spoke, the better.
“He’s much more sensitive than people realize. It’s why Afghanistan hit him so hard.”
“I—of course.”
The scars. The box he keptshut.
“It’s good he has his focus back.” She smiled. “I think what he’s doing with Novexia will help, but it won’t be enough.”
How could buying a pharmaceutical company help with whatever had happened in Afghanistan? Was that what she meant? Nothing about this was on his CV. Just company names, wins, success.
Was it just a distraction?
It didn’t seem to fit with what she was saying.
But what else could she mean?
“Andrea—” She stopped and looked at me, her face serious. “I hope I’m not speaking out of turn, but—”
“It’s fine.” I tried to keep my voice light.
“I can sense you have some reservations,” she continued.
“I—I don’t—”
From the corner of my eye, I could see Liam trying to catch my attention. A small wave.
Please. Stay there.
“It’s understandable, Andrea,” she said. “What he’s been through. Some of the things you might have heard—”
No. I haven’t heard. Tell me, Miranda. Please.
Liam was closer now, maybe thirty feet away, weaving his way toward me.
“He’s a good man,” she said. Her eyes searched mine. I kept them focused on her, Liam’s shape approaching in my peripheral vision. “He just needs—”
“Andrea.” Liam was smiling. “Shall we take a seat?”
Chapter 33
Liam
“And how didyou and Liam meet?”
The lady across from us—Claire—had no idea of the small charge she’d just let off. We were seated in the Grand Stables, long tables running the length of the former riding hall. Two places to my left, I saw Bonnie twitch.
Andrea smiled. The official script was flowing easily, now. How many times had she done this today already?
“Oh, it’s a funny story. We actually bumped into each other—literally”—cue polite laughter—“at an event we were attending separately in London. By coincidence, I was also working at the company Liam’s business was investigating for purchase. Destiny, apparently.” More laughter.
I moved my wineglass. Looking at the faces around us, you’d never guess this was supposed to be an act. Everyone was so keen to believe the fiction—that Liam Roth had finally found the right woman and settled down. A happy ending to an otherwise unhappy story.
I hadn’t dared hope it could be more than that, but last night, sharing abedwith her, feeling her body against mine?
Fuck, it had been hard not to pull her closer.
