Chapter Eighteen

Chelsea

As soon as I walk inside, I rush to Liam’s office and storm in, only to immediately stop when I hear my voice through the monitor.

“Liam?” I whisper.

“Chelsea!” He quickly turns off the monitor and adjusts himself. Then he rushes around his desk and approaches me. “Listen to me, please.”

“I just found out about Sadie. When were you going to tell me that she’s here in town? I mean my goodness, Liam, why is she here?”

He sighs and hangs his head. “Today.”

I take a few steps back and plop down on the cool, leather chair. “And what were you watching?”

“A video of you. I have cameras all over our house, and I recorded you when you were in your room, touching yourself, calling out my name.”

I remember that day, and my cheeks heat from embarrassment. But then it disappears, and I look back at Liam, waiting for him to tell me more.

“I can delete all the videos I have of you.”

I nod, acknowledging what he’s saying. “We’re together now. You don’t need any videos of me. I can’t believe you did that.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. It was an error of judgment on my part.”

I quickly get up from the chair, crossing my arms over my chest, and the anger sweeps through my body. My cheeks flare with heat and I’m not sure if him apologizing will make this okay. “This isn’t okay, Liam. What you did, after pushing for trust, is truly hurtful. And now Sadie’s back and you didn’t think to tell me?”

“With the Sadie situation…” He’s facing me and keeping his distance. I don’t need him coming close to me, trying to invade my thoughts and make me forgive him. I need to be mad. I need to be upset. “She’s in need of my help. The man she thought she loved has been manipulating her, and took control of her properties and money. She’s hiding from him until I can get her out of country and somewhere else where she’ll be safe. We may have ended on bad terms, but she’s still someone I care about.”

“I need a breather. Please.” I tell him and walk out of his office and to my own bedroom, not the bedroom we share.

Once I’m in bed, lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling, thoughts of going back home or going away for a little bit makes me a feel a little better.

But, even if I go away, my feelings and love for Liam will still be in my heart. I’ll still feel him. I’ll still want him.

Night falls and I’m still in my bedroom. When I finally get up after a few hours, I open the door, and walk out, taking the stairs one at a time, and finding Liam in the living room, holding a glass of dark amber liquid. There’s silence surrounding him.

When I sit down next to him, still keeping my distance, he leans over to set down his glass and turns his body so we’re facing one another.

Liam’s sad eyes slide over to mine. “I don’t want you to be upset with me. I don’t want you to leave. I want this to work out between us.”

The pain in his voice is evident and the sudden urge to bring him in my arms to ease his pain burns inside me. Despite the video and him keeping the news of Sadie from me, I’d like to think he’s in my life for a reason.

“Does Sadie want you back?”

“No. We’re completely over. It’s you that I love and you I want in my life.”

“Okay,” I say and think about what else I want to know. Thousands of questions float around and I can’t pick any to ask. “Why did she come to you?” I finally ask.

“Because I have the means and connections to handle this type of situation and she knows that.”

“What does that mean? Means and connections?”

I hear him sigh and run his hand over his face. “My father was a federal agent, and when he died, his team told me whatever I needed to let them know. They handle witness protection.”

“Wow. Okay. What about her husband? Won’t be come after us? And her?”

“He’s living on her dime and in her home so I don’t think he’ll be an issue, but we’re protected and guarded. I promise you.”

“Are you sure she’s alone?”

“Yes. She’s alone and, most of the time, she walks along the lakeshore or stays inside the house. I’m not worried anymore. Only I can be trusted to help her so that’s why she comes to me.”

“Okay. I trust you, and I know you won’t do anything that’ll put my life or yours in jeopardy.”

“I’d never do that.”

I remember his promises about taking care of me and protecting me and it’s those words that instantly calm me down. I know Liam will do everything he can to protect us. My gut screams to trust him. And I do. I decide to stop over-thinking. It’s not going to solve any of the problems, and I don’t want to make him worry. The creases in his forehead tell me he’s not completely convinced. As strong and commanding as he is, right now, at this moment, he’s vulnerable.

