CHAPTER SEVEN
JESSIE
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I was hoping not to see Liam for a couple of days. Something I’ve never wished for in my life, but after slamming into him while completely naked and almost peeing myself...well, I need to recover.
The look of horror on his face is something I’ll never forget. Whatever his reason, and I’m sure it's because I’m Jayden’s sister and not my curves, it still hurt.
I always saw myself standing before him naked while he stroked his cock with rich desire in his eyes.
Not horror.
Not going to lie, my pride is hurt
However, saying no to a personal tour of Warner Bros with Savannah Sinclair...never going to happen. No one in their right mind would say no to that.
My suitcase lays open on Jayden’s bed, clothes everywhere.
What the hell am I going to wear?
Definitely panties. I won’t be making that mistake again.
I want to look beautiful but not too sexy. Classic, but also with an individual edge. Not boring, like I don’t have a creative bone in my body, but also nothing that hints that I’m a drama queen to work with.
“It’s just a tour. A favor for a friend. Not an audition.” I remind myself, holding up a green dress with a square neckline. It makes my boobs look great and is a little longer than my other short dresses.
Something that will appease Liam.
I glance around at my footwear and spot some ankle boots. Tugging them on, I hear my straightener beep and leap across the room. Quickly smoothing my long hair, I add a few big waves around the front, then blow a kiss in the mirror and glance around for my blazer.
“Yes.” I pull it on, add my cross-shoulder bag, and check the full outfit.
Perfect.
I think.
When I hear Liam pull into the drive, I unplug my curling iron and race out the door. Like the southern boy he is, Liam has climbed out of the vehicle and opened the passenger door for me.
“Jessie.”
I almost die from how gorgeous he looks despite only seeing him a few hours ago. I notice the gun tucked in the back of his pants and squeeze my thighs together in response.
Why is that so sexy?
“Hey,” I blush.
Liam assists me getting into the vehicle, his hand on my hip—borderline on my ass.
My panties are immediately drenched.
How can this be one-sided?
It’s not. I know it isn’t. This morning his nostrils flared, and I had this fleeting moment. What if Liam decides to kiss me? What if he runs his hands over my body and...I need to pee!?
Can you imagine?
After all these years.
Now, here we are again, him ignoring our chemistry like it's some annoying thing he could do without.
Despite the fact I could have wet myself, if standing before him buck naked with no one else around didn’t break him, I don’t know what would.
I’m starting to think I’ve over-exaggerated his attraction to me in my mind. That the moments we’ve shared throughout our lives were nothing but imagined little girl dreams.
Perhaps it’s time to move on?
I came here for his protection and unwittingly he is doing that. I don't want to mess that up.
Liam climbs into the driver’s seat, and I busy myself with the seatbelt. “Thanks for doing this.”
“Just trying to keep you out of trouble,” he mumbles, and I glance away. “Doing Jayden a favor.”
My mood dips further.
This time I can’t keep my mouth shut.
“Yeah, I’m not a dog. I don’t need to be looked after. Or groomed.”
“Yeah, I saw that.”
What the fuck?
My head snaps around, and my mouth gapes while Liam turns, looking as shocked as I feel.
“Forget I said that.”
“No,” I shake my head. “Nope. Are you kidding me right now? Liam, you don’t say things you don’t mean, and you’re probably the most controlled man I know. You wanted me to hear that.”
A single brow lifts.
“No offense Jessie, but you’re not exactly a CIA profiler.”
“You know what I mean,” I scoff.
“You’re right. I did want you to hear.” Liam pulls up to a stop sign. “In no universe should I have seen you that naked.”
“How many levels of naked are there?”
“Jesus,” he rubs his unshaven jaw. “My point is you’re Jayden’s sister. I’m supposed to be—”
“Stop saying that you’re supposed to be looking after me like I’m still twelve. You saw my boobs.”
“Yes.”
“You saw that I’m a woman.”
“I know you’re a woman, Jessie. Fuck’s sake.”
“And you know that I’m attracted to you,” I say, and his glare darkens.
BEEP.
