After Liam showed me to the guest room, and I bathed, I changed into my own clothes. Not wanting to walk around in my usual leggings and t-shirt, I’m wearing one of the outfits I bought for work.
On a Saturday.
Which I’m spending with my boss.
Yeah, it’s crazy.
When I come down the stairs, it’s to find Liam in the kitchen, sizzling steak filling the air with a delicious aroma.
“Can I help?”
Liam glances at me, does a double-take, then stares at me. His eyes narrow. “That top looks familiar.”
The bags he saw at Dad’s. “Ah, I wore it to work before,” I lie through my teeth.
He nods, then turns his attention back to the steak.
“So…” I walk closer, and resting my elbow on the counter, I place my chin in my hand, “anything I can help with?”
He shakes his head but then says, “You can pour the wine.” He gestures to a wine cooler that’s been built into the kitchen. “You choose.”
I know nothing about wines. Opening the door, I peek over the selection then take the bottle nearest to me. “I have a question.” I set the bottle down on the marble top.
“Let me have it.”
“You said you don’t consume anything you didn’t prepare yourself, but you drink wine?”
Liam lets out a chuckle. “I figure the alcohol kills any germs there might be.”
My lips curve up into a smile. “Makes sense.” I point at the bottle. “I’ve never opened one. Can you help?”
He wipes his hands on a paper towel, and taking a wine opener from a drawer, he makes quick work of pulling the cork out.
I glance around the kitchen, and finding wine glasses, I take two and pour some wine into them.
Liam plates the food, steak and salad, then nods in the direction of the balcony. “Let’s eat out there.”
I carry the glasses outside and place them on a coffee table. A similar leather suite as the one in the living room is situated between potted plants, the view spectacular from up here.
Sitting down, I take a plate from Liam. “Thank you. It looks delicious.” Cutting a piece of the steak, I pop it into my mouth, and after chewing for a couple of seconds, my eyes drift closed. “God, this is really good.”
“Glad you like it.” We stare at the view of the city while eating, and only when I relax with the glass of wine in my hand, my stomach full and happy, do I ask, “Where did you go for your vacation?”
Liam swallows the sip of wine he just took, then answers, “I had some business to take care of in Vancouver and Toronto, then visited my Uncle in Finland.”
“Do your parents live here in Chicago?”
He shakes his head. “My mother passed when I was eleven. My father remarried and has been traveling the world since.”
“I’m sorry about your mom.”
“She’s in a better place,” he murmurs before taking another sip. A frown forms on his forehead, then he asks, “What about your father? I should arrange protection for him.”
Oh shit.
I shake my head quickly. “Ah, no, he’s away on business.”
“Good.”
I down half the glass of wine to settle my nerves.
Steering the conversation away from our families, I ask, “What do you usually do on your weekends?”
“Work.”
I really want him to tell me about the mafia. Honestly, I’m curious how it fits in with Byrne Enterprises.
“But the office is closed over weekends.”
“Doesn’t mean I stop working.”
Damn, that’s true.
Suddenly my thoughts turn down a dark path, flashes from last night bombarding me once again.
I breathe through the chaotic emotions, taking gulps of the wine, hoping it will ease the trauma.
“You okay?” Liam murmurs.
I nod. “Yeah. It comes in waves.” I suck in a deep breath, then force a smile to my face so he won’t worry.
We sit in silence for a couple of minutes, then feeling brave from the glass of wine that’s almost empty, I ask, “If you don’t like being touched, does that mean you don’t do relationships?”
Yep. I just asked that, but getting to know Liam is a distraction I desperately need.
“Yes.”
My heart drops to my stomach. “Like ever?” My eyebrow pops up. “So, no intimacy.”
Shut up, woman.
An amused smile tugs at Liam’s mouth. “I’m not celibate, Kiara.” I finish the last of the wine in my glass, then he says, “But I’ve never been in a relationship.”
Shrugging, I murmur, “As long as you’re happy, it’s all that matters at the end of the day.”
“And you?”
My eyes widen. “Me?”
“Boyfriends? Celibacy?” Then he raises an eyebrow. “Virgin?”
“Ah… none of the above.” Reaching for the bottle, I refill our glasses.
