Chapter 21
Three things happened.
Liam stopped touching me.
He lifted me off the table.
Then turned to face whoever had interrupted us and hid me behind his broad back.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he barked.
The tone of his voice sent an icy shiver down my spine. It was in stark contrast to how he’d made me feel moments earlier.
Hot. So incredibly hot. And turned on. Holy shit, I hadn’t known my body could go from zero to freaking one hundred so damn fast. But when Liam had slipped his tongue into my mouth and put his hands on my body, my lady bits turned into Niagara freaking Falls.
Who knew how far I would have let him go if it hadn’t been for the intrusion?
Which reminded me…we weren’t alone.
Peeking around Liam’s shoulder, I tried to get a better look at the man who’d just walked in without even knocking. Or maybe he did knock, and I didn’t hear him because I was too distracted by Liam’s wicked tongue and his big…
Stop it, Evie.
With an internal shake of my head, I forced my attention back to the man in Liam’s office. And holy shit. If his hair were long and his face covered in scruff, the man walking toward us could have easily passed as an older version of Liam.
“You hurt my feelings.” He even had the same British accent. “Can’t a grandfather just drop by to see his grandson?”
His eyes turned to me, and the immediate hint of unease slithering down my spine startled me.
“Especially since so much has happened since we last saw each other.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Liam’s fingers curling into a fist before he shoved his hand into his pocket.
“You never just stop by. What do you want?”
Liam’s body tensed with every angry word leaving his body. I had this crazy urge to put my hand between his shoulder blades just to ease some of his tension.
I couldn’t even think about acting on that particular impulse, Liam’s grandfather spoke again.
“Oh, hush. I didn’t come here for your attitude.” The older man’s attention was back on me. The unease from earlier multiplied. “I’m here to meet your wife.”
Mr. Maxwell smiled. It should have made me feel comfortable, but for reasons I couldn’t explain, it didn’t. And when he moved around Liam and held out his hand for me, only the manners my mother instilled in me had me pressing my palm against his instead of shrinking back like I wanted to.
“You must be Everlee Sutton.” He clicked his tongue and widened his smile. “I beg your pardon, it’s Maxwell now, right?” Without warning, he flipped my hand and brought my fingers to his lips.
Next to him, Liam looked ready to commit murder.
“Welcome to the family, dear,” Mr. Maxwell cooed.
He was still holding on to my hand. I really, really wanted it back. With a gentle tug, I hoped he’d get the message and let go. He didn’t. I tugged again, harder this time, and thankfully, he released my hand.
I could barely contain a sigh of relief.
“Thank you.” Smiling as sweet as I could, I clasped my hands behind me.
Mr. Maxwell eyed me for a few more uncomfortable moments then his gaze shifted back to Liam. With another click of his tongue, he shook his head. “A Maxwell exchanging vows at a courthouse…what were you thinking?”
Liam opened his mouth, but his grandfather kept going.
“And then you don’t even invite your family.”
The muscle in Liam’s jaw jumped furiously. “Because I didn’t want you there.”
Something changed. It wasn’t big, and if I wasn’t standing so close, I wouldn’t have seen the slight narrowing in Mr. Maxwell’s eyes or the way his lip curled.
“You might not like it, but you are a Maxwell. We have standards to uphold. Never before has a Maxwell done something so…” His eyes locked with mine. “…utterly beneath us.”
My heart all but sank to the floor. Was he talking about the courthouse wedding or me?
An overwhelming urge to turn around and run slammed into me. But showing weakness to a man like this was like a helpless animal showing its belly to the predator chasing it. It was the same as me just standing there while Anthony bombarded me with insults.
No more.
Holding his stare, I took a deep, steadying breath. “I’m so sorry you feel that way. Liam and I were so excited to make it official, we didn’t want to wait.”
I tried to catch Liam’s eye, but he was too busy staring daggers at his grandfather to notice me.
“Hmm.” Mr. Maxwell wrinkled his nose and studied me for a couple more heartbeats, then his focus shifted back to his grandson. “When will you accept being a Maxwell is in your blood? You can’t escape it.”
“Don’t fucking start,” Liam growled.
With a sharp shake of his head, the older man tsked. “Language, son.”
“I’m not your fucking anything.”
Okay, this was weird. Especially when Liam’s grandfather’s mouth lifted into a smarmy smile. The mere sight of it sent shivers down my spine.
“Let’s not fight in front of your lovely wife, hmm?” The older man’s gaze shot to me again.
A million fire ants crawled over my skin, giving me the ick.
“Besides, we should be celebrating.”
Liam’s hands were still buried in his pockets, his jaw still working overtime. He was upset. This man, who was supposed to be his family, upset him. I didn’t like it.
“I’ve already taken care of everything,” Liam’s grandfather continued. “The two of you just need to show up.”
“No,” Liam said through clenched teeth. “I don’t care what it is; we’re not going.”
The older man’s attention was back on me again, smarmy smile and all. “He didn’t even give you a choice in the matter. A wonderful start to your union, no?”
What the hell was I supposed to say?
I was still trying to find words when he spoke again.
“Is it so wrong to want to get to know the woman my grandson chose to spend the rest of his life with?” He cocked his head slightly, and that grin got even slimier. “You must have an exceptional personality since you’re so different from the women he usually spends his time with.”
I wasn’t stupid. I could read between the lines just fine.
Much to my annoyance, his words stung. I had eyes. I knew I didn’t look like the models people like Liam spent their time with. And if it wasn’t for both of us needing this marriage, he wouldn’t have looked twice at me.
Yeah, then why did he just kiss you within an inch of your life, not even ten minutes ago?
I was still chewing on that when Liam’s grandfather’s voice grated on my ears again.
“I have the city’s best caterer on call; there’ll be plenty of culinary choices to entice your taste buds, too.”
Wow. This asshole really went there.
I opened my mouth to tell him what a dick he was, but Liam spoke before I could even make a sound.
“There’s the door,” he roared. “Fucking leave.”
The chuckle from his grandfather sent an icy shiver through my veins. “No need for dramatics. I’m going.” He made it halfway across the room then stopped to face us again. “I’ll have my assistant send the details for your formal reception. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll at least make an appearance.” He pinned Liam with a dark stare. “I’m sure you don’t want your love life plastered all over the news.”
His cold and emotionless gaze raked over me one last time then he turned around and finally left us alone.
I didn’t know exactly what he’d threatened Liam with, and honestly, I didn’t care. All that mattered was he was gone, and I could finally take a proper breath.
My heart hurt. This wasn’t what a family was supposed to look like.
“Liam, I—”
“I have a meeting to get to.” He was already at the door, pulling on his jacket. “Stay. Finish your lunch. When you’re done, Tamara will pack everything up.”
And just like that, he, too, was gone.