Chapter 58
LONDON
Back in our offices, we started the week with a clear plan and a list of priorities. I sat behind my desk, watching through the glass walls as the others arrived, grabbed their morning coffees, and jumped straight in.
Satisfaction snaked through me for what we had achieved here so far. It was very early days yet and I knew it, but holy starfish, what a kick to see it all coming together.
Around here, I was the boss. All my vulnerabilities and weaknesses had to be checked at the door and I’d done that.
With Liam’s help, we’d turned an empty shell of a building into a functional, successful workspace.
Pride filled my heart as I watched our team of dedicated professionals start working their magic.
No matter what else was going on in my life, this was always where I had been happy. At my most confident. My best.
I was one of the lucky few people who made my money doing something that had never felt like work. My job was my passion and I was damn good at it.
That was why I had rarely looked beyond that when I thought about what I wanted in my future. It would be a complete lie to say I’d never considered the rest—the white picket fence, two and a half children, and a loving husband who took the collie for walks with us in the afternoon.
Obviously, I’d thought about it, and sure, recently, that had started sounding a whole lot better.
But at my core, my work was my first love.
I got to be strong here, knowledgeable, and smart.
I solved problems and I literally turned people’s dreams into reality with stuff that came out of my brain.
I’d saved businesses that were people’s livelihoods. I’d sculpted unknown brands into legends and I’d restored consumers’ faith in products that had been so neglected, they’d been all but forgotten.
In simple words, I was the queen of the castle and there was never any need to second-guess myself because I really was that good. Why would I take that gift for granted and go chasing even more?
My office door burst open and Liam strode in, looking as dapper and handsome as the knight who had come to rescue the damsel in distress. Which I was sometimes but not here.
In powder blue slacks and a white shirt, his facial hair was back to being carefully shaved and sculpted after roughing it this weekend in Texas, and his dark hair was combed away from his face. He smirked as he leaned against my door frame, hands sliding casually into his pockets.
“You’re about to get a call from the CEO of Blue Pearl Resorts,” he drawled, that accent of his still stronger even though we’d been home almost a day. “She loved the suggestions we sent after we assessed their current marketing plan last week, and it’s official.”
I froze, my eyes widening. “It’s official?”
“They’re signing on with us, baby.” He grinned and threw his arms out to his sides. “We got the Blue Pearl account.”
I nearly shrieked with excitement as I shot up, pumping both fists into the air and laughing. “Yes! I knew they were going to make the switch to come to us. I knew it.”
“Congratulations, London.” His features softened and he turned to shut my door behind him before those hazel eyes were back on mine.
“When their head of marketing gave me the good news, he said the CEO wanted to speak to you directly, but they’ve got some event coming up and they’d like us to be there. ”
A few moments later, the landline in my office rang and he inclined his chin at it, sauntered over to the visitors’ chair across my desk, and sat down. “That’d be her.”
I shook my hands out at my sides and reached for it, hit the speaker button, and remained standing beside my desk. Too much adrenaline was coursing through me. There was no way I could sit right then.
“This is London Walker,” I said, my voice calmer than I felt.
“London, hi. You’re speaking to Kelly Hall from Blue Pearl Resorts. We met last week about us potentially moving our account over to you.”
“Yes, of course. I just heard the good news.”
She chuckled. “We’re looking forward to working with you.”
“I think we’re going to make a winning team,” I said. “What can I do for you today, Kelly?”
“The company is hosting our annual summer gala next month at our South Beach property and we were hoping you might be able to join us. I’d like to introduce the team you’re going to be working with on our end and we’d love to get to know you and Mr. Jones.”
“Of course,” I said immediately, my eyes sliding up to his to find him smirking at me, head cocked with a definite air of smugness about him. “We’ll be there. Just send the details to my assistant and we’ll put it on the calendar. Thank you so much for thinking about us.”
“We’ll see you there, London.”
After I hung up with her, Liam arched an eyebrow at me, obviously having overheard the entire conversation. “See, our clients think we’re a package deal. Lucky you, being wrapped up in all this.”
He pointed at himself and let his hands run up and down the length of his torso. I chuckled. “You’re for sure the lucky one. Being roped in with me is truly the greatest honor one could have.”
He smiled, and to my surprise, he didn’t make fun of me for what I’d said. Instead, he simply shrugged and started backing toward the door. “I’m not going to fight you on that.”
I felt a slight tingle in my heart, returning his smile before I could stop myself. Our gazes locked, and for a moment, it was like everything around us just stopped. Like there was no one else and nothing else that needed our attention.
In that moment, I wasn’t afraid. I wasn’t thinking about my job and how lucky I was that I never had to work a day in my life since I loved what I did with my whole heart. All I could think about was Liam and getting to go home with him every night.
Quickly averting my eyes when I realized what was happening, I cleared my throat and spun around to head back behind my desk. “Okay, okay. Stop flirting with me, Jones. We’re nothing but friends with the occasional benefits who have agreed to put an end to the benefits.”
I saw the light go out in his eyes, but he didn’t back off.
He stood his ground, still looking at me even though I was looking everywhere but directly at him.