I place my hand on his and lean in closer. “Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere. I told you I love you, and I do. I mean it.” An idea comes to me, so I stand up and take his hand in mine. “Why don’t you meet me upstairs in the bedroom and I’ll make you feel better?”

His only response is to follow me out of the office. We head upstairs and, for a few hours, it’s just us.

The next few days pass and as we’re preparing for our trip to New York City, Roberta enters the bedroom I occupied when I first moved into the house.

“Hello, dear.”

“Hi.”

“I have instructions to move everything from here to Mr. Donovan’s room. Is there anything specific you’d like me to do?”

“No. Thank you so much for doing this. Is there anything I can help you with?”

“Not at all, dear. Go ahead and relax. Mr. Donovan isn’t back yet.”

Liam had to leave to attend some meetings in the city. He’s been gone about three hours, and Allison’s busy, as well. I give Roberta a smile and head downstairs then decide to go to the gardens with my Kindle and go back to reading.

I settle underneath a tree in the shade, turn on my Kindle, and find the book I’ve been reading. It’s a friends-to-lovers novel, and I’m lost in the words and their story. She’s insecure about how she looks and who she is because her best friend and the man she loves is this powerful athlete. She doesn’t think she’s good enough, even though he tells her all the time she’s beautiful. I swoon each and every time he talks.

I spend the day in the gardens with my Kindle and book world. Chef Michaels brings me lunch and sits with me for a little while, and then he goes back inside to prepare dinner. I check my phone; there’s nothing from Liam, and Jack’s been gone all day, as well.

After finishing the book, I head toward the pool and hot tub, strip out of my dress, and climb into the warm water. Instantly, my muscles relax and the soreness from our lovemaking slowly fades away. I lean my head back, close my eyes, and slowly breathe in and out. My mind drifts to Liam and I hope everything is okay. I don’t want to seem clingy and bombard him with text messages. Honestly, the time alone is actually pretty rewarding. As much as I love spending time with Liam, being alone gives me the chance to reflect and put my feelings and thoughts in order.

“Hello there, beautiful.”

I look up and see Blake stripping out of his shirt and laying down next to me in the pool lounger.

“Hey,” I respond. “What’s up?”

“Just wanted to stop by, visit Liam and you, see what you two are doing.”

“He’s been gone for a while. I guess he had some meetings, but he hasn’t texted or called me,” I explain and notice Blake sitting up and turning to me.

“I thought he’d be home by now. Interesting?”

“Interesting?” I repeat.

“Nothing to worry about.” He smiles and lies back down. “Tell me more about yourself, Chelsea.”

Blake sticks around for a little bit before going home. He gives me his number and tells me to call him if I don’t hear from Liam by this evening.

As night slowly falls, I’m dressed in leggings and a long purple tee. I walk into the kitchen to see Chef Michaels and Roberta around the counter. They’re talking, but in hushed voices.

“Is everything okay?”

They both look up at me, then at each other, then at me again. “Have you spoken to Mr. Donovan, dear?”

I shake my head. “Not recently. Is something wrong?”

Roberta sighs and instant worry consumes me. “Jack called and Liam’s with Sadie.”

I grip the counter and lower myself down to sit. There shouldn’t be any secrets between us, and I wish he didn’t keep me in the dark when it comes to her and what she’s doing. My thoughts race in all directions, and I’m thinking of everything I possibly can that’ll make some sort of sense.

Before my mind can run into the dark, I hear the door open and rush to the foyer. Liam walks in with his tie in his hand and an exhausted expression on his face.

“What’s going on? Are you okay?” I dash up to him and wrap my arms around his waist.

“Yeah. Everything’s fine. It took a little longer than I expected to get her out of here and on a plane.” He presses his lips to my forehead, takes my hand, and leads me upstairs to our bedroom. I watch him strip out of his clothes and throw on a pair of sweatpants. My heart hurts seeing him tired and quiet. I wonder what he’s thinking.

I approach Liam and kiss his bare back. “Do you want to talk?”

“Not really,” he mutters. “I’m sorry. All I want to do right now is hold you.”

“Okay,” I whisper, and entice him to the bed where we go under the covers and I press my back to his chest. He holds me tight and, within seconds, his breathing slows to a steady rhythm.