Liam Read online

  When I stir awake, I look around to find that I’m no longer on the barn floor, but in a bed. The wood paneling on the walls immediately tell me that Liam or Tyler found me and brought me inside. I breathe deeply and know that thick, heavy scent, Liam. I’m in Liam’s bed.

  I touch my head and the pain makes me gasp, causing me to feel sick to my stomach. I look down at myself and find that I’m no longer in my work clothes, but a white t-shirt.

  The door opens and Liam walks in. When his eyes land on mine, he rushes around the bed and sits on the edge. “How are you feeling?” Concern burns brightly in his blue eyes.

  I shrug. “My head hurts.” Even the lightly lit room causes a bout of pain surge through my head.

  “Here, take this.” He hands over two pills and a glass of water.

  I take the pills willingly and wash them down with the cold water that quenches my thirst and wets my dry throat.

  “Thank you,” I whisper, trying not to hurt my head anymore.

  “What in the hell were you doing out there alone, anyway?” he asks, anger dripping from his words. “Do you know how lucky you are that I looked out of the window and saw your car? You could have been lying there and bleeding to death.” His brows are drawn together, causing tiny lines to form at the edges of his eyes.

  “I was trying to calm down the horse. The storm spooked it. I didn’t go in the stall. I thought I was safe.” My eyes drift downward, wanting to avoid his angry stare and a thought pops into my head: who changed my clothes?

  “Uh, where are my clothes?” I pinch the shirt between my thumb and forefinger.

  He stands up and crosses the room. “They were soaked and covered in mud and blood. I took them off, cleaned you up, and put you in bed to warm you up. You’ve been out for an hour. I was about to call an ambulance.”

  I feel my face flush. “I don’t need an ambulance,” I argue, trying to push myself into a sitting position, but my head throbs and causes me to fall over.

  He quickly rushes to my side. “Be careful. You need rest. Just lie still.” He helps to position me back into a comfortable position.

  “I bandaged your head and put on a couple of butterfly stitches to hold the wound close. You may end up with a scar.” He sits on the edge of the bed again.

  “That’s okay. I’m not worried about it.”

  “What are you worried about then?”

  My eyes jump to his. “What?”

  “I can tell by the pink on your face that you’re embarrassed about something.” The corners of his mouth turn up.

  “You took off my clothes. Isn’t that enough of a reason to be red faced?” I giggle but cut it off shortly after it escapes when the ringing in my ears starts.

  He snickers. “We’re all adults here, Ves. It’s nothing I haven’t seen before, I assure you.”

  I squint my eyes at him, picking up the neck of the shirt and looking down my body to see that he removed all my clothing, bra and panties included. My face burns hotter.

  “You were soaked, Vesper. Changing your clothes would have done no good if the things underneath were still wet.” He sits up right and holds up his hands in front of him. “I swear, I didn’t do anything wrong.” He tears his eyes away. “I would never do that,” he whispers.

  “I know. It’s just embarrassing. You’ve seen all I have to offer and all I’ve seen of you is some sweaty muscles flexing as you baled hay.” I grin just from imagining it.

  His deep chuckle fills the room around us. “Well, the next time you find me knocked unconscious, you can take off my clothes, deal?”

  “You bet.” I smile wide.

  “You should get some rest. I’m pretty sure you have a concussion.” He stands to leave.

  “Wait,” I call out, causing him to stop and turn back to face me.

  “Will you… stay with me?”

  His brow arches. “Stay with you?”

  I nod. “Just for a little while. My head hurts so much, I know I won’t be able to fall asleep. Just keep me company until the pills kick in?”

  He offers up a small smile and nods before climbing up to lay beside me on the bed.

  “Tell me something,” I whisper.

  “About what?”

  I shrug the shoulder I’m lying on. “Something about growing up here. What was it like? What did you love about it?”