“Push me away all you want, London. The second you say you don’t need me, I’ll be gone, but otherwise, count me in daily. I’m not going anywhere.”
A challenge flickered to life in his gaze as his chin lifted. He was waiting for me to say the words. To tell him I didn’t need him.
I reached deep inside myself, knowing how much simpler things could become if I could just bring myself to say it. Four words—I don’t need you—and we could go back to the way things had been before.
Hopefully, anyway.
Hopefully, this hadn’t gone too far and I could have my friend back if I just told him that I didn’t need him. I couldn’t bring myself to say it, though. Those four little words refused to form in my mouth.
I couldn’t even make myself lie. I just kept quiet, and once silence had reigned supreme for a few seconds, Liam nodded. “Exactly. That’s what I thought.”
He spun around and left my office, moving with that cocky swagger that had annoyed me so much, so often. Yet now, I kind of loved it. I loved how he could be such an alpha male when he wanted to be, but I also knew I would have to keep him at a distance for at least a little while.
Right now, I was falling hard and fast, and I had to at least try to slow that progression. Especially after what he’d said in the creek the other night.
That had been hard core, and in the moment, sure, it hadn’t freaked me out. We’d been alone on a moonlit night, wrapped around each other in that cool water and the world had felt a million miles away, but now?
Ha. The world is right here. Right outside that door.
It scared the crap out of me to need him the way I did. I was terrified about how much I’d missed him during that day we’d spent apart and I was horrified when I remembered how often I’d checked my phone.
If I accepted how we both felt about each other and went for it only to have him break my heart, I already knew I would never fully recover. There were relationships with men and then there was a relationship with him.
Those two things were not the same.
Liam would own me. Heart, mind, body, and soul. I had never considered giving all of myself to someone like that and I wasn’t sure I was brave enough to do it. On the other hand, I didn’t want him to think it was happening, only to end up not having the courage I needed.
It’s settled then. We need some distance. Pronto.
For the rest of the day, I managed to avoid him by keeping busy in my office or in meetings.
It wasn’t unusual for us to have little contact during a workday, especially while we were working on different projects or different aspects of the same project, so it was easy enough to give myself that room to breathe.
On the way home, we were both still in work mode, and because of that, we didn’t speak much, just quietly making our own mental to-do lists for the morning and spending the rest of the drive decompressing.
When we walked into the house, however, we were surprised with a sit-down dinner prepared for us by Lori.
I inhaled deeply as soon as we walked in, immediately identifying the delicious scent of her homemade tacos. Liam must’ve gotten it at the same moment as I did, because he groaned and made a beeline for the kitchen.
I hung back for just a moment, taking in the dimly lit interior and the soft light of the sun setting outside. The beach was quiet and peaceful, not a soul in sight as waves lapped the shore. It was still hard to believe that this was my home—and that I shared it with Liam Jones.
“Lorelei, I could kiss you right now.” His booming voice drifted from the kitchen and the genuine joy in it made me smile. “What the hell are we going to do once you two leave?”
She laughed. “Cook your own meals?”
“Nah, that doesn’t sound right,” he joked. “Please tell me your relocation date has moved again.”
“Sorry, but no. Only a couple more days and we’ll be out of your hair.”
He groaned. “That’s bad news. We’ll miss you.”
“We’ll be right across the street, remember?” she joked. “Come on. Help me take this to the table. Jerry is on his way home and he should be here any minute.”
As she said it, I heard a car rolling up outside and the sound finally pushed me into motion. When I joined them in the kitchen, she smiled at me, but there were questions in her eyes. I gave my head a slight shake to say not now and she nodded, motioning at one of the many dishes on the counter.
“Welcome home, babe,” she said happily. “Grab one of those and let’s eat. I’m pretty sure that’s Jerry.”
“Honey, I’m home,” he called from the foyer.
I laughed, watching with awe and a little bit of envy at the way her face transformed at the sound of his voice. She squealed and laughed when he ran into the kitchen, scooping her up and spinning her in a circle. Her mouth came down to his.
I felt Liam’s eyes on me as they kissed, but I didn’t meet his gaze, choosing to give them some privacy by grabbing two dishes and carrying them to the dining room table.
Liam followed me, but before he could say anything, Jerry and Lorelei were walking into the dining room to join us. Jerry smiled as we set down the food and sat. “Some of the guys from work are having a games night later. Lori and I are going. Would you like to join us?”
I glanced at Liam, meeting that blue-green gaze full on for the first time in hours. His lips tugged into a soft smile and my insides sang, but I didn’t show any external signs of it as I turned back to our friends.
“Sure, that sounds like fun. Just let us shower and change after dinner, but we got some practice at games this weekend and I look forward to finally kicking Liam’s ass.”
He snorted but didn’t contradict me. He really didn’t seem to be taking the bait much today.
I wondered why, but since I wasn’t willing to ask, I just stuffed my face with Lori’s tacos instead.
I’d find out what was on his mind eventually.
All I could do for now was hope that it wasn’t something that would change my mind about the distance I desperately needed to put between us.