by Layla Hagen
My stomach jolted. Lately, even with all the shit going on, I was still done before he was. He could just about make me melt into a puddle with nothing more than a kiss or those magic hands, yet I was failing miserably at helping him relax.
Liam typed on his laptop while I texted with Skye.
Skye: I’m SO on board with this!! It’s one hell of a good idea. I’m also going to give Sam a piece of my mind. I don’t care if he has to deliver the furniture personally; this is unacceptable.
Tess: You do that.
Skye was great at putting the fear of God in everyone, though to be honest, this wasn’t Sam’s fault at all. Still, extra motivation never hurt.
I quickly drafted a newsletter, specifically aimed at our VIP segment. Once I was done, I looked up at Liam. He was frowning at his screen.
I got up, sashaying my hips in an exaggerated manner as I went over to him, hoping to catch his eye. I didn’t. He only noticed me when I sat at the edge of his desk, mirroring his earlier pose.
“Mr. Harrington, you’re so focused lately that my attempts at seduction go unnoticed. I’m losing my touch,” I said in a mock serious tone.
“Not at all. I just have a lot on my mind.”
I sat in his lap, shimmying a little. “Tell me.”
“It’s not worth it.” He waved a hand, planting a quick kiss on my chin. He trailed his fingers down the sides of my body before attacking my armpits. I shrieked with laughter, hanging on to him for dear life.
“Stop. Stop! How did you know I have ticklish armpits?
“Because that’s where you tickled me. Figured it was your weak spot too.”
When I straightened up, I noticed he was still not in playful mode. He was still thinking about his troubles...which he wasn’t sharing.
Lately, he was evasive whenever I asked him about his day. I didn’t want to insist too much, though. What if he got sick of my questions? No, no, no. I didn’t want to go down that negative path of thinking. He didn’t have to share every thought like I did. Maybe I couldn’t help him relax right now, but I could love him with all my heart and hope that was enough.
“Well, okay, since you’re so secretive, I’m just going to have to try all my tactics to get that sexy smile I like so much.”
He leaned back in the chair, wiggling his eyebrows. “All of them?”
“Every single one.”
“How will you start?”
I traced my finger in a small circle around the top button of his shirt. “I could start here...” Then I quickly moved to the last button right over his belt. “Or here...”
He groaned a bit, rocking his hips a few inches forward. I pushed him back playfully.
“Nah...I don’t think I’ll start here after all.”
Something flashed in his eyes, and I knew I was close to unleashing all that passion inside him. I leaned in, kissing the side of his neck, then his Adam’s apple.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“I love you too, babe. If you go on like that, this desk is going to see some very inappropriate things.”
I smiled against his skin, shimmying some more in his lap. “Just the words I was hoping to hear.”
***
On the day of the pre-opening party with the family and our VIP clients, I was in a complete frenzy. To be honest, I’d been like that ever since we decided on the idea. Thankfully, a certain sexy man doted on me all the time, as if he knew it was just what I needed.
It was practically impossible for me not to be in a good mood. Proof of that was the fact that even though I was bone-tired and mad at the furniture company for messing up, I was still grinning from ear to ear, watching him walk through the door with a seductive smile and a pizza. His coat was covered in pristine white snow, as was his hair. It had been snowing all day.
I sashayed to him, relieving him of the pizza box.
“Wait a second. I don’t even get a kiss?”
“Now that you mention it...”
I rose on my tiptoes, giving him a quick, chaste kiss, but Liam immediately turned it deep and dirty until I was breathless and squirming in my spot. I was blushing when we pulled apart, gesturing with my head toward the crew setting up the buffet for tonight. It was low-key, but we still wanted to offer something for everyone.
Liam shrugged, those smoldering eyes trained on me.
“We can eat in the back,” I said, leading the way. Usually, I liked to eat in the front, people-watching and enjoying the Christmas decorations on the street, but now it wasn’t too relaxing with the crew bustling about.
“Oh, I forgot I have napkins in the front. I’ll get them.”
We sectioned off the front, setting up tables against the wall next to the entrance. We left enough space for people to be able to move about. Since a lot of the furniture was missing, the store was half empty anyway. We had three mannequins we dressed up in nightgowns in the display and a few racks with lingerie in the center. I found napkins on the buffet table the guys had set up.
I heard the front door open and turned around. It wasn’t anyone I knew.
“Can I help you?” I asked.
“Tess Winchester?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Albert McDowell. I’m—”
“I know who you are. Liam told me about you. What are you doing here?”
I narrowed my eyes, inspecting him. He seemed a few years older than Liam, Becca, and David, or maybe his bald head just gave me that impression. His large green eyes scanned the room. Clearly, he didn’t like that I had company. By the way he swayed in his boots, I suspected he was a bit intoxicated.
“Where’s Liam?” he asked. “I saw him come in.”
He followed Liam?
“What are you doing here?” I repeated.
“Can we speak somewhere more private?”
“No. No offense, but I’ve just met you, and you don’t exactly come recommended. I don’t trust you.”
“You’re a piece of work, aren’t you?”
“Excuse me?”
“If it weren’t for you, Liam would have given me what I wanted.”
