Chapter 65
LIAM
Ilay in my bed in the dark, a warm breeze drifting in through my open windows.
My hands were hooked behind my head but a big part of me wanted to get up, march down the hall to London’s bedroom, and do the things to her that kiss had promised, but I stayed right where I was, my dick at war with my brain.
About an hour ago, London Walker had put her pride aside and she’d told me how she felt.
I still couldn’t believe it’d really happened and I needed a minute to think it all through.
As much as I’d rather have buried myself inside her all night long and left the thinking for another time, this wasn’t just some random girl I could distract myself with.
It was London—and what had happened out there in the garden had been fucking huge for her. Admitting that she was falling for me had been big enough, but then agreeing to see where it went? I hadn’t seen that coming.
I smiled as it dawned on me that it meant she and I were now actually together. Sure, we weren’t labeling it and we were going to take it one day at a time, but I knew I loved her and just getting to be with her at all was enough for me.
I rolled over in bed, closing my eyes and waiting for sleep to take me, but it didn’t come. I was hot, and horny, and completely blown away by this turn of events. I’d known she was getting attached. I’d felt it in the way she looked at me, talked to me, and even in the way she’d touched me.
The part that had been surprising was that she’d admitted it. Out loud.
To me.
Not to Olivia, Abigail, or Lorelei, but to me. She’d even looked me in the eyes while she was saying it and she’d meant every word. I was as sure of that as I’d ever been of anything.
On the flip side of the coin, I now had to face my own fears about giving this a go. London was afraid of losing me. I was afraid of losing everything. My job. The company. Nathan. Her family.
Maybe Bella was right and I should’ve spoken to my father while we were in Texas.
Right now, the possibility of having to go work for him was giving me the heebie-jeebies.
I would rather spend a whole weekend locked up alone in a haunted house without even a stick of sage to protect me than to spend even an afternoon working with him.
I tossed and turned for a while, considering all the ways in which my life would change if this relationship tanked. Here was the thing, though. I should’ve thought about all that before I’d let her kiss me that very first time.
Ever since, we’d been screwed. It wouldn’t even have mattered if we’d never slept together, because that kiss had told me that our chemistry was just as insane as I’d always thought it might be.
After that, we’d always been headed down a different path than if we’d kept our hands—and lips—to ourselves.
Eventually, I drifted off to sleep and dreamed all sorts of things about her. The dirty stuff, sure, but also the potential fallout that would destroy everything, and lastly, the alternative: her eventually walking down the aisle toward me.
I woke up with a start before her veil could be lifted, breathing hard and with an erection the size of Big Ben. Sweat ran down my forehead and I groaned, collapsing back onto my mattress and swiping my palms over my face.
I wasn’t sure what had been sexier, the actual steamy stuff I’d dreamed about or the mental image of London in a wedding dress, but those boner-killing scenes of what might happen if we didn’t work out also clung to my mind.
This was, without a doubt, the biggest gamble I’d ever taken, but I didn’t regret it. What was done had already been done ages ago and having nightmares about it now wasn’t going to change anything.
Besides, I didn’t want it to. I finally had an opportunity to be with her and there was absolutely no way I was letting that slip between my fingers. Thirty minutes later, I was at the breakfast table with the others, but London and Lulu had apparently already eaten.
“They said something about a quick yoga session before our first group activity,” Nina explained after swallowing a sip of her orange juice.
“I’ve already looked into studios around our offices for London now that I know how much she enjoys yoga.
There are a few promising options for her to choose from. ”
“You’re too good to her,” I joked. “She might just move in with you if you keep doing so much.”
Nina laughed. “I’m her assistant. Yours too, so let me know if you need me to look into anything for you. I like feeling on top of things.”
“Thanks, but I found my own gym.” I looked over to the doors leading out of the house just as London and Lulu reappeared.
They were both glowing and looking freshly showered, which I supposed meant I really had been late for breakfast this morning.
Most of the others had already been finished eating by the time I’d gotten down here, but I was willing to bet I was the only one who’d had only a couple hours sleep last night.
London smiled at me as she headed to the coffee station.
It was quick, small, and discreet, but it lit my insides on fire and made me feel like I imagined a giddy teenage girl did when her crush accidentally looked her way.
I returned the smile and told myself to stop acting crazy.
Then mercifully, our coach arrived and I got up to greet him.
