“I know,” he sighed, giving her a smile before he softly kissed her on the lips. “Now get in the car, woman. I have big plans for you.”
“Do you now?” She replied with a broad smile, but something caught her attention, and her smile instantly faded.
“Lex?” Liam asked, followed her gaze, but he had no clue what she was looking at. “What’s wrong?”
“I… I thought,” she replied, absentmindedly as she scanned her surroundings.
“You thought?” He asked as he too looked around them.
“I thought I saw him,” she replied, her eyes quickly meeting Liam’s. “I thought I saw him just standing there, but then…”
She searched her surroundings once more.
“He just vanished into thin air,” Lexi said as once more she returned her focus to Liam.
“Lex,” he said, pulling her into his arms. “Every cop in this city is looking for him. His image is everywhere. Now, I know that this asshole is a cocky bastard. But I am pretty sure even he wouldn’t have the balls to hang out right outside a police precinct.”
Lexi stared at him for a moment, then finally she gave him a relieved looking smile.
“I know you’re right,” Lexi sighed. “I guess listening to those other officers… I guess I just got spooked.”
“Come on, Silly Girl,” Liam said, kissing her forehead once more. “Let’s get you home.”
Lexi smiled, before she climbed into the car. Liam closed the door for her, then instinctively looked around the area, just to be sure that he was right, and Lexi was just spooked.
When he was happy that there was no one around, watching them, he hurried to the driver’s side. A few moments later, they were heading back to their apartment.
Chapter 23
Lexi
Lexi woke up slowly, the morning sun shining through a crack in the blinds almost blinding her, so she pinched her eyes shut once more. She rubbed her tired eyes, as she rolled over in the bed to search for Liam, but was surprised to find his side of the bed empty.
She quickly opened her eyes again and was surprised not to be in her own bed. For the briefest moment, she’d forgotten they had spent the night in Liam’s parent’s house. She sat up in bed and looked around the room. There was no sign of Liam, other than his overnight bag on the chair in the corner.
Lexi pushed up from the bed, heading to her overnight bag to get some clean clothes before she headed to the en-suite. Once she was inside, she reached into the huge shower, turning on the water, before she stripped off the t-shirt and panties she was wearing. Pulling back the door once more, she stepped beneath the hot jets of water. She closed her eyes, holding her face up into the warm spray, letting the water wash away the sleep from her eyes.
She wondered where Liam could have gotten to. She knew he hadn’t slept very well the night before. She could feel him tossing and turning all night. Lexi knew that the case was on his mind, as much as he assured her that it wasn’t.
She thought about the day before, outside the police station. She was sure that she had seen the guy on the far side of the road. She’d been as sure as she was that, Liam had been standing next to her.
She knew Liam was probably right. That guy coming to the station would have been such a risky thing to do. Every cop in the city was searching for him, coming to a police station would have been crazy. Besides, what were the chances of him turning up there at the exact moment she was leaving the station with Liam?
She laughed to herself, realising how stupid she was being.
Then she thought about her conversation with Nikki when they were at the disastrous lunch. Lexi knew that once the wedding was over, she would have to have a conversation with Liam. She just wished she could be sure that she wasn’t going to destroy what she and Liam had. She wasn’t ready to lose him again.
With a sigh, she picked up the shampoo and was just about to squirt some into her hand, when the shower door opened suddenly, and a naked Liam stepped in behind her, making her jump with fright.
“Jesus!” She exclaimed, her heart hammering rapidly in her chest. “You scared the crap out of me.”
“Hey,” Liam said, giving her a cheeky smile. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“It’s okay,” Lexi replied, trying to calm her racing heart. “I’m okay.”
“Lexi, you’re shaking,” Liam said, taking her hands in his. “Jesus, I didn’t mean…”
Before he could finish his thought. Lexi pressed her lips against his lips hard, stopping him talking. Pressing her body to his, she reached up, fisting his hair in her hand, pulling him closer to her, kissing him deeper.