“Bad luck. I can’t help you.”
“Yes, you fucking can.”
“You don’t come inside my store and talk to me like that.” I pointed to the door, barely able to keep my temper in check. “Out.”
Footsteps echoed behind me.
“Babe, what’s—what the fuck are you doing here?” Liam bellowed the second he noticed Albert.
“I want to talk to you.”
“Then you make an appointment and come to my office. Get out of here.”
“I don’t think so.” He stalked toward us, and when he was less than a foot away, he confirmed my suspicion. He was drunk. “What happened to you, man? The Liam I knew would never risk his business for anything, let alone a woman.”
My heart sank. Risk his business?
“Shut up.”
“You told me to think really hard about my next steps when you came to see me,” Albert said, which made me wonder if this was what Liam had been so tense about. When had Liam seen him? And why hadn’t he mentioned this?
“And I did,” Albert continued. “If you don’t buy me out by Christmas as the contract stipulates, I’m shopping around for another buyer.”
“Get. Out.” Liam barely moved his lips as he spoke.
Albert lifted his right arm. I brought my hand to my mouth when I realized he was aiming his right hook in Liam’s direction. Liam caught his punch in midair, pushing it to one side before shoving Albert, who stumbled back, barely keeping his balance.
“You piece of shit,” Liam bellowed as Albert regrouped. He wasn’t going to take another shot, was he? He was far too drunk, and Liam was far too sharp and fast. “You don’t come in here and threaten my woman.”
Liam took Albert by the collar with one hand and blocked his second attempt at a punch with the other. I shrieked, looking around at the crew, who just stared at the scene.
&nb
sp; This time, Liam turned Albert around, keeping his right arm behind his back.
“Get the fuck out.” Liam marched him toward the door. Opening it, he tossed him in the street. Albert stumbled and nearly collided headfirst with the nearest lamppost. Instead, he managed to break his fall by clinging to it. He looked over his shoulder, frowning at us through the thick curtain of falling snow before turning around and leaving. Liam remained at the door until Albert was out of sight.
Then he turned toward me. “I’m so sorry about that. Are you okay?”
“Yeah. He didn’t do anything, just babbled until you arrived. How are you?”
I hurried to him, oblivious to everyone else in the store, even though they were still staring at us.
“I’m okay, Tess,” he said softly. My heart was still hammering in my chest. He looked at the guys surrounding us before taking my hand and walking with me to the back office. The smell of melted cheese filled the air, but I didn’t feel like eating. I just wanted to make sure he wasn’t hurting—in any way.
“Tess, babe, what is it? You’re shaking.”
He placed his hands on my neck, and I covered them with my palms. “What did he mean about you risking your business?”
Liam shook his head. “Don’t worry about that. I’m dealing with it.”
“No, we’re in this together. I want to know.”
“You already know he wants to sell his shares, and I’m going to find a solution so the shares remain in our control.”
“What aren’t you telling me?”
He sighed. “If I don’t make an offer before Christmas, he can sell them to whoever he wants.”
I closed my eyes, trying to rein in all my emotions. “Why didn’t you tell me there was a clock on it?”
“I didn’t want you to worry.”
“Do I seem like I can’t handle things?”
“Not at all, Tess. But you have so many things going on with the opening of the store and the inauguration of the new digital platform. I didn’t want to take away your joy or add more to your plate.”
I melted at his words, pressing my palms over his hands even tighter.
“This isn’t right though, Liam. I need to know everything.”
“Do you? Why? So both of us can worry instead of just one?”
“Yes. Exactly.”
He frowned. “I disagree. Seeing you worrying wouldn’t help one bit.”
I blinked, taking a step back. “So, what...your solution is just not telling me things?”
Liam looked like he very much wanted to say yes. Before he had a chance to voice that thought, we heard a knock at the door.
“It’s me,” Skye said.
“Come in,” I replied, holding Liam’s gaze. Neither of us said anything more as my sister came in.
“Hey. Oh, Liam. I didn’t know you were here. Am I interrupting you two?”
“No, not at all,” Liam said smoothly. “I brought pizza for everyone.”
Skye laughed, peeking at the box. “You mean for you and Tess, but it’s huge enough for all of us. Let’s dig in. I’m starving.”
We all leaned against the desks, eating while standing. I wanted to continue the conversation with Liam, but I honestly didn’t know how. He was disarming me with his charm and beautiful words, and I wasn’t sure how to make him understand that this was very important to me. I believed communication was the basis for everything.
Skye seemed to pick up on the unease floating in the room, because she kept looking between us.
“This was delicious,” she said once the pizza was gone. “Liam, are you staying the whole afternoon?”
“Can’t. I just came for lunch. I’ll be here for the party later.”
“Okay, then get your charming self out of here so Tess and I can prepare everything. And no cute or sexy messages. Those always distract her.”
He chuckled. I smiled too, even though what I really wanted was to pull Liam to one side and discuss things with him until we were on the same page. But since I had no plan, I stayed put.
He gave me a quick peck on the forehead, looking me straight in the eyes.
“See you later,” I murmured. “Thanks for lunch.”