“Are you ready for this?” he asked, no plastic whistle around his neck today but a suspicious basket of stuff next to his feet.
I gave it a pointed look before I glanced back up at him. “I’m not sure. What’s that all about?”
“You’ll see. Want to help me gather everyone?”
“Most are out on the deck finishing their coffee,” I said, stepping aside and waving him toward the breakfast area. “Can you talk us through it there, or do I need to ask them to change and meet us in the foyer?”
“Nah. They can stay out there. You don’t need any particular kind of clothes for this morning’s activity and they’re welcome to keep finishing their drinks while I give them the task.”
I nodded. “Alright, then. Lead the way. I’m beyond curious about what has to happen with all that stuff.”
We walked out onto the deck together and I got everyone’s attention before I fell back, as eager to find out what we were in for today as they were. Coach Brad smiled and looked around the table.
“Good morning, Walker and Co Marketing,” he said enthusiastically. “I hope you’ve all had enough to eat and that you’re bursting with mental energy, because today, that’s what you’ll need.”
I saw Sammy breathe a sigh of relief, grinning at the sandals on his feet, those same ones I now knew his Gran had bought him. He leaned back in his seat, suddenly considerably more relaxed as he observed Brad with keen interest.
The coach smiled. “Your main activity for the day is called the Brand Story Challenge. Every team will be given a random object and you’ll have two hours to create a brand story, a tagline, and a mini pitch for your product.
At the end of your time, you’ll present it Shark Tank-style to London and Liam, who will also be presenting on a product, but at the same time, will use your pitches as a learning opportunity. ”
“That sounds good. What kind of random objects are we talking?” London asked, moving closer to take a look inside the basket. “Is that a cowboy boot?”
“Yep.” Brad grinned and pulled out a few more examples. “We’ve also got a toothbrush, a pineapple, a few more fun things that each presents its own challenge to come up with a unique, creative pitch for.”
The energy on the deck changed instantly, with people edging forward on their seats to get a better look at the objects he’d set down. After that, he assigned them to teams and gave each team an object. Then he turned to us.
“Alright, you two will also have to come up with a pitch and you’ll be presenting to all of them.” He handed over something that was wrapped in a black garbage bag. “Good luck. I’ll see y’all later.”
London had accepted our object from him, but we kept it in the bag until we were alone in the den. I shut the door behind us. “So, what did we get?”
She sat down on an overstuffed leather armchair and opened the bag, peering into it and groaning. She pulled out our object. “A plunger? Are you kidding me?”
I grinned as I moved further into the room. “It’s perfect for you, actually. You’ve been emotionally clogged for months.”
“And you’ve been full of—oh look, just like this plunger’s future target.”
I laughed and dropped down on the armchair opposite hers.
Even while holding a plunger, the girl was dang hot.
All that long blonde hair was hanging in a damp braid over one shoulder and she wore a white sundress that in no way, shape, or form made me think about those images of her in a wedding dress from last night.
A soft groan came out of me as I begged my brain to just forget about that dream, but it looked like it was tightly wedged in there. Okay, then. I’ll just have to keep lying to myself.
“What was that all about?” she asked, softly illuminated by the morning sun shining in through the windows behind her.
I shrugged. “Nothing. Just thinking about how I could’ve really used that to unclog you a couple days ago. It would’ve saved us both a lot of pain.”
“Who said anything about pain?” She pumped her eyebrows at me. “The radio silence was actually pretty nice. Peaceful.”
“You’re telling me,” I joked. “Life hasn’t been that serene or that easy since before I left Houston to start working for you guys in New York.”
She stuck her tongue out at me. “Okay, funny guy. Let’s just get to work on this pitch, shall we? I suggest we use the example of how full of it you’ve been, and suddenly, thanks to this handy little tool, you’re all better now.”
“I think we should focus on the actual product,” I said, leaning back in my chair and realizing that I was feeling more like myself than I had in days.
Bantering and disagreeing with her was one of my favorite parts of every day and it felt damn good to have it back. London sighed when she noticed me just staring at her with a smile on my face and no sharp comment for her.
“Oh boy.” She smirked. “I need you present and accounted for, Liam Jones. This pitch is supposed to be ours, not just mine. Or perhaps you’d like to try our product? Who knows? It might just be able to unclog your suddenly overloaded brain.”