Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
H e hadn’t said yes. But he hadn’t said no. Jade gave Liam another furtive glance as he continued to talk in his deep, low drawl, explaining how the spreadsheet he’d taken the last hour going through, was supposed to be kept updated on a daily basis.
Oops.
The fact she’d taken anything in at all was a miracle considering her mind kept jumping back to what he’d said about how not looking at the bed wasn’t going to stop me from wanting to fuck you in it .
She snuck another peek at him and felt a hard flip in her lower belly. She’d dated some good-looking guys– Rob, before he’d called her his dumb-blonde phase, had all her girlfriends swooning over him– so she knew looks were overrated. Still, it was hard not to be sucked into Liam’s powerful aura. It wasn’t just his almost brutally handsome face, or the mesmerising eyes, the assured I don’t care what you think of me swagger. It was the rough, unvarnished edge beneath the smooth surface that tugged at her.
A pair of light grey eyes locked onto hers. ‘I seem to have lost your interest.’
She shook herself. ‘Nope, definitely not. Expenses are… fascinating. They should make a film about them. Maybe put Ryan Gosling in the lead role, though.’
‘You’d pay more attention to him?’
He looked insulted, which made her want to laugh. ‘Probably, but it wouldn’t change the outcome. I’m hopeless when it comes to numbers.’
He shrugged. ‘You’re people, not numbers.’ He said it so easily, like it was obvious. As she tried to work out how to reply without flinging her arms around him and sobbing out her thanks, he peered at her curiously. ‘You’re looking at me like I just said something right.’
‘I liked the way you put it, that’s all.’ Damn, her voice was scratchy. ‘You know, that being crap at maths is okay, because I’m good at other things.’
He leant back, eyes still on her, and still curious. ‘Does this come back to what you were saying, about being underestimated?’
It was both unnerving and flattering to be the focus of his intense gaze. ‘I told you about my sister being a doctor. My parents used to joke she was the brainy one and I was the pretty one.’ She dragged her eyes away from his, unable to hold his stare. ‘When I was a kid, I didn’t mind it. In fact, I was happy to be the one the boys were after. Go me, I was in demand, the girl the others envied. But then I grew up, and I realised being popular just because I looked good actually sucked. My sister, my friends, they were liked because they had something interesting to say. Me? I was dated because I had blonde hair and big tits.’
‘Sorry?’ His voice sounded strangled, like he was trying not to laugh.
‘It’s not funny,’ she said crossly. ‘How would you like to be arm candy?’
‘You’re saying I’m not?’ he murmured before crossing one leg over the other and giving her a long, measured look. ‘Do you think I have these conversations with everyone?’
She blinked. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Jade.’ He ran a hand through his hair, a hint of exasperation in his voice. ‘The only person I talk to, outside business talk, is my grandma.’ He let out a low laugh. ‘And now you, apparently.’ A dozen questions tripped onto her tongue but he held up a hand. ‘I’m only telling you this because you thinking you have nothing interesting to say is frankly ridiculous.’
She searched his handsome face. ‘Aw, Liam Haven. Are you saying you like me?’
He shut his eyes briefly before staring straight back at her. ‘Yes, Jade. I like you.’
It was impossible not to smile. Not to feel the warmth that seeped through her chest, or the excited flutter of her heart.
Not to be aware of the sparks that fizzed in the ensuing silence.
He gave a small shake of his head. ‘I refuse to ask the question.’
She had to fight not to smile. ‘What question?’
He huffed. ‘I feel like a fucking teenager.’
‘I can’t believe teenage you ever asked anyone their opinion of you.’
A shadow passed over his face. ‘I didn’t need to.’
She wanted to stay angry at him, stay hating him because then she didn’t have to worry where this humming attraction might lead. But he kept giving her glimpses of the man she’d first been attracted to. ‘Well, I’ll answer the question anyway. Despite the fact you’re planning to put an end to my adventure and knock down this shop, I’m beginning to not hate you.’
The corner of his mouth tilted upwards. ‘Good enough.’
Sparks she’d been at pains to dampen fired dangerously into life. Suddenly all she could see was the shimmering silver of his eyes, the small scar that bisected his eyebrow. The curve of his sensuous lips. ‘Just because I don’t hate you doesn’t mean we’re heading for the bed,’ she qualified hastily. ‘I’m on a mission to feel better about myself, and being the boss’s fuck buddy won’t help me with that.’
