“I love you, Lex,” he breathed against her mouth. “More than you will ever know.”
Chapter 22
Liam smiled as Lexi rolled over and slowly opened her eyes. He had barely slept a wink all night. He’d just lay there, watching her sleep, so many thoughts tumbling around his head.
She’d wanted to leave again. Okay, it wasn’t forever, but she wanted to run away to the far side of the country because she was scared.
In his heart, Liam knew the right thing to do was let her go. If she had gone home to her parents, she would have at least been safe. She could have gone there, and he would have done whatever it took to catch that asshole. Then she would have been free to come back home, no longer afraid to live her life, and they could be happy. He just couldn’t let her go.
He also thought about what Nikki had said. Something had happened to Lexi, something huge. He knew that the scar on her body had something to do with it. It had to be. He just didn’t know what it was from.
Liam decided he was going to talk to Dylan about it. Being a doctor, he might have had some insight on where the scar could have come from. Also, he had been one of her doctors when she was in the hospital. He would have seen her medical records; maybe he knew exactly where the scar had come from.
It was no wonder he couldn’t sleep with so much on his mind.
“Good morning,” she breathed out sleepily, as she gave him a warm smile.
“Good Morning,” he replied, leaning forward to kiss her softly on the lips.
“You look tired,” Lexi said as she pushed up on her elbow, looking down at Liam. “Did you get any sleep?”
“Some,” Liam lied, but he wasn’t ready to have that conversation, not yet. He just wanted to lie here next to her, spending time with her, leaving the rest of the world locked outside their door.
“You know, you’re a dreadful liar,” Lexi replied with a smile, leaning forward, kissing Liam on the lips once more then resting her head on his chest. “Do you want to tell me what’s wrong?”
“Nothing for you to worry about,” Liam sighed, kissing the top of her head. “I promise.”
“You don’t need to protect me,” she said, and Liam could hear the trace of sadness in her voice.
“I’m not,” Liam replied, reaching down to take hold of her chin before he tilted back her head, so she was now looking at him. “I’m just leaving the rest of the world outside that door. When we are in here; in this room. I only want to think about you and me and our future together.”
Lexi smiled, but Liam noticed that her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. He wanted to beg her to talk to him, to tell him what was in her heart that made her so sad sometimes. But he knew she was not ready to talk yet. He could see it in her eyes. Also, Nikki’s words thundered through his mind.
The last thing Liam wanted to do was push her and risk losing her once again.
Lexi rested her head back down on Liam’s chest and released a long, calming breath.
“Aren’t you going to be late for work?” She asked as her fingertips traced across the lines of the muscles on his stomach, sending a bolt of electricity through his body.
“Not today,” Liam said as he ran his fingers through her hair. “I’ve decided to take a leave of absence for a few days.”
“Wait!” Lexi said, sitting up in the bed, looking down at Liam once more. “What? Why would you do that?”
“I did it because I needed to be here with you,” Liam explained, pushing up in bed. “And I did it because you’re right. You are all I can think about, Lex. My focus is not where it should be, and I’m missing something, I’m sure of it. So, for now, I’m handing the case over to Matt. I called him about an hour ago and told him. He is one of the best, and he is going to get this asshole. But I just need some time to clear my thoughts, because, until I do, I am no good to anyone in there.”
“Jesus, Liam,” Lexi said giving him a look of disbelief. “Don’t you think this is something we should have at least talked about?”
“And what would you have said, Lex?” Liam sighed, giving her a questioning look.
“I would have told you that this was insane!” Lexi exclaimed, staring at Liam with a look of disbelief. “He is out there… he is out there right now, planning his next attack. And you… you could stop him.”
“No, I can’t!” Liam retorted with a sigh. “Don’t you get it? I can’t think straight when I am out there, because all I can think about is you and keeping you safe. I promised Matt if I thought me being on the case was an issue that I would do the right thing and step back. This is the right thing to do, Lex. You know it is. I need to step back until I can focus on my job the way I need to.”
