“Does your room look like this?” she asks.
“Well, it was similar to this when I was a little girl,” I admit. “Are those paper dolls?”
“Yeah, my aunt Jillian got them for me for my birthday.”
I sit on the floor next to Layla, and we get lost in the world of make-believe and paper fashions.
“I like them.”
It’s dark now, and we’re driving back to Sebastian’s house. We spent hours with Lauren and Ty and the girls, chatting and laughing. Eating delicious food. Watching the children and their antics.
“I do, too.”
“Did you see when Asa just climbed right up in my lap?”
“The kids took a shine to you,” he says with a smile. “In fact, I’d say they all did.”
“Well, the feeling is mutual. It’s nice to meet new people and make new friends. Lauren invited me to lunch, and she’s an author, Liam.”
“I know.” He smiles over at me.
“I love to read. She gave me this to start with.” I run my hands over the pretty book in my lap. “I’ll start it straight away.”
He parks his car and escorts me down to the boathouse.
I’m hoping, with all my might, that tonight is the night. Because he’s been nearby all evening, and I’ve had perpetual goose flesh. I want him to touch me and do things to me that I can’t even imagine yet.
“Would you like to come up?”
He pauses at the door, and just when I think he’s going to say no, he nods. “For a bit.”
Hello, butterflies. These are new. I’m rarely nervous around people, and certainly not around men.
But Liam is no ordinary man. He’s handsome and mysterious. And even though he laughed and was perfectly fine all evening, I could see the little bit of sadness still in his eyes.
I drop my bag on the kitchen table along with my new book and walk to the refrigerator. “Would you like something to drink?”
“No. Thanks.”
I fill a glass with water for myself. My stomach still can’t stand the idea of wine. But I need something for my suddenly dry throat.
I sit on the couch, expecting Liam to sit next to me, but he takes the chair instead.
“Thank you for allowing me to join you this evening.”
He’s watching me, his hands still on the arms of the chair.
Liam’s the most intense man I’ve ever met.
And my father is a king.
“What are you thinking?” I ask.
Liam’s lips twitch. He leans forward. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m wondering why you’re not sitting on this sofa with me.”
He licks his lips and then stands. With his eyes on mine, he slowly walks across the few feet that separate us. He doesn’t sit next to me. No, that would be too easy. Too ordinary.
And Liam is anything but ordinary.
This man takes a knee in front of me and reaches out to gently tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. His brown eyes are hot, traveling over my face. When they land on my lips, he takes a shallow breath and licks his own, making me long for him more.
His fingertips travel lightly over my skin, down to my collarbone, and then he cups my cheek in one hand and leans in to kiss me.
It’s over before it begins.
A peck on the mouth, and nothing more.
“I should go,” he says.
“Are you playing games with me?” I blurt.
He frowns. “No.”
“Liam, this is ridiculous. I’m not fifteen. I’m a woman, and you’re treating me like—”
“Like what, Ellie?” He leans in again, his eyes on mine. “How exactly would you like me to treat you?”
“You know what I want,” I whisper.
“And we’ll get there. But I’m not going to carry you into that bedroom, strip you bare, and fuck you into the mattress. You’re worth a hell of a lot more than that.”
I blink rapidly, distraught at the thought of crying in front of him.
“Don’t turn on the tears.”
“I’m not.” I shake my head. “I won’t feel ashamed for wanting you.”
“I’m not shaming you.” His hand is gentle as he cups my cheek again. “And I’m not trying to treat you like a child. I’m trying to pace myself because I want to fuck you into the mattress.”
“You do?” I sound ridiculously hopeful, even to my own ears.
He smiles, a rare expression that would knock a woman on her bum from ten paces. “I’ll be fighting the urge to come in here and do exactly that all night. But we’ll get there. Anticipation, remember?”
“I hate your bloody anticipation.”
“That makes two of us.” He kisses my forehead and then my lips again before he stands. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
He heads to the stairs.
“Liam?”
“Yeah?” He turns back expectantly.
“You know the code to the door. If you ever want to—”
“You’re killing me, Princess,” he mutters as he keeps walking to the door. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
I’m all smiles now, despite the sexual tension humming along every nerve ending. He wants me. He’s trying to be chivalrous.
“You’re leaving me?”
Nina laughs as she passes me a can of Coke from her fridge. I came over to the main house to have lunch with my brother and sister-in-law.
“Only for a couple of weeks,” Sebastian says. “We’ll be back soon.”
“Where are you going?”
“Africa,” Nina says. “I’m nervous. It’s my first time.”
“Oh, it’s lovely. You’ll enjoy it.”
I glance out the windows and see one of the patrol boats making its way to the dock.
“You know,” Nina says, “I’m surprised we haven’t had more paparazzi around. Especially with you here, Ellie.”
“No one knows I’m here,” I say and shrug. “Except the family. I’ve kept it pretty low-key. And I’m not expected at any functions until the state dinner next month.”
“We’ll be taking Charles and Nick with us,” Sebastian says. “That leaves just Liam and the ancillary staff for security here.”
“I’ll be fine. Honest. Absolutely no one knows I’m here.”
“Yet,” Nina says. “Because, eventually, someone will snap a picture of you and post it on social media.”
“I’ll stay close to home. I love it here. I’ll also stick close to Liam.”
In more ways than you know.
“See that you do,” Sebastian says, always the protective big brother.
“I won’t be naughty,” I say, lying through my teeth. “I hope you have fun in Africa.”
“Enjoy your downtime,” Nina says. “I’m sure the girls will check in on you so you won’t be lonely.”
“I’ll be fine. Wait. Will I have to cook for myself?”
Sebastian and Nina share a look. “Well, we can hire a chef to bring in your dinners if you want,” Nina says.