Liam’s jaw tightened. “Katie, can I have a word with you?”
She nodded, fighting to keep her polite smile in place as she followed him down the short hall to his office. Apart from a desk and two chairs, one covered with chainsaw safety gear, the space was empty, as if he hadn’t bothered to move in yet.
She glanced out the window. Liam had a view of the parking lot. As an equity partner, if that’s what he got, she had a feeling her office would stare a wall.
Liam closed the door. “Katie, are you sure about this? It kills me to think you felt trapped, that you had to take his offer.”
She did, but not by him. “You know, the funny thing is, before you came over last night, I thought I’d solved my problems. I thought that I’d found a way to make my dreams come true and still have you in my life. I was going to ask you to come with me. To leave behind your job and Georgia—”
“Yes.”
She shook her head. “I made my choice.”
“You haven’t signed the contracts,” he pointed out.
“We will,” she said. “We will.”
He heard the hint of sadness in her voice. It was as if the spark that burned bright inside her had been extinguished. And God, it was killing him that he’d had a hand in stealing away her dreams.
“You shouldn’t have to sacrifice your plans for your brothers,” he said.
“They’ve given up a lot for me,” she said. “And no one walks away from three million dollars, especially when someone is offering them everything else they want. Even Brody can’t say no to the deal Eric offered.”
Liam waved his hand toward the closed door. “Do you think they are still here?”
She nodded. “They’ll wait for me. Chad is probably hitting on your receptionist. Now that he officially works for Moore Timber, you better warn your female staff. He is Mr. One-Night Stand.”
“If they’re still here, go get those contracts and tear them up.” He closed the space between them, looping one arm around her waist and drawing her close. “Take the job in Montana. I’ll go with you. Together, we’ll save horses, goats, whatever you want.”
“I can’t,” she said. “You didn’t see their expressions when Eric said the number, or when he agreed to help Chad buy a helicopter and outfit it for logging. If my dad were alive, he’d be so proud. And wait until Josh finds out he finished his last haul. He hates driving trucks. Now he can go back to school, work for Moore Timber, whatever he wants.”
“Did you even try to negotiate with Eric?” Liam demanded.
“No. At the end of the day, family is more important. And who knows, in a few years, I’ll probably be glad I’m not living in some unfamiliar town, responsible for hundreds of animals no one wants to adopt.” She offered a forced smile. “Not all dreams come true.”
“No, Katie,” he murmured lacing his fingers through her hair, running his thumb down her cheek. “Don’t say that.”
He wanted her to live her life unguarded, going after what she wanted, finding happiness, one lonely and abandoned animal at a time. She wasn’t his to keep. He knew that now. He’d betrayed her trust twice, and still she continued to believe in him. She’d blown him away last night when she’d taken him at his word, trusting that he hadn’t tried to set her up. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t put her first.
A plan formed in his mind. It might backfire or fall apart. Hell, maybe he was crazy. But he had to try. For too long, he’d been so afraid of failing—Eric, the company, his sister, Katie—that he hadn’t stopped to think that letting this deal crash and burn might be part of loving Katie.
“I’m not going to let you give up,” he said. “I love you, Katie. I want to be the guy who makes your dreams come true, not the one who shuts them down.”
He lowered his lips to hers, kissing her, quickly deepening the connection. She moaned against his mouth and he drew her flush up against his body. He knew what she liked; the places to touch that would leave her screaming his name. With one palm pressed against her back, he ran his free hand down her neck. With his fingertips, he gently traced the V-shaped neckline of her button-down shirt.
He wanted to dip low between her breasts and undo the buttons. But that wasn’t part of his plan. And he didn’t have much time. Leah, their receptionist, would only entertain Chad Summers for so long.
Moving his hand over her shirt, he held on to her hip as his mouth kissed a path over her jaw, down her neck. Her moans grew louder without his lips covering hers. Katie pulled at his flannel shirt, freeing it from his jeans. But when her fingers began to toy with the buttons, he stepped back, capturing her wrists in his hands.