“But I don’t want to be the reason you give up something you love,” Lexi reasoned, giving him a sad smile.
“I’m not giving it up,” Liam assured her with a broad smile. “I’m taking a break because I don’t want to lose someone I love more. Besides, the wedding is tomorrow. I need to be there for Finn and Emmy too. It’s not forever, Lex. I promise you. Monday I will go back to work. Hopefully, by then, that asshole will have been caught and locked up where he belongs.”
Liam stared at her for a moment, waiting for Lexi to respond, but she didn’t say a word.
“Please don’t be mad at me, Lex,” he said giving her one of his famous, cheeky grins. “I hate when you’re angry with me.”
Finally, Lexi smiled too, before she leaned in and kissed Liam softly on the lips.
“Do you know how much I love you?” She asked, looking up into his eyes. “I mean, sometimes I think you’re completely nuts, but I do love you.”
“Good,” Liam said pushing her back down onto the bed. “Because I’m crazy about you Lexi. Nothing else matters to me as long as I have you.”
He claimed her lips with his once, climbing over her on the bed.
“Lexi!” Liam called down the hallway toward the bedroom. “Do you plan on being ready any time today?”
He laughed to himself, knowing that his words would fall on deaf ears. He had no idea why it took her forever to get ready, but it was something Liam always thought was kind of cute about Lexi. She would say five minutes and vanish for at least half an hour.
“I’ll be right there,” her voice floated out from the bedroom.
“You know,” Liam said, looking at Sky, who was watching him closely. “She really won’t be right here.”
Sky barked as if agreeing with Liam, making him laugh out loud just as his phone began to buzz in his pocket. He pulled it out and sighed when he saw Matt’s name flashing on the screen. He pressed down on the accept button.
“Hey,” Liam said when he brought the phone to his ear. “You miss me already.”
“Yeah,” Matt sighed, and instantly Liam knew why.
“Shit,” Liam instantly said, before Matt could get a word out. “It’s happened again, hasn’t it?”
“We found a body about an hour ago,” Matt explained with a deep sigh. “Jesus, Liam. She was a mess.”
“Fuck,” Liam said, guilt coursing through him. He felt like he was letting everyone down by removing himself from the case, but he would be letting Lexi down if he went back, leaving her alone. “This is a fucking nightmare.”
“I know,” Matt sighed. “But Liam, I didn’t call you to drag you back into this shit. I get why you stepped back, and for what it’s worth, I think you made the right call. I just wanted to keep you up to date.”
“Thanks, Matt,” Liam replied, grateful to his friend. “I’m grateful for that.”
“Actually, there was another reason,” Matt sighed, releasing a long breath.
“Oh!” Liam said, holding his breath.
“Liam, this guy was angry,” Matt continued. “Like, I mean he has completely unravelled. The things he did to this girl… I just wanted to warn you. You need to stay close to Lexi because something has changed, and I think that something is Lexi and the photos.”
“I do too,”
Liam replied, as Sky jumped from the sofa, and ran down the hallway, Liam realised Lexi was coming. “Matt, I need to go. I’ll drop by the station in a couple of hours.”
“Sure,” Matt replied, before Liam hung up the phone, slipping it back into his pocket. He quickly turned to look towards the hallway but froze when he saw Lexi standing there. He had no clue how long she was there or how much she’d heard.
“So,” she said, giving him a strange smile and once more Liam held his breath. But then her smile widened as she gave him a twirl. “How do I look?”
“You look…” he said blowing out a deep breath, a relieved smile spread across his face as he walked slowly toward her. “You look breath-taking.”
“Why thank you, kind sir” she replied, giving him a genuine smile. It was the first time since this whole mess started that Liam thought Lexi looked truly happy. When Liam reached her, he took her face in his hand, giving her a broad smile.
“No, Lex, thank you,” Liam whispered as he held her eyes with his. “Thank you for being you and making me the happiest man alive.”