The wine keeps flowing, stoking my bravery which I’ll probably regret tomorrow. “So, how does kissing work with you? Or do you just not do it?”
Liam watches me closely, his grin becoming hotter by the second. “You’re just full of questions, aren’t you?”
“Curious by nature.” And this is helping to keep my mind occupied.
His teeth scrape over his bottom lip, drawing my attention to his mouth. “I don’t kiss. It’s too personal.”
Such a pity.
Taking a deep breath, I glance at the setting sun. Minutes pass, and looking back at Liam, it’s to catch him staring at me.
“Penny for your thoughts,” I murmur, a comfortable atmosphere weaving around us that acts as a soothing balm.
“I’m wondering how you’re holding up after last night.”
My eyes lower to the glass in my hand, and I swirl the blood-red liquid. “I’m okay.” Lifting my gaze back to Liam’s, I admit, “I feel unsettled. You know… as if life’s a little off balance.” He nods, and I continue. “Things could’ve been so much worse, so I’m counting my blessings instead of letting it drag me down.” At least, I’m trying to not let it overwhelm me. I shrug. “Yeah, I’m rattled, and it was horrible, but I don’t want to think about it.” I force a smile to my face. “Plus, being in good company helps.”
A lot.
I think if I was alone, I would’ve dealt with it differently.
I’d probably still be trembling in a corner, crying my eyes out.
I stare at the view again, lost in thought, until Liam says, “Ask more questions. I don’t like it when you’re quiet.”
A smile spreads over my face. “Oh, you’re brave. I have no filter.”
His lips curve up, the grin hot as sin. “Let me have it.”
“Did you start Byrne Enterprises or inherited it?”
“I started the company when I was eighteen.”
“So, did you always want to be in construction?”
Liam glances away, thinking before he answers, “It just came naturally.”
Along with being the head of the mafia.
“Byrne is Irish, right?”
He nods. “Third-generation in Chicago.”
“Explains why you don’t have an accent.”
My mind races for appropriate questions, but the only ones I can think of might offend him or give away that I know he’s involved with the mafia.
“When was your last relationship?” he suddenly asks.
“Gosh, let me think.” I count the months, then an eyebrow lifts. “Damn, it’s been two years.” I playfully narrow my eyes at him. “I like how you just assume I’m not in a relationship right now.”
“You wouldn’t be sitting here if you were.”
Good point.
Liam seems to be deep in thought, then he smiles at me. “You’re a different person now than when you’re at the office.”
“In what way?”
“You’re skittish at the office.”
My happy bubble pops, and I scowl at the wine glass. “That was because of you-know-who.” Reaching for the bottle, I empty it into our glasses.
After a sip, I ask, “Devon will be back on Monday, right?”
“He should.” Liam surprises me when he admits, “I’m going to miss having you as an assistant, though.”
“I’ll still make coffee for you,” I joke.
It starts to get chilly, and Liam gets up, saying, “Let’s head inside.”
I help him carry the dishes to the kitchen, and not in the mood to finish the wine, I place the glass in the sink. “I’ll do the dishes.” I turn around just as Liam reaches past me to put his own glass in the sink, and I bump into his chest. His left hand grips hold of my hip, so I don’t stagger back. One of my hands land on his arm, the other pressed flat against his solid chest. Trapped between the counter and Liam, my eyes dart up to his.
Sweet Jesus.
Instantly, the atmosphere begins to sizzle with the same electric feeling from earlier. We stare for the longest moment, the tension building until it hums over my skin.
Just as he begins to lower his head, his phone rings.
“Fuck,” he growls, then yanking the device out of his pocket, he says, “This better be important.” As if hit by an invisible fist, he staggers a step back, then snaps, “I’m on my way. Don’t leave his side.”
“Finn?”
Liam shakes his head, and grabbing hold of my hand, he starts to pull me toward the elevator. “One of my men is in the hospital.”
“Oh no.”
On the ride down to the basement, it’s clear Liam’s very upset. I just hold his hand, thinking it’s my turn to support him.
It doesn’t escape my attention that Liam really cares about the people who work for him. I’ve never heard of a boss rushing to the hospital, because one of his employees got hurt.
He’s so caring.
