My stomach flipped at the grin he sent our way, and my heart rate picked up speed. His hair was a touch darker than normal, still damp from a recent shower most likely, and he wore a flannel shirt that brought out the green in his hazel eyes and hinted at the muscles I knew lay beneath. I swallowed. Hard.
Jensen returned his grin. “We are free from the hell of inventory. And this one”—she inclined her head towards me—“is all yours.”
I had the instant urge to study my shoes.
Liam shut the door to his SUV and headed in our direction. “You’re welcome to join us.” He held up a bag. “I’ve got cookies and creamandcookie dough.”
Jensen shook her head. “I’ve got to get home and relieve my babysitter.” Her brow furrowed. “Aren’t those basically the same flavor?”
Liam clutched his chest and let out a mock gasp. “That is sacrilege. These are two totally unique yet equally wonderful forms of ice cream.”
Jensen rolled her eyes and turned to me. “I’ll leave you to debate ice cream with the cookie monster over there.” She pulled me into a gentle hug, and I didn’t flinch. Jensen had been doing this more and more since our heart-to-heart. For the first time in more than two years, I felt like I had a real friend again.
I squeezed her back. “Tell Noah I said hi.”
“Will do.” Jensen headed for her own SUV and took off into the night.
Liam crossed to me, tugging on the hem of my shirt and drawing me to him. My body seemed to tingle at the contact, the pressure of being flush against him. “Hey.” He brushed his lips against mine, and I sank into the kiss. His tongue slid between my lips, teasing, caressing, and then taking. His free hand slipped beneath the fall of my hair, and he tipped my head back, granting him better access.
Far too soon, he pulled back, gasping. “You pack one hell of a punch.”
I scowled. “I’m not sure that I want my kisses to punch you.”
Liam chuckled. “It’s a good thing. Trust me.” He kissed my temple. “Come on, let’s get inside before this ice cream melts.”
“Can’t have that.”
Liam held open the door for me. “No, we can’t.”
We locked the back door and headed up to my apartment. Just as we walked in, Liam’s phone began to ring. He pulled it from his pocket and grimaced, tapping the screen. “Hey, Jim. Hold on a sec.” Liam covered the bottom of his phone and looked at me. “It’s my lawyer. I need to see what he wants.”
I set Jensen’s laptop on my bed and gave Trouble, who was curled up on my blanket, a scratch under his chin. “Of course. Want me to put the ice cream in the freezer?”
“Nope, I’ve got it.” Liam gave me a quick kiss and headed for the kitchen, stowing the ice cream in the freezer. “I’m back. What’s up?”
Liam and his lawyer started to get into some heavy legal issues from what I could tell from the side of the conversation I could hear, and it sounded like it might take a while. I sat down on my bed and opened the laptop.
Clicking on the internet browser, I started sifting through search results. There were hundreds, maybe thousands, and I soon lost myself in the other woman’s story. Her triumphs and her heartbreaking end.
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I read an interview with her parents. They begged for information. When the subject of Garrett Abrams came up, they were careful not to open themselves up to what might later be called slander, but they clearly weren’t convinced that Garrett had nothing to do with their daughter’s disappearance.
“What’s the story with this girl? Who is she to you?”
I jumped at the sound of Liam’s voice and slammed the laptop closed. I hadn’t even heard him come up behind me. “It’s nothing.”
Liam’s expression shuttered. “Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not.” I tucked the computer under my crossed legs.
“It makes it even worse to double down on the lie. I’m not an idiot. You’re looking into this girl’s disappearance for a reason. I thought we were past you lying to cover things up.”
My spine straightened. “It’s none of your business.”
Liam ran a hand through his hair, tugging on the ends. “At least I know that’s what you really think.” He began to pace the small apartment space. “I keep thinking you’ve let me in, but you haven’t. Only little pieces that you’re either forced into sharing or things you think are safe enough to share. What is it going to take for you to trust me?”
The anger that had begun to bubble to the surface at Liam’s accusation deflated. “You’re right. It was a lie. I’m sorry. It’s habit more than anything. I just… You don’t know how hard this is for me.” I met his gaze, pleading for him to understand. “I’ve trusted you with more than I ever thought I’d be able to. It’s going to take time for me to get used to lowering my walls. I’ve worked so hard to reinforce them, making them as strong as possible so that no one could ever hurt me again. I’m going to have to get used to letting people past them. But you have to let me go at my own pace.”
The tightness in Liam’s frame seemed to ease, and he crossed to the bed, sitting and wrapping an arm around me. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” He kissed my temple. “I was already frustrated from talking to my lawyer, and I just want to make things easier for you, share your burdens. But you need to do that when you’re comfortable, not because I badgered you into it.”