“Aww,” Lexi blushed as she leaned in, pressing her body up against his. “When did you become so sweet?”
“I’ve always been this sweet,” Liam grinned. “But I have a rep to protect.”
“Well, your secret is safe with me,” Lexi laughed as she leaned up on her tippy toes, softly kissing her lips against Liam. “Now, are we going to do this or not?”
“Well, if you want, we can head back to the bedroom,” Liam said, wiggling his eyebrows and giving her a cheeky smile.
“Not a chance, Detective Murphy,” Lexi sighed, then laughed as she stepped around Liam. “You got me to get all dressed up; now we are at least doing lunch.”
“Spoilsport,” Liam said, slapping Lexi’s bottom as she passed by.
“This is the one,” Liam said, as he and Lexi stared down into the glass case at the two-carat diamond, mounted on a platinum band. She had tried on over a dozen rings, and this was the one they both kept coming back to. It was perfect, just like Lexi was. “I know it’s the one you like, and it has you written all over it.”
“It’s too expensive,” Lexi replied, shaking her head.
“Lexi, be serious,” Liam sighed. “We’ve been through this. And I’m telling you, this is the ring.”
He stared at her for a moment, waiting for her to say something. She stared at him for a moment, before her eyes drifted down to the ring once more. Liam smiled to himself. He knew this was the ring.
“We’ll take the ring,” Liam said, looking at the shop assistant.
“Certainly, Sir,” the girl said, looking pleased that she was going to make the sale. “Would you like to try it on again?”
“Not try it on,” Liam said, looking at Lexi. “Put it on.”
“Liam,” Lexi sighed, giving him a stern look. “You said we’d wait till after the wedding.”
“And we will,” Liam replied, giving her a broad smile. “But today; today it’s just you and me, and I want my fiancé to wear her ring.”
Lexi smiled at his words.
“Tell me how I got to be so lucky again?” Lexi whispered as she leaned up and softly kissed him again.
“I’m the lucky one,” Liam replied with a grin, before he leaned in, kissing her softly on the lips.
Ten minutes later, as they were walking back to the car outside the jewellery store.
“I was thinking,” Liam said as he unlocked his car and pulled open the passenger door. “I need to drop by the station for a few minutes; I need to sign some of my paperwork from yesterday. I left without filing it, and I need to make sure it’s done right. But after that, I am all yours, and I had the craziest idea.”
“Are your ideas ever anything but crazy?” Lexi laughed as she climbed into the car, sticking her tongue out at Liam. He chuckled as he closed the car door before he hurried around to the driver’s side.”
“So, tell me,” Lexi asked as she turned to Liam once he too was seated in the car. “What’s this crazy idea?”
“Well,” Liam replied, taking a deep calming breath. He knew what he was about to ask her was completely off the wall, but something deep inside made him think it was the right thing to do. “How do you feel about heading to city hall and getting married today?”
Lexi froze, staring at him for a moment before she burst out laughing.
“Okay,” Liam replied, as he started the car engine. “Not exactly the reply I was expecting.”
“Oh my, God!” Lexi exclaimed, the smile from her face fading. “You’re… you’re serious.”
“As a heart attack,” Liam replied, glancing over at her. “I know it seems… sudden.”
“Sudden!” Lexi replied, giving him a nervous laugh. “Liam, we’ve been back together a week. This isn’t sudden; this is insanity.”
“Why?” He asked, turning to her, and he stopped at a red light. “Lex, I know that I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“And I want to spend mine with you,” she replied, with a beautiful smile. “But I want to do it right, Liam. I want my dad to walk me down the aisle, and I want to have a first dance with you. I would marry you today, I swear to God, I would. But not like this.”
Liam stared at her for a moment, knowing she was completely right. He didn’t know what he’d been thinking. He was just looking at her in the jewellery store; she was so happy; happier than he’d seen her since she came thundering back into his life, and he wanted it all.