After a beat, he nodded and bid Skye goodbye before leaving.
Once he was gone, my sister eyed me suspiciously. “Okay, so maybe my detective skills aren’t as sharp as yours, but there seemed to be something weird in the air.”
I sighed, walking over and leaning on her desk right next to her. I laced one arm with hers, resting my head on top of her shoulder.
“You’re right.”
I then proceeded to tell her everything.
“Wait a second. Of course this isn’t right. You’re supposed to know. We’re supposed to know, since this affects the business too.” Skye chewed on her lower lip, frowning.
“I have an idea. Let’s talk to Becca,” I suggested. “I keep feeling that Liam is downplaying everything, and I’d like to hear all the facts.”
“Good idea,” Skye said.
I called from my phone, which I put on speaker.
“Tess, what a surprise,” she greeted. I had little contact with her and David since Liam was our official mentor.
“Hi! Skye’s here too. Do you have a few minutes?”
“Sure. How can I help?”
I pushed a hand through my hair and told her everything about Albert as quickly as possible. She swore when I was done.
“Becca, what’s going on?”
“You and Liam spoke about this?”
“Yes, but I don’t think he’s telling me everything.”
“Tess,” Becca said softly. “He’s doing everything he can to find a way out that doesn’t involve freezing the investment.”
My stomach dropped. “But that’s still the best solution?”
She hesitated.
“Becca?” I pressed.
“At the moment, yes.”
“Shit!”
“Listen, we’ve had our fair share of crises over the years, and we always came out on top—”
“I don’t want to bring on a crisis!” I exclaimed. I felt heavy all of a sudden. “Becca, thanks for taking my call. I won’t keep you any longer. Have a great day.”
“You too, girls.”
I hung up and hugged the phone to my chest, pressing my forehead against a wall. I needed to think, and I needed to stop panicking, but I didn’t know how.
My sister hugged me from one side. “We’ll figure this out. Just let me go hunt down some cake and cheese.”
I chuckled despite everything. “You sure know how to lift my mood.”
“And let’s ask the clan to come in earlier. Emergency working lunch before the party. They always give good advice.”
“I love that idea.”
Chapter Thirty
Liam
“Fucking Albert,” David exclaimed. We just had a meeting with one of our other mentees, and I only got around to telling him about that imbecile’s visit after we got out.
“Are you coming back to the brownstone?” he asked, ordering an Uber.
“No, I’m going to Soho Lingerie’s pre-opening party, remember?”
David grinned. “You party, I work. When did the tables turn?”
I grunted. He grinned even more. “That’s it. Brood some more so I don’t feel like I’m turning into you...too much.”
“Tess wasn’t very happy that I didn’t tell her how pressing the issue with Albert is.”
David held his hands up. “Man, don’t ask me for relationship advice. Most of my relationships last between one night and one week.”
“I wasn’t asking for advice,” I assured him. “Just thinking out loud.”
“Good luck at the party, then.”
I nodded as he got in the Uber he ordered. I flagged down a cab and headed to SoHo. When I arrived, I did a double take when I noticed the store was already full. I checked the time. I definitely wasn’t too late.
I pushed the d
oor open and was immediately greeted by Cole, Josie, Hunter, and Ryker. The store was filled with the entire Winchester family plus Isabelle. Since the furniture wasn’t here yet, the sound of voices was amplified. I felt like I just stepped into a stadium. Amelia and Mick waved to me from next to the buffet.
“When did you all arrive?” I asked. “I thought it was supposed to start in ten minutes.”
“It was, but Tess and Skye asked us to come earlier. Emergency family council,” Ryker said.
Josie grimaced. “You weren’t supposed to give that away.”
Ryker cocked a brow. “They never said it’s a secret.”
“I think my wife is right,” Hunter said, putting an arm around Josie’s shoulders.
Emergency what? My pulse sped up. “Where is Tess?”
“Some of their VIPs saw that the party started earlier and came in too. They took them to the changing rooms, where we’re not allowed,” Cole said. “But don’t worry, she’ll come out eventually. We can entertain you in the meantime.”
I rubbed a hand over my jaw. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to spend time with them, because I did. But I needed to talk to Tess first. I had a bad feeling when I left the store before, and now it was just getting worse.
I shrugged out of my coat, intending to take it easy and enjoy a drink with the Winchester clan while Tess tended to her customers.
Five minutes later, I broke down and asked Josie to tell Tess I wanted to talk to her. She headed to the back and returned with Tess, who’d changed into a black wraparound dress that was driving me crazy even from a distance. It was tight around her body, molding perfectly around her breasts and hips. And those heels...fuck.
I met her halfway.
“Babe, you look beautiful,” I said, leading her a bit farther from the group, near one of the mannequins.
She gave me a small smile. “Thanks. Josie said you need me.”
“Can’t I compliment my gorgeous woman?”
She tilted her head, smiling even wider. “Compliments are always welcome, but we have customers out there.”
“Ryker said you wanted an emergency family council.”
“Ummm, yes.” She averted her gaze.
My stomach clenched, but I wanted to keep things light.
“Never heard you mention family councils. Is that more serious than a meeting?”