He visibly winced. ‘That’s not how I see it.’
‘But it is how it will look and how I will feel.’ She swallowed, her nipples hardening as his gaze continued to press hers. ‘You need to stop staring at me like that.’
‘Like what?’
‘You know what. Like you want to devour me in one easy bite.’
His hand touched her cheek, thumb rubbing gently over her skin. ‘I want to devour you, but not in one bite. In lots of small, carefully placed, slowly savoured, bites.’
Her breath caught in her throat and despite what her head was telling her, she leant into his touch. Just one more time. She could kid herself it was possible. One more night and then she’d focus back on the shop, on saving it from being knocked down.
The doorbell chimed.
‘Oh God.’ She leapt back, pulse hammering. A quick glance at her watch and she swore.
‘Expecting a visitor?’
‘Well, not a visitor, as such. It’s a SOB meeting. And I can’t believe I’ve not thought of a better name for that yet.’
‘SOB?’
‘Save Our Bookstore. It’s the group who helped me promote the book week. There’s Adam who you know, Emma from the heritage society. Mary and Philip…’
‘Nantucket’s own grapevine and busybody.’
‘Well, yes, but they’re also sweet when you get to know them. Oh, and there’s also a guy called Henry. We don’t see him very much but Jeremy tells me he’s useful to include as he has wealth and connections.’
‘Henry Chase ?’
Gone was the sexy, smouldering man she’d been seconds from caving in to. Liam was sitting rigidly, his expression stony.
‘That’s the one. Why? Do you know him?’
* * *
Did he know Henry Chase ? ‘These are the people you’re colluding with?’ he asked tightly, ignoring her question.
‘No, these are the people who are helping me prove to you the bookstore is worth saving,’ she countered.
‘The same people who, in your words, don’t like me very much?’ She could dress it up however she wanted. She was working with his enemies, against him.
She went to open the window and waved to whoever was down there, telling them she’d be down in a sec, before turning back to him. ‘They don’t know you like I do.’
‘They don’t want to know me.’
‘Maybe you haven’t given them the chance.’
He let out a snort of disbelief. Adam, Henry, others whose names and faces still remained fresh in his mind… they were the ones who’d never given him a chance. ‘You’re taking their side?’
‘There are no sides.’ She went to dig a jacket out of the wardrobe and shrugged it on before turning to face him. ‘Look, I know you have history with Adam, but did you ever stop to wonder if you’re turning into the very people who tormented you as a child?’
Anger flooded him and he surged to his feet. ‘You’re saying I’m a bully?’
She flinched at his tone. ‘No, of course not.’ Her expression softened. ‘Bullies are mean and nasty, and you’re neither of those things. But can’t you see the similarity? By preventing Adam and others from using the wharf, and by turning the shops on the waterfront into cottages for your resort, you’re stopping the people who live here from enjoying places they used to think were theirs.’
‘You think I’m an arrogant rich prick?’
‘I think you’re rich. And may have tunnel vision.’
The parallels between what she was saying, and what he’d said about “his” beach were too close to be comfortable. But it wasn’t the only part that stung. Jade had been on the island for less than two weeks, yet she’d been taken into these people’s confidence. Accepted . Something he’d never achieved.
But at least he could make them take notice.
‘You say there are no sides, yet you’ve clearly picked yours.’ He stalked past her to the stairs, almost falling down them in his desire to get away from those baby blue eyes, the soft lips that could deliver such a cutting appraisal.
This was why he didn’t let people get close. Because it fucking hurt when they rejected him.
‘Liam, wait.’ He heard her footsteps chasing down the stairs after him. ‘What about the shop?’
‘I want it closed by this time next week.’
She blinked, looking first confused, then shaken. Finally, she nodded and went to unlock the door. ‘Whatever you say. Boss.’
Avoiding Mary and Emma who were waiting outside, he marched off towards the resort. It was Sunday, but the only way he knew to quieten his mind was with work.