The car behind us keeps leaning on his horn. Liam curses, pumps the gas, and we take off with a jolt. Then he glares at me. “Of course I’ve noticed.”
Here’s the moment I’ve waited for all my life. Well, not exactly the moment, but finally, we’re talking about it.
I swallow my pride and ask the one thing I need to know. “Don’t you feel anything?”
“No,” he replies after five long beats.
Liar.
I wait.
Liam turns to me after switching lanes, and those gray eyes hold mine for as long as he safely can before turning back to the road.
“No, Jessie.”
“I don’t think you’re telling the truth,” I say under my breath before turning away, embarrassment burning into my cheeks.
It’s quiet for the rest of the drive.
We pull up alongside the Warner Bros entrance, and I try to muster some excitement, but the man I’ve desired my entire life just rejected me point blank, and it feels horrible.
Suddenly Liam takes my hand, and an electrical charge jolts up my arm and through the very core of me. Our eyes lock, and it’s almost like he’s giving me a glimpse of his true feelings.
“Jess. I’m a man. I can see you’re a woman and that you are fucking gorgeous.”
My heart pounds inside my chest so hard I can barely draw a breath.
“If you weren’t Jayden’s little sister...”
He glances away, and I wish so badly I could know what he was thinking inside his frustratingly stubborn and beautiful head. But instead of finishing his sentence, Liam turns back, cups my face, then draws his fingers down my nape.
God.
I nearly combust.
I want him so much. The heat of his touch reaches every nerve ending in my body. I want more. I want him to keep going and caress my nipples. To slide his hand between my thighs. To lift me onto his lap and tug his cock out.
My eyes drift closed.
“But you are.” Liam’s hand drifts over my shoulder, then falls away.
I stifle my cry.
Regret hangs in the air as our eyes lock until a knock on the side of the Jeep snaps us out of it.
“Rutherford.” A heavily built man wearing a BHS uniform stands on the sidewalk, and he’s armed. “Savannah is in there, waiting with Bullock.”
“Thanks, Perez.” Liam climbs out of the Jeep.
I gather my bag and let him assist me getting out, the feel of his hand on my hip different once again.
It’s brotherly.
“Jess,” Liam says as I glance up. “You good?”
I nod and force a smile. I’m an actress after all.
“Yes. Excited. I’ll see you tomorrow or something.”
“I’ll pick you up after.”
Drawing in a breath, I shake my head. “No, don’t. I’m going to catch up with some friends.”
“Who?”
“Friends.”
Invisible friends. Or I might find a barstool and call Naomi. Maybe I’ll tell her why I’m in Texas...or maybe I’ll tell her about the duvet incident and just pretend I missed my brother.
She’ll find the situation funny.
And it will distract from the real reason I’m here.
I don’t want someone asking me how I feel. I hate therapists. I don’t want to make a big deal. I just want to forget about it.
I can’t.
Ugh. I push away the thoughts and bury my head in the sand. I can’t deal with it.
I just can’t.
“Who, Jess. Who do you know in LA?”
Perez clears his throat.
“Better go. Thanks, buddy.” Tiptoeing up, I kiss his cheek, then spin and follow Perez through the gates. But not before catching the annoyance in Liam’s gaze.
“Buddy,” I hear him mutter behind me.
He cares...he doesn’t care. I’m dizzy from this man’s changing positions about me. Perhaps some time for us both to catch our breath is a good thing.
If you weren’t Jayden’s little sister...but you are.
When I spot Savannah, I let thoughts of my sexy pilot slip away as we hug awkwardly over her very swollen pregnant belly.
“I’m so excited, thank you so much for this.”
“I don’t know how fast I can walk with this giant baby inside me, or if my water will break, but I got us a golf cart, so let’s go have some fun.” Savannah introduces me to a couple of her team sitting in the golf cart.
I’m going to enjoy today no matter what. It’s a very special opportunity with one of America’s biggest stars.
When the day is over, I’ll work out what to do with Liam. It’s not like I didn’t know Liam would eventually reject me. I never expected it to happen while sitting outside Warner Bros.
I’m fine.
I’m totally fine.