“Wow!” Liam said, breathlessly pulling his lips from hers, looking down into her face. “What was that for?”
“That was because I wanted it,” she whispered against his mouth. “Because I want you.”
Liam looked down into her eyes for a moment, but didn’t speak. Lexi had no clue what Liam was thinking. There was thunder in his eyes; a look she had never seen in him before. It was a look that took her breath away.
Without saying a single word, Liam slammed his lips against Lexi’s once more, before pushing her back, pressing her body against the cold, tiled wall.
“I need you,” Liam groaned breathlessly against her mouth as he lifted her from the floor, pinning her to the wall as Lexi instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist. Liam stared into her eyes, before he reached between them, positioning himself against her. He kissed her once more, before he pushed inside her, making her cry out.
Lexi didn’t know why, but something was different about Liam. Something had changed between them. It was like they had suddenly become one. There was a need inside him, inside them both that only the other one could fill.
Liam pushed into her over and over as Lexi held onto him like he was the only thing stopping her from spinning out of control completely.
“Liam,” she moaned breathless against his ear, holding on to him even tighter. “Oh, God, Liam!”
Her heart almost burst through her chest, as she came hard, her whole body vibrating with pleasure. Moments later, Liam cried out too as he erupted inside her, then stilled, gasping for precious breath.
“Jesus!” Liam exclaimed, finally lifting his head. He looked down into Lexi’s eyes and smiled. “You take my breath away, Woman. You have no idea what you do to me.”
Lexi just smiled, as she softly pressed her lips to his.
“Lexi, I love you so much,” Liam gasped, his eyes searching hers. “I can’t wait to share the rest of forever with you. To marry you and make you my wife. To become your husband and the father to our children. I am going to spend every day of the rest of our lives, making you the happiest woman alive.”
His words were like a cold, sharp knife into her soul. She smiled, before she hugged him tightly, unable to look into his eyes any longer. She knew if she did, she would have cried as she had never cried before. She held him for the longest time, the ache inside her almost too much to bear.
“We should really get out of here,” Liam said, finally setting Lexi back down on the cold floor of the shower.
“I…eh… I’ve got to finish showering,” she replied, suddenly unable to look at Liam. It took all her strength to keep her composure together. “I’ll be right out.”
“Okay,” Liam said, kissing her once more before he turned and stepped out of the shower, but then he quickly turned back to add. “Oh, I almost forgot. Mom told me to tell you that the hair stylists will be here soon, and she has booked someone to come for you too.”
“Oh, great,” Lexi replied, forcing a smile onto her face, as she tried hard to swallow the lump in her throat that was almost choking her. “I’ll be as fast as I can.”
“Great,” Liam replied, giving Lexi a strange look. For a moment, Lexi thought he could see she was upset, and if he asked her why she had no clue how she was going to reply to him. But to her relief, he didn’t. Instead, he just gave her a smile, bef
ore closing the shower door.
Lexi held her breath, waiting for the sound of the bathroom door to close. Once it did, Lexi released the breath she was holding, but it came out in a sob. The hot tears she had fought to hold back, finally broke free, and every ounce of sadness she had felt for the last five years finally found its way to the surface.
Collapsing to the floor of the shower, the grief and loss she had fought to contain inside her body since the day the doctor told her that her life had changed forever, came pouring out.
Gasping to catch her breath, Lexi had never truly allowed herself to give the pain she felt a name, but now she had a name for it. It was grief. It was mind numbing, soul-crushing grief.
Grief for the child she lost. Grief for the life she lost, and grief for the joy she would never feel holding her own baby in her arms.
She just buried her face in her hand and sobbed harder and harder.
Lexi had no clue how long she was sitting on the floor when there was a soft tap on the door.
“I’ll be right out!” She called out, as she quickly scrambled up from the floor, trying to pull herself together.
“Lexi,” Nell’s voice came through the door. “I just wanted to let you know that the stylists have arrived. Anytime you’re ready, they will be waiting for you downstairs.”