He’d built his business from nothing, but all that everyone around here saw was a man who’d wrecked their island. Didn’t matter that his wasn’t the only resort on Nantucket, or that many of the locals relied on the income from the very tourists who stayed in his resort. He didn’t have the right name, the right connections. The right sort of money.
By the time he yanked open the door to his office, he’d worked up a full head of steam. The last person he wanted to see was the man who waltzed in behind him wearing a disgustingly cheerful sunshine-yellow shirt. ‘I’m busy,’ Liam barked.
‘Oh dear.’ Jeremy floated to a stop. ‘Did the spreadsheet lesson not go well?’
‘What part of I’m busy did you not hear?’
Ignoring him, Jeremy slid breezily onto the chair. ‘You are aware that a problem shared is a problem halved.’
‘I don’t have any problems.’
Jade was no longer an issue. He would avoid her for the next week, after which the shop would be closed down and she’d no doubt scurry off home, leaving him to get back to being himself again. Not a guy who looked up at fucking stars with a woman he barely knew and talked about things he’d spent a lifetime locking up tight.
‘I get it,’ Jeremy replied, interrupting his sulk. ‘Life is all hunky dory in your world. Except if it was, you wouldn’t be sitting there with a face like thunder. Of course your usual expression is hardly sweetness and light, but this one.’ He flapped a hand towards Liam. ‘This would frighten small children.’
‘It’s intended to,’ Liam muttered, irritated. ‘Also to frighten employees into leaving me alone. Why isn’t it possible to upset you?’
Jeremy smiled. ‘When you grow up hearing every insult under the sun being directed at you, it soon just becomes noise that no longer holds any power.’
Liam paused, taking a moment to study the man opposite him. ‘Maybe we do have something in common.’
‘You mean aside from our fabulous good looks?’
He huffed out a laugh, surprising himself. ‘Aside from that, yes.’
‘Well, you’re dark, not ginger, and much to the disappointment of a couple of staff who will remain nameless, you’re not gay, so what insults were you forced to endure?’
Was he really going to do this? ‘It doesn’t matter.’
‘Clearly it does, or you wouldn’t be sitting there like a grouchy bear.’
Jesus. ‘I was poor in a school of rich kids.’
‘So they weren’t won over by your sunny personality alone? I am surprised. Which school of monstrous children did you go to?’
‘Phillips Academy. It’s a?—’
‘Boarding school.’ Jeremy whistled. ‘A very prestigious boarding school attended by most of the Massachusetts elite.’ He eyed Liam. ‘If you were poor, how did you get there?’
Why the hell had he started this conversation? Spending time with Jade had made him soft in the head. ‘I doubt my life story is relevant to this meeting. What did you want?’ he asked brusquely, putting a line under his temporary lapse in judgement.
‘Oh, I just wanted to find out how you’d got on with Jade.’
‘Is this the same Jade who, thanks to you, has joined forces with the likes of Adam and Henry to campaign against me? Against the expansion of the resort that employs both you and your fiancé?’
‘Ah.’ For once, Jeremy looked uncomfortable. ‘To be fair, she set up the group to persuade you to give her a chance to manage the bookstore. That’s all she’s interested in, not island politics. Which is why I agreed to help.’
Despite the fact you’re planning to put an end to my adventure and knock down this shop, I’m beginning to not hate you. Liam pressed a hand against his shirt, surprised to find it wasn’t the thing constraining him, making his chest feel tight and achy. She was standing up to him, not standing against him. And he’d just told her he was going to close her down in a week.
She was right. He was turning into the very people he despised. They’d used their money to make him feel small, to bully and intimidate him. And now he was doing the same to a woman who’d only ever been sweet and funny and sexy and good to him.
‘I’m going out this afternoon.’ He shot Jeremy a look. ‘Try not to do too much damage until I get back.’
‘I think I can manage without your superior wisdom for a few hours. Can I ask where you’re going?’
‘No.’
‘Fair enough.’ He eased up from the chair. ‘Jade said she was off to see Sankaty Head Lighthouse after the meeting.’ He winked at Liam. ‘You know, just in case you were interested.’
As he watched the man saunter out of his office, Liam wondered how he’d gone from the boss who nobody dared talk to, to one Jeremy felt comfortable enough to wink at.
And why he was trying to fight a fucking smile .