He’s even harder now than he was outside on the beach.
I tease another kiss, my lips hovering tantalizingly close to his. My mind races and throws up red flags in a parade of signs and signals trying to get my attention. To get me to stop, or at least slow down, but my body is in full control right now.
I’m just about to give in and devour him in a kiss when I hear a key card swipe at the door. Chase’s door. I freeze. Then I hear the door swing open and then footsteps. And voices. And somebody turns on a light. What the hell?
Chase sits straight up and I re-clasp my bra.
“Whoever you are, get the fuck out of my room before I kick your ass,” Chase growls. I have to admit, that tone is pretty sexy on him. Maybe he should growl more often.
But I read the papers, and I know that Chase shouldn’t confront burglars all by himself. “Chase,” I whisper, “just call security.”
“Hey, brother,” a voice calls out from the entryway, “did we catch you at a bad time?”
“Son of a bitch!” Chase yells. “Liam? Get the fuck out of my room.”
I glance up as I finish adjusting my tee shirt. “What the hell? I think you need to take away his spare key.” I shoot Chase an annoyed look.
“How is this my fault?” he asks. Then he stands up and crosses the room and points at his brother. “It’s obviously his fault. In case you were wondering, yes, you interrupted something. Now get out. Both of you.”
I peek around the corner and see not only Chase and his brother, but his sister is standing there too. She waves to me.
“Seriously? We’re going to have to start bolting the door or something, Chase.” I wonder what’s the point of all his security if people can just come barging into his room any time they want.
Liam studies both of us then frowns.
Chase shoots me a get-over-here look, but I decide to stay on the couch and stew. I sit back, cross my arms, and don’t go anywhere. After a minute or two, he gives up and pulls out a chair for himself at the kitchen table. I see him palm his face in his hand.
“Okay, Liam. What’s going on? I’m going to temporarily give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you have a very, very good reason to be here. Or I’m going to pummel you right out that door back to wherever it is that you came from.”
“I would apologize for the unannounced visit,” Liam says, “but if you would bother to check your phone you’d find eight missed calls and thirteen missed texts.”
I could hear a smirk in Liam’s tone. Whatever he’s here for must be pretty important if he tried that hard to reach him. Chase’s phone must have been set to silent.
A minute ago, I decided to stay out of the conversation, figuring it was going to be boring, corporate mumbo jumbo. But now I find myself getting sucked into the drama of it all.
Chase shrugs. “Sure, my phone was turned off. I would really like you to get to the point, though. Can you do that, Liam? Please? For me?”
“In short, this isn’t over,” Liam says matter-of-factly.
“What are you talking about?” Chase asks. “The paparazzi has pictures of us for days, even before the attempted takeover. What exactly doesn’t the board believe about us?”
“It’s not a matter of belief, apparently,” Liam says. He sighs and removes his glasses like the conversation pains him. Drama king.
He rubs his temples for a moment and then replaces the glasses to their previous position. “Like I said, the board, already on their current course of action led by Charles, is understandably skeptical. Because of your track record. I tried, brother, I really did. But they say that anybody can have a fun evening, or weekend. That does not make a legitimate couple. And they kind of have a point.”
A snarl crawls across Chase’s face. “So what is it that they’re looking for, exactly?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’m the one they argue with. I’m the one they take it out on. That’s what I came here to tell you, I’m the only one even trying to push back on this, Chase. You’re here cavorting on the beach and I’m the one stuck trying to save it all.”
Chase glares at him.
Liam continues with a sigh. “Listen, you have to give me something to work with here, something more concrete than publicity photos. Think about what it is that being a couple means to you two. Specifically. What about your relationship or future leads me or the board of directors in this case, to believe that this is more than a fun, sun-filled weekend of convenience?”
“Just wait a second, you,” I jump in, despite my intention to stay out of it. Because as usual, my mouth runs ahead of my brain. I don’t even know what I’m objecting to, really.
This is exactly what the board of directors thinks it is. A weekend of convenience agreed upon for money. And it makes me feel cheap, despite the price tag. I cross the room ready to rumble. I see Chase turn to me first, and he looks as surprised as I am that I after refusing, I’m now charging across the room to engage with his brother.
Liam’s face turns to me and his expression softens. He looks downright apologetic. “Those were the words of the board members, not me. That type of reasoning is what I’m fighting against. I’m not saying I agree with it.”
The four of us eye each other suspiciously, as if we are in a crazy standoff in a movie. I understand what he’s saying, and yet I’m not ready to let go of my anger.
“I apologize if I offended you,” Liam says, breaking the tense silence. “I’m not saying that I believe it to be the case, I’m saying that as
