Page 21 of Captivated By You
“No.” The lie was bitter on my tongue and burned my throat, but I did it anyway. My heart tripped as I stared at those letters on his hand, wanting nothing more than to trace them with my fingertip. He had an entire family he loved, it was obvious in the way he spoke of them, and I was a girl who had nothing.
I’d ruin him, and I’d go to hell for it. But I could pretend for a while to be someone else, anyone else. I’d tell him at some point.
His hand on the railing loosened and then he was holding it out to me, like an offering. I turned, took his hand in mine and forced my eyes up.
I was met with seeing beautiful and calculating ice blue eyes that sent shocks of heat straight to me. “Well then, Claudia Townsend.” One side of his lips lifted into a devastatingly beautiful grin. “Liam Allistor. Nice to meet you.”
I couldn’t pull my eyes off his lips. His mouth. The way one of his teeth was slightly crooked, bent over a front tooth in the tiniest but cutest imperfection. And God. His jaw, his nose, his deep-set icy eyes that refused to look away from me.
I was a goner, at least for his body and his beauty.
“Nice to meet you, Liam.” I tripped over the words, my cheeks flushing with heat that had nothing to do with the Caribbean sun shining down on us.
No, it was pure lust and attraction kicking my butt.
He dropped my hand before I was prepared and I swayed toward him before I caught myself.
He noticed though and his gaze fell to my own mouth. It took everything I had not to swipe my tongue along my bottom lip, not to try to pull him toward me.
Good Lord, what was happening to me?
I shivered and pulled away, looked to the ocean but the bright blue on the ocean waters were nothing compared to the chilling blue in Liam’s eyes.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured. He was too close, too far away. Would I ever get off this roller coaster he’d buckled me into without warning and so quickly? I wasn’t prepared. I already knew I wouldn’t want to exit the ride.
And I’d already told my first lie.
It wouldn’t be my last.
“Perfect, polished, stunningly gorgeous.” He listed my attributes like I’d required them. I hadn’t, but I still took them. Tucked them away to a safe place. I’d replay them later with his raspy voice in my mind I couldfeelmoving closer to me.
I shook off the haze of lust. “Liam.”
“But you’re sad. Or lost or hiding. And trust me, sweetheart, I’m going to find out what it is and why, and I won’t rest until I do.”
I jumped at the threat. Turned to him and my hands curled into fists. It didn’t matter how he saw so much, I had to do a better job of hiding it. “What?”
His hand was on my cheek, fingertips brushing a chunk of my hair back and tucking it behind my ear. Adoringly. He watched his own movements and looked at me. Raked my skin with his eyes again and I felt it like he had me in his arms.
“I’m not an idiot, Claudia. You don’t want to tell me something, don’t tell me. But don’t lie to me. I fucking hate it.”
He waited a beat. Or two. My heart slammed into my ribs with a force that had to be audible. I could do nothing but stare at him.
Then he dropped his hand from mine and stepped back, rubbing the back of his neck, like he did so often. Nervous tick, maybe? I didn’t care.
I so cared.
He turned and pulled open the door to the bedroom with more force than necessary. “I’ll give you time to get settled. There’s a closet and dresser full of clothes for you. Help yourself and I’ll get food ready.”
Then he was gone, leaving me alone.
“Crap,” I whispered into the humid air and turned back to the ocean. “You made a mess of that, Claudia.”
The view had no answer for me. No vocal advice to give me as I stared at the waters, them seeming less beautiful when all I could see was the disappointment in Liam’s eyes.
What did it matter? He was paying me. I was playing a part. There weren’t emotions involved in this.
I couldn’t let there be.
“Stay focused,” I murmured. “And then be free to do whatever the heck you want.”
I nodded once. As far as pep talks went, it sucked, but it was all I had. I left the view of the ocean and returned to my room. I’d dressed in linen shorts for the trip and they were now wrinkly from the airplane ride. I wanted a quick shower, a change of clothes, and a few moments to pull myself together.
Then I’d head down to the kitchen and tell the truth. Coming from me would be better than hearing it from someone else.