“I’ll be right there,” Lexi replied, as she turned to knock off the water. She shivered, surprised she hadn’t realised just how cold she was.
Pulling open the door of the shower, she stepped out onto the soft, fluffy bathmat on the floor. She grabbed a towel from the towel rail, wrapping it around her body, before she hurried to the door.
Taking a deep breath, Lexi pulled opened the door, then stepped out into the bedroom. She wasn’t that surprised to see Nell still standing there.
“Hey,” Lexi said, giving her a bright smile, praying her eyes wouldn’t give away the fact that she’d been crying.
“Hey, Sweetheart,” Nell said, giving Lexi a knowing smile. “I just wanted to say; you don’t have to dry your hair. The stylist said she would take care of everything.”
“Okay,” Lexi nodded, giving Nell another broad smile. “That will be great. Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome,” Nell replied, giving her a warm smile. “I will leave you to get dressed. Liam has just gone to drop Sky back to your apartment. He wasn’t sure how she would cope with a huge crowd of people today.
Lexi just smiled, but she knew that Nell could tell there was something wrong with her. She watched her as Nell walked to the door. Lexi was relieved Nell hadn’t pushed her or questioned why her eyes were puffy, as she had no doubt they were, from crying. But when Nell stopped at the door, Lexi held her breath.
“You know,” Nell said, taking a step back into the room. “If there is something you would like to talk about… I’m always here. You know that, right?”
“I know you are,” Lexi said, giving her a grateful smile. “I’m okay, honestly. It’s just… it’s…”
“It’s just been a long, difficult week,” Nell replied, finishing her thought as she walked back toward Lexi. “A lot has happened.”
“It has,” Lexi replied with a smile, refusing to give in to tears once more.
“I know there is a lot going on,” Nell continued, reaching out, taking hold of her hand. “And I won’t pretend I know what you are going through. But what I do know is, Liam loves you more than I have ever seen any man love a woman. I know he’s made mistakes in the past. I know you’ve been hurt by those mistakes. But I know my son, and I know he will never do anything ever to hurt you again.”
“I know he won’t,” Lexi smiled, but something in the way Nell looked at her, made Lexi wonder if she knew more about her past than Lexi realised. Lexi wondered if maybe Nikki had told Nell about the baby.
That thought unsettled her. She trusted Nikki unconditionally. She couldn’t believe she would have betrayed her like that. But there was something in the way Nell looked at her; something in her eyes. In her heart, Lexi knew that Nell knew.
“Just don’t shut him out, Sweetheart,” Nell continued. “He just wants to love you, Lexi. There is nothing you could ever tell him that would make you change how he feels about you.”
“I know,” Lexi replied, having no clue what she should say or do next. She couldn’t believe that Nikki told Nell about the baby. She couldn’t believe that Nikki had let her down so badly. “And I promise, I will talk to Liam. Once today is over, I will talk to him.”
“Good,” Nell said, leaning forward, kissing her on the cheek. “I just want to see you both happy, and you’ve made him so happy coming back. Nothing is going to change that.”
“Thank you, Nell,” Lexi said, trying not to appear as freaked out as she was actually feeling right at that moment.
“I love you, Sweetie,” Nell replied, hugging Lexi tightly. “We all do.”
Lexi didn’t reply. She knew if she said a single word, she would have cried right then and there. Instead, she just hugged Nell back as her mind felt like it was working on overdrive.
“I’d better head back down,” Nell said, releasing Lexi from her embrace. “Before Sean sends out a search party for me.”
Nell gave Lexi one last smile before she turned and walked out of the room, leaving Lexi alone once more.
She walked to the bed and sat down, her heart feeling heavier than it ever had before.
She didn’t know how she was going to face the day, but she knew she would have to. Somehow, she would have to dig deep.
Lexi sat next to Nell in the perfectly decorated backyard and watched as Emmy and Finn exchange their vows. Despite the sadness that Lexi felt in her heart, seeing Finn and Emmy looking so happy couldn’t help but make her smile.