“You’re so damn beautiful. I want you so fucking much.” He looked into her green eyes, burning bright with desire as her lips formed a sweet smile. One look and he knew this was worth a shot.
Holding her wrists with one hand, he touched her cheek with the other. He drank in the sight, memorizing it, knowing that in a moment, it would break apart.
Liam claimed her mouth, his kiss hard and demanding. His free hand roamed over her curves. She struggled against his hold, but he held tight. He deepened the kiss, savoring the taste and feel of her, the way her body pressed up against him.
Katie moaned as he trailed kisses over her jaw, down her neck.
“More, Liam,” she begged. “Please.”
Using his body, he guided her back until her thighs pressed against the edge of his desk. “I wish I could bend you over my desk and lift your skirts.”
“Liam.” She arched, trying to press up against him even though he still held her wrists tightly between them. “Please. Don’t hold back.”
“Katie?” Brody’s voice echoed in the hall. A second later, the door to Liam’s office swung opened.
“Let her go,” Brody demanded.
Liam stepped away, releasing Katie’s wrists as her brothers filled the cramped office space, confirming two things. Liam’s office walls were way too thin.
And those contracts? In a few minutes, they’d be history.
Chapter 19
KATIE FELL BACK against the desk. She’d been so lost in Liam’s kiss, in the way he’d held her as if he never wanted to let go, that she’d forgotten for one brief moment that her brothers were nearby. She steadied herself just in time to see Chad grab a fistful of Liam’s shirt with one hand, drawing his other back to take a swing.
Scrambling, and nearly falling over thanks to her stupid heels, she grabbed on to her brother’s arm. “You promised, Chad.”
Katie turned her attention to Brody. “You too.”
“We did.” Her oldest brother nodded to Chad. “Let him go.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” But Chad did as he was told, releasing Liam. Katie exhaled, feeling a rush of relief.
“You have every right to take a swing,” Liam said.
“Don’t goad them,” she hissed, looking at him.
“Oh, I want to,” Brody said, his tone leaving no room for debate—he meant what he said. “Still, we did promise Katie. If she wants to do whatever you two were doing, we won’t stop her.”
“It won’t happen again,” Liam said. “You have my word. It’s over.”
“What?” Panic rose as she turned to Liam. He didn’t mean those words. He wouldn’t walk away from her. Not again.
“Good-bye, Katie,” Liam said.
She placed her palms flat against his chest. “You’re not walking out of my life. Not this time.”
Liam shrugged. “The deal’s done, Katie.”
“Liam,” she gasped. Those words felt like a slap to the face. He couldn’t mean them. He’d said he loved her. He’d made promises—
“No.” Brody stepped forward. Raising the contracts, he tore them in half. Opening his hands, the pieces fell to the floor. “No way in hell am I giving my blessing for my little sister
to work for you. What you do behind closed doors is your business, Katie. But I’m not signing a document that requires you to work for him.”
“Katie, I’m with Brody on this,” Chad said. “You shouldn’t be bound by some contract to work for this guy.”
“They’re right,” Liam added.
Katie stared at the pile of papers on the floor and then up at Liam, the motivation behind his words crystalizing in her mind. “Chad and Brody, wait in the hall.”
Chad shook his head. “Not this time.”
“Yes. Leave the door open if you insist.” Her brothers relented, moving just outside the doorway, never once looking away from Liam.
“You did this on purpose.” Katie stared into his deep brown eyes, which still shone with the love he’d professed before setting her up. “You wanted to give them a reason to walk away. Are you crazy? This deal—it was in Moore Timber’s best interest, your best interest!”
“Honey, when are you going to get it?” Liam smiled ruefully. “I want what is best for you. Always. I have from the beginning. Now you’re free to take that job in Montana.”
