Chapter Eight

Chelsea

I’m standing before him, not wanting to move, and gently place my hands on his bare chest.

“Can I stay with you tonight?”

He opens the door wider and lets me inside his bedroom. I should make it clear I only want his warmth, and not sex. Not yet. I don’t think.

He pulls back the navy blue comforter and watches me as I place my hand on the bed, wondering if he’s expecting sex tonight.

“You’re more than welcome to sleep in my bed. We don’t have to do anything. We’ll go at your pace, Chelsea.”

It makes me feel a little more human hearing him say this to me again. The bed is big enough for both of us, so I climb in and tug on the edge of the bed. I’m not sure if I want to cuddle or do anything like that. Plus, he doesn’t seem like someone who likes to snuggle and wrap their arms around a woman. A sigh releases from my lips and suddenly my back presses against his warm chest.

“I want you in my arms, sweetness. This is what I like. I didn’t think I would, but seeing your back and how far away you were wasn’t sitting right with me.”

I slowly exhale and hold onto his strong forearms, tracing his smooth skin with my fingers. He holds me tighter and I feel his lips against the back of my head.

“Sleep.”

I nod and gently close my eyes, letting everything go dark.

The next morning, I wake up to an empty bed, and I’m not sure how to feel, so I get up and head downstairs. The strong aroma of coffee fills the air, and when I enter the kitchen, Liam is standing at the counter, holding a mug and reading the paper. There’s a mug for me with creamer and sugar to the side, and a plate of fresh fruit and a bowl of yogurt with granola in a smaller bowl. I fight the smile until I lose, and when I look up, he’s staring at me.

“Good morning.”

“Morning,” I say. “This looks lovely. Thank you for doing this.”

“You’re very welcome. As you know, my staff, along with Jack, knows you’re here. I’ve hired a new driver for myself, and Jack will be here at your disposal. I trust you, Chelsea, and I know you won’t leave here without telling me. You’re free to leave, but you must always be with Jack. Not only is he your driver, but he’s also your bodyguard.”

“So then, you don’t completely trust me?”

He shrugs.

“I’m not going to leave, Liam.”

“I need to ensure your safety. I protect what’s mine, and you’re mine. So whatever you need. Whatever you want. All you have to do is ask. Roberta’s been with me since my parents passed, so I trust her completely. There’s Lark, the gardener and groundskeeper, and also, Roberta’s daughter, Connie. Connie’s deaf, but she reads lips. Everyone here can be trusted.”

I nod. “So, you’re going to work, and I’ll be here?”

“Yes.”

“And we’re boyfriend and girlfriend. There’s no deal. And I’m living with you.”

“Yes,” he says again.

“I’ll keep the deal part a secret if you’ll do the same. My parents don’t need that bad light on them.”

“I understand. I’ve also sent a check to your parents to pay out his partnership. I’m keeping the agency name the same, and maybe when you’re ready, you’ll take his place.”

I’m in shock. In disbelief. “Are you serious?”

He slides a folder across the counter toward me, the papers neatly stacked and divided by tabs. I thumb through the places he’s marked and quickly read over his notes.

“I took the opportunity to go ahead and look through your plan. I know you wanted a meeting, and I’ve invaded your privacy. But it was sitting on your nightstand, so I took it.”

My face heats up as I’m reading his comments. His constructive words are making the wheels in my mind turn. “This is so helpful.”

“Whatever questions you have, we’ll discuss them.”

Before I can say anything else, the doorbell rings, and I look toward the door then back to him.

He sets his coffee on the counter. “Remember, don’t speak of the deal.”

“Okay,” I mutter, and watch him leave the room to answer the door.

I look down and notice I’m wearing a skimpy top and my shorts are short. Great. Wonderful. I press down on my hair and check my breath since I haven’t brushed my teeth. I grab the glass of orange juice and chug it.

A few moments later, Liam comes into the kitchen with two other men and they’re both staring at me. Holy hell. The three of them are standing close together and they’re all gorgeous. I blink a few times and notice they share the same features. They’re his brothers. His very hot brothers.

“Blake, Jared, this is my girlfriend, Chelsea. Sweetheart, these are my brothers.”

This is so overwhelming. The man standing to the left of Liam—Blake, I believe—is staring at me with a crooked grin and raised brow. He comes over, takes my hand, and presses it to his lips.

“Blake Donovan. So very nice to meet you.”

“Hello, Blake.” I smile. “It’s nice to meet you, as well.”

The second brother pushes Blake out of the way and does the same thing. “Jared Donovan. Aren’t you a sweetheart? How’d you end up with big brother?”

“We’ve known each other for a while, and we saw each other a little bit ago, and you know how it goes.”

“I don’t,” Blake chimes in, raising his hand in the air. “Do tell.”

“Little brothers,” Liam interrupts and pulls them back. “Let’s head to the office, shall we?” Liam eyes them both and walks over to me. He presses his lips to mine then to my forehead. “Have fun, sweetheart. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Okay.”

Blake and Jared both hug me and follow Liam out the door. I turn and watch them, and once the door’s closed, I let out a sigh and fan myself.

This is way too much to handle.