Lila rolled her head around her neck. “There’s no point. It was years ago. I’m sure Brian could care less now.”
“He was shaken when he saw you the other day. I get the feeling things may not be as finished as you think. Maybe with the passing of time, he might be willing to listen to the truth. If not, maybe you two can at least find some kind of closure.”
“Brian Lockwood is my past. Sometimes, it’s best to keep things there.” Lila pulled her hands away from Colby’s and shook them out. She pasted on a fake smile. “I don’t want to be a downer. You’re going on a date for the first time since breaking it off with Derrick. Knowing how closed off you can be, that’s a big deal.”
“It’s not a date,” Colby said. “I already told you, Liam and I just need to figure some things out.”
“You and Liam don’t need to figure anything out. Brian is your boss, not Liam. So, what is this really all about if it’s not really a date?”
After Lila just bared her soul, Colby really couldn’t hold back. “He kissed me today.”
Lila’s eyes went wide. “Oh shit! How was it?”
Colby’s eyes rolled back into her head. “It made my toes curl.”
“That good?”
“God, yes.”
“So, you are going to let him dust off a few cobwebs.” Lila laughed through her pain.
“Lord, I hope not.” Colby heard the doubt in them, then said her words more firmly. “No. I’m not. I can’t.”
“C’mon. Stop playing this cat-n-mouse game. For heaven’s sake, why not?”
“I told you! Plus, I’m racing in two weeks.”
“So?”
“So,” Colby drew out the word, “sleeping with him could ruin the career I don’t even have yet.”
“Why go to dinner? It’s not exactly a good keep your distance strategy.”
“Liam is always around and,” Colby bit her lower lip, “we are so attracted to each other. It’s almost like the attraction has a mind of its own. When I tell myself no, everything else says yes. I think it’s the same for him; only he doesn’t seem to mind.”
“Liam doesn’t really have anything to lose.”
“Exactly! So, tonight we are going to discuss how to navigate this possible train wreck.”
“Have you thought about just having sex? Getting it out of both your systems?”
Colby frowned. “I can’t imagine having sex for that reason.”
Lila shrugged. “It’s not like he doesn’t get you all hot and bothered, and it’s been known to work.”
Before Colby could respond, the doorbell rang. It was seven on the dot.
“I think that might be your date.” Lila stressed the last word. “And he’s right on time. I do believe Mr. Lockwood might be a little anxious to get between those chocolaty thighs.” Lila laughed out loud.
Colby faked glared. “You’re a mess.” She hugged her, then pulled back slightly. “Are you good? I could cancel.”
“No, you will not. I’m fine.”
“Okay. Well, I’ll see you in a few hours.”
Lila doubted it. “Right. I’m sure I’ll see you after breakfast tomorrow. Have a really good time. I mean a really really good time.”
Chapter 17
Colby’s stomach started doing summersaults the moment she heard the doorbell. She sucked in a deep breath to steady her nerves and calmly walked over to the door.
“Good evening, Ms. James. I’m here to escort you to the LUXE hotel for your dinner with Mr. Lockwood.”
Colby was surprised and a little disappointed to find Liam’s overly large personal assistant on the other side of the door and not him. “Markos, right?”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“Thank you. I thought Liam was going to pick me up?”
“He was detained on a business call. He sends his apologies.”
Colby waved to Lila and walked out of the house. “Liam really didn’t have to send you. He could have just called. I live five minutes away from the hotel and could have driven myself.”
Markos opened the car door. “Mr. Lockwood wanted to make sure you arrived safely.”
Colby smirked. “If I had to translate that, it would probably mean something like your boss is a control freak.”
Markos tried to suppress a grin. “He’s definitely particular.” Colby slid into the back. Once she was settled, Markos got in the front passenger seat and instructed the driver to go.
Colby could deny it to everyone else, but she couldn’t lie to herself. She was nervous and found it hard to be still. She crossed her legs, uncrossed them, only to cross them again. Colby tried to remember the last time she’d felt this way but couldn’t.
On the way to the hotel, she changed her mind about having dinner with Liam at least twenty times. Just as the hotel came into sight, she opened her mouth to ask that they turn the car around, but the words wouldn’t come.
Finally, the car stopped in front of the hotel’s entrance. “No turning back now,” she murmured.
Like clockwork, Markos got out of the car. But this time, when her door opened, Liam was standing on the other side.
For a moment, Colby stopped breathing.
He was impeccably dressed in a black dinner jacket and slacks. That wasn’t even his best panty-melting feature. Colby would have said it was his eyes, but after their kiss this afternoon, it was hands down his lips.
They curved in an upward smile.
This was not only a bad idea. This was going to be a spectacularly bad idea, she thought. I’m going to be a yes to whatever he asks.
Liam had every intention of picking Colby up with flowers, and everything like their dinner meeting was a real date, but an urgent business call had prevented it. When he opened her door and peered inside, he was at a loss for words. Colby was beautiful on any given day, but tonight she was fashion-magazine stunning. How on God’s green earth that she was still single was both a mystery and a travesty.
Liam managed to sound a lot more collected than he felt. “I’m glad you could make it.”
Damn those eyes. His gaze