The way he’d faced her brothers all those years ago, knowing it would end in a fight, how he’d brought them to this moment when she tried to sacrifice her hopes and plans for the future . . .
“Oh Liam, when are you going to understand, you can’t decide that for me.” She glanced at the two imposing men hovering in the hall and raised her voice. “None of you can.”
Chapter 20
KATIE STEPPED ONTO Georgia’s blue stone patio and slowly approached Lena, who was reading a book with the ever-present dog, Hero, at her feet. Katie was tempted to rush over, ranting like a crazy person. After the meeting and the scene in Liam’s office, she felt as if she wouldn’t be able to hold back much longer. But she didn’t want to send Lena into flight mode, not when she desperately needed to talk to Georgia’s new friend.
“Lena?” she called when she was ten feet away.
Both dog and owner looked up.
“Marie said I would find you out here,” Katie said, referencing Eric’s longtime housekeeper. “Do you mind if I join you?”
“Sure.” Lena offered a tentative smile. “But Georgia’s not here. She has an event at Nate’s preschool, followed by a playdate at the playground in town. I don’t expect her back until dinnertime.”
“I was hoping we could chat. I could really use a friend today who doesn’t know Liam, Georgia’s brother, very well. Are you planning to stay in Independence Falls?”
“I’m not sure yet,” Lena said, her fingers playing with the cover of the paperback she’d been reading. “I don’t have anywhere else to be at the moment. Portland—it doesn’t feel like home anymore. I gave my ex the house in our divorce. He has friends nearby and a job. It made sense.”
Katie drew her legs up under her, settling into the cushioned lounge chair. “Do you have family? Siblings? Brothers?”
“I do. But they’re not exactly in my life right now.”
“Good for you. Brothers are a pain. Trust me.” Quickly, before it sank in that she was pouring out the intimate details of her life to a virtual stranger and her dog, Katie told Lena the history of her relationship with Liam up to and including this morning’s incident at the Moore Timber offices. Marie interrupted briefly to bring out a tray of lemonade. But by the end Lena was staring wide-eyed into her cup.
“I’m sorry,” Katie said at the end of her saga. “You don’t know me. Or Liam. But, well, what do you think? I mean, he told me he loved me and walked out of my life. Again. And he had the gall to tell me he was doing it for me! I always dismissed the guys who just wanted to hang out and have a beer with my brothers. But after today? They’re probably a safer bet.”
Lena nodded, reaching down to pet Hero. “But you don’t love the other guys.”
“I didn’t say I love Liam,” Katie clarified.
“I know.” Lena stood and Hero rose with her. “Wait right here. I’ll be back.”
A minute later, the woman and her dog reappeared with a bottle of tequila and a bag of chocolate chips.
“A long time ago, before, well, everything,” Lena said with a soft smile, “my girlfriends and I would get together for tequila whenever one of us needed relationship advice.”
Katie cocked her head, studying the bottle. “Did it work?”
“Sometimes.” Lena held out her hand for Katie’s lemonade glass. “May I?”
Katie handed it over and watched as Lena poured the lemonade into the grass. Dog at her side, she filled the glass with two, maybe three shots. Then she set the bottle on the ground and reclaimed her chair.
“You’re not having any?” Katie asked.
“No.” Lena shook her head. “The chocolate chips are for me. I’m not much of a drinker anymore.”
Katie took a long, deep sip, feeling the burn in her throat. “I like your friends,” she said as the liquor spread through her. “Where are they now?”
“They’re with my ex. In Portland. He got them in the divorce too.”
“Some friends,” Katie muttered, taking another sip.
“I think it was easier to understand his side of things.” Lena reached for Hero, petting his coat. “He spent six months trying to make it work with a woman who didn’t want to be touched. And until I got Hero, I never left the house. It made for a difficult marriage. And hurt a lot of friendships.”
“I’m sorry.”
Lena shrugged, opening the bag of chips. “I’m moving on.”