Finally, he smiled, leaning forward, softly kissing her on the lips.
“You’re right,” he replied, smiling at her. “Of course you are.”
“You’re not mad at me?” Lexi asked, giving him a nervous smile.
“I could never be mad at you, Lex,” Liam assured her as he leaned in, kissing her once more, as the car behind them honked its horn, telling him the light had turned green. Liam smiled once more before he returned his attention back to the road ahead.
A short while later, Liam pulled his car into his space at the station, before he turned to look at Lexi.
“Are you ready?” He asked, giving her a questioning look.
“You want me to come in with you?” She asked, looking a little surprised.
“You didn’t think I was going to leave you sitting here in the car did you?” Liam asked as he reached for her hand, picking it up, bring it to his lips. “There is not a chance that was happening.”
“Oh,” she replied, giving him a nervous smile. “Okay.”
Liam climbed out of the car, rushing around to Lexi’s side, taking a quick look around, before he opened the door for her.
He offered her his hand, before helping her out of the car, then turning slowly, leading her into the station.
Once they were inside, Liam led her to his desk, telling her to take a seat, that he would be as quick as he could be. Giving her one more kiss, Liam hurried off to the conference room where they had all the evidence they’d gather for this case, which, if he was honest, wasn’t really that much.
“Liam!” Matt exclaimed when he looked up and saw Liam walking into the room. “Couldn’t stay away, huh?”
“How’s it going?” Liam asked as he made his way to the notice board that all the crime scene photos were on. His eyes fell to the newest picture on the wall. It was a pretty blonde, with deep brown eyes, and Liam couldn’t help but see the resemblance between her and Lexi.
“You see it too?” Matt asked, standing up from his seat walking towards Liam. “I don’t think it’s any coincidence that she looked like Lexi. Though you wouldn’t recognise her now. Her face was…”
“I get the picture,” Liam said cutting him off, having heard enough. “Have we had any hits from the photograph that was leaked to the press?”
“Hundreds,” Matt sighed deeply. “So now we have to filter through the leads from the crazies.”
“And in the meantime,” Liam hissed with anger. “That scumbag is out there, com
pletely unravelling, and no one is safe.”
“We’ll get him, Liam,” Matt assured him, but it offered Liam little comfort.
“I’m going to get Lexi to my folk's place,” he said turning, walking towards the door slowly. “The girls are staying there tonight with Emmy. Finn is staying at Landen’s with Callum and Dylan.”
“And you?” Matt asked, but the look on his face said he already knew the answer.
“I’m staying at Mom’s,” Liam replied with a sigh. “There is no way I am leaving Lexi alone.”
“You know we are going to catch him,” Matt assured Liam once more.
“I know,” Liam replied, smiling at his partner, before he turned and headed back out into the squad room, towards his desk where Lexi was waiting.
“Are you ready to go?” He asked her, as she looked up, smiling the moment she saw him.
“Sure,” Lexi replied brightly as she stood up. Liam took hold on her hand, leading her out of the station.
As they walked back to the car, Liam was lost in his thoughts. He kept thinking about the latest victim and how much like Lexi she was. He knew Matt was right; this was no coincidence. He was sure that it was a message, one he heard loud and clear.
When they reached the car, he hit the central locking, before he opened the passenger door for Lexi. As he did, he glanced up and stopped the moment he saw the look on her face.
“Lexi,” Liam said, giving her a questioning look. “Are you okay?”
“When were you going to tell me about the new victim?” She asked, surprising him with her question. “Two of the cops in the squad room were talking. Clearly they didn’t realise who I was.”
“I was going to tell you,” Liam spluttered, trying to think of how he should respond to her. “Just after the wedding and after today. I didn’t want you getting upset, or worried again.”
“Liam, you can’t treat me like I am some delicate flower,” Lexi replied, smiling up at him. “I’m a big girl.”
Liam (The Murphy Boys Series Book 4) Page 22