The wedding was small and intimate. Probably no more than forty people. Finn and Emmy had decided to get married in Nell and Sean’s back garden with just family and a select few close friends. The wedding took place down on the lawn under a canopy of beautiful, sweet smelling flowers, and the reception was on the patio, where four beautifully decorated tables had been set up. Lexi thought it was the most beautiful wedding she’d ever seen.
Lexi watched Emmy smiling up at Finn, dressed in his perfect tuxedo. He looked handsome and so happy, as did all the boys, especially Liam. Lexi had always loved how he looked in a tuxedo. He would always say that maybe he was secretly James Bond, only hotter. This had always made Lexi smile.
Her focus returned to Emmy. She was simply stunning. Her dress was a simple satin dress, a straight fitted skirt with a halter neck. In her hair, she was wearing a delicate tiara and a floor length veil, with a lace edge at the bottom. She couldn’t have looked more beautiful if she’d tried.
Finally, the minister announced that they were husband and wife, as everyone gathered there cheered and clapped to celebrate, while Finn took Emmy in his arms, kissing her with a look of sheer happiness on his face.
Lexi’s smiled as her eyes naturally searched out Liam’s. The moment she found him, the smile on her face widened. Liam gave her a wink as he smiled too.
Lexi thought about what Nell had said. About how there was nothing she could tell Liam that would ever make him change how much he loved her. In her heart, she knew that was true. Just like she knew he deserved to know the truth about what happened back then.
She glanced over at Nikki, who was sitting on the far side of the aisle, and her smile faded. Even though she knew that Nikki’s heart was probably in the right place, Lexi couldn’t believe that she would have betrayed her confidence as she had. It wasn’t her story to tell, not even to Nell. She just felt so let down and disappointed that her friend had done what she had.
“Are you okay?” Liam’s voice startled her, pulling her from her thoughts. She hadn’t even noticed that everyone was now heading back towards the patio. “You were miles away.”
“I was just thinking how happy Emmy and Finn look,” Lexi smiled as she turned at looked up at Liam. “
I love that they are getting married in your parents’ home.”
“Well, I think it is becoming something of a tradition,” Liam replied, giving her a wide grin. “Landen and Amelia were married here too. Now Finn and Emmy, and it got me thinking. Maybe we could do the same thing.”
“Get married here?” Lexi asked, surprised that he would even be thinking about stuff like that.
“Yeah! Why not?” Liam replied, giving her a questioning look. “I meant what I said yesterday, I want to marry you, Lexi Daniels, and I want to do it as soon as possible.”
“I would like that very much,” Lexi sighed as she leaned into Liam, softly kissing him on the lips. “But I was thinking. I would like to talk to you about something.”
“Oh?” He said, giving her a worried look. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah,” Lexi said, smiling at him once more. “I don’t mean now. But later, okay?”
“Okay,” Liam replied with a smile, but Lexi could see the worry in his eyes.
Lexi leaned in, kissing him softly on the lips, before she linked arms with him, letting Liam lead her to dinner.
After dinner, Lexi sat next to Liam as Landen stood and made his best man speech. Listening to Landen talking about his brothers, Lexi realised how much these five boys loved each other. Sure, they all had their own lives, in their own worlds, but the bond between the five of them was unbreakable.
Her gaze fell to Nikki and Lexi sighed. There was a time she thought of Nikki like her sister. She was the one she knew would have her back, no matter what. But now she wasn’t so sure.
“You’re very quiet today,” Liam leaned closer to her, whispering into her ear.
“I hadn’t noticed I was,” Lexi replied, smiling at him. “I think I’m just enjoying soaking in the atmosphere.”
“Have you and Nikki fallen out?” Liam asked, surprising Lexi with his question.
“No,” she replied with a nervous laugh. “What makes you think that?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Liam shrugged. “There was a time when you two were inseparable; you’ve barely said two words to her today.”
Liam (The Murphy Boys Series Book 4) Page 23