“Maybe that’s what I need to do,” Katie said. “Move on. From Independence Falls. From Liam. I should probably call the owner of the Montana Safe Haven right now and accept the job.”
“Is that what you want?”
“I . . . I’m not sure.” Katie turned, looking out at the lake. “But I think I need to do it. Leave. Just when I was starting to trust him, Liam goes and pulls a stunt like today in his office.”
“I don’t think it is your ability to trust Liam that is the problem.” Lena poured chocolate chips into her hand. “I think you don’t trust yourself to stay true to your goals when you’re with him.”
Katie raised the tequila to her lips, tilted her head back, and drank—every last drop. The liquor scorched her throat, but she didn’t care. “You’re right. But I’ve been burned before.”
“I can’t help you there,” Lena said. “The only male I allow to get close to me has four legs and, right now, some very bad doggie breath.”
Katie laughed as Hero looked up at his owner. “I think you might be on to something. At least he’s devoted to you.”
“True,” Lena said, popping a few chocolate chips into her mouth. “But after what you’ve told me, I think Liam’s devoted to you. I think it is up to you to determine what you want. And if your dreams include Liam, go after him.”
“He’s betrayed me twice,” Katie said softly.
“Betrayed? That’s a strong word. I believe he’s tried do what he thinks is best for you even if it breaks his heart.”
Katie stared at the mountains. “He broke mine too.”
The door leading to the kitchen opened and Katie turned, expecting to see Eric’s housekeeper.
“I thought you might be here,” her big brother said. He shoved his hands in his pockets as he crossed the blue stones to the sitting area. Brody nodded to Lena and Hero. “Hello. Brody Summers.”
Hero and Lena stood, the dog moving in front of his owner, his gaze fixed on Brody. “Lena. Nice to meet you,” Lena said, clutching the bag of chocolate. “I should go in and let you two talk.”
Lena and the golden retriever disappeared into the house. Brody claimed her seat. Resting his forearms on his thighs, her brother leaned forward.
“I’m sorry, Katie,” Brody said. “I don’t have the right to make decisions for you. I just wan
ted what’s best for you. Always have. This time, well, I thought that was the job in Montana.”
“Have you stopped to consider what is best for you?” Katie demanded. “You gave up so much to keep our business running after Dad died. Maybe it is our turn to sacrifice for you.”
Brody shook his head. “I didn’t give up a thing.”
“You could have moved away. Instead, you worked so hard to pay my college bills. You—”
“Enough, Katie. I’d planned to take over the trucking company long before Dad’s heart attack.” Brody stood and started pacing back and forth in front of her. “Taking care of you and Chad and Josh was not a burden. You’re my family. As far as I’m concerned, you don’t owe me a damn thing.”
“Yes, I do,” she said softly, her gaze fixed on the empty glass in her hands. “I want you to keep the business you worked so hard to build.”
Brody stopped in front of her. “Katie, look at me. You accused me of making decisions for you. But walking away from this deal because you think it is what I want—you’re doing the same damn thing.”
Her eyes widened as she stared up at her brother. Turning the words over in her tequila-addled mind, she realized he had a point. They’d both been so damn concerned with making sure the other got what they wanted out of life.
“I want to sell to Moore Timber,” Brody continued. “The deal Eric offered today . . . I’ll get to stay on and the company will be stronger.”
“You tore up the contracts.”
Brody looked away, running his hand through his hair. “In the heat of the moment, seeing you with Liam, knowing that bastard hurt you once, yeah, I did. I would have preferred to slam my fist into his face.”
“I’m glad you didn’t,” she said.
Brody nodded. “He was trying to do the right thing. But you’re correct, we don’t have the right to decide that for you. Whether you take the job with Moore Timber or move to Montana—that’s your call. But whatever you decide, promise me that it will be what you want.”
“I promise.” She stood and wrapped her arms around her big brother, hugging him tight. “But first, I need some time to think.”
Caught in the Act: Book Two: Independence Falls Page 15