  “Hmmm,” he mumbles as he thinks it over. “You know. The first thing I always think about when I wake up here, is how the smell of grandpa cooking breakfast would drift up the stairs and wake me from a dead sleep.” He chuckles. “He used to be a cook in the army. Damn, that man could cook. However, he was used to cooking for one-hundred and fifty men, so he always had to make huge batches of everything: homemade biscuits, gravy, eggs. Everything for the week got made on Sunday. Then we would just heat up what we wanted when we got hungry.”

  I smile. “That’s a nice memory. You were lucky to have him.”

  He nods. “I know. I don’t know what I would’ve done without him. I probably would have grown up in boarding schools. He taught me everything; how to ride a horse, how to brush them, wash them, how to work on the machinery around the ranch, how to cook.”

  “You cook?” I ask.

  He nods. “For one-hundred and fifty men.”

  My giggle slips out and his eyes lock on mine.

  “I’ll take the job, Liam.”

  “What about your dreams?”

  “I can do both. This place, it’s so special. I want to be a part of it. I’ll just need to find someone to replace me at my clinic first.”

  He smiles wide. “That would be amazing. Thank you, Ves.” He picks up my hand and presses a kiss to the top.

  12

  Liam lies next to me and we chat through most of the night. Around two a.m., my pain pills kick in and I find myself drifting off to sleep. Our conversation took an easy turn. Neither of us talking, just lying beside each other and living in the feeling, the other person creates.

  When I open my eyes, the sun is shining through the window and Liam is still beside me, his hand in mine as he lays on his side, facing me. His blue eyes are closed but seeing him at ease causes my heart to flutter in my chest. My breathing picks up as I watch him sleep. Suddenly, his eyes pop open and land on mine. He offers a sleepy smile. “How’d you sleep?” he asks.

  “Really well. My head doesn’t hurt anymore.”

  He looks down to see our clasped hands. “I’m sorry,” he mumbles, pulling away and sitting up on the edge of the bed. “You need to take a few days off and nurse that concussion. Do you want a ride home? I’m a little worried about you driving so soon after an accident.”

  I slowly push myself up. “That would be great. Thanks.”

  He stands. “I’ll go grab your clothes from the dryer.” He leaves the room in a hurry.

  I try to stand up from the bed and at first, I’m a little dizzy. I stand still, giving my head a minute to catch up, before slowly walking across the floor and to the window to look out. It seems like the storm we got was a strong one. The big oak tree in the front yard is split, a big tree limb lying across the yard.

  “Here you go,” Liam says, walking back into the room and freezing when he sees me up, standing in front of the window. His eyes look up my legs, stopping at the top of my thighs where the shirt ends. He licks his lips and swallows, causing his Adam’s apple to bob in his throat. “I-I’ll be downstairs when you’re done.” He tosses my clothes on the bed and leaves the room in a hurry.

  I change my clothes and head downstairs to find him watching out of the window as Tyler chops away at the fallen tree.

  Great. Now I get to do the walk-of- shame and nothing even happened.

  “Ready?” he asks.

  I bite my bottom lip. “Does Tyler know what happened last night in the barn?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  I let out a long breath. “I just didn’t want him to think that something was going on between us, you know? He already thinks I�
�m choosing you over him.”

  He holds out his arm to help balance me on our walk to the car, but something flashes across his face, and I’m not sure what it is.

  I slide my arm through his and lean on him as he opens the door and helps me down the stairs. It’s like the longer I’m on my feet, the dizzier I get and the louder my ears ring. Walking out into the bright sun blinds me, causing my head to pound all over again. I shield my eyes from the sun, keeping them trained on the ground as he leads me to the passenger side of my car.

  He opens the door and places me softly inside. I pull my sunglasses on immediately.

  “Tyler, follow me to the town in your truck. I don’t want her driving so soon after an accident,” Liam shouts.

  Tyler nods before throwing down the axe and jogging toward his truck.

  Liam climbs inside. “Are you feeling okay?” he asks, starting the vehicle and shifting into drive.

  “I don’t feel well. My head hurts so much it’s upsetting my stomach.”

  “Do you have anyone to help you out until you recover? I don’t want to leave you alone to fend for yourself.”

  “My parents live nearby and so does my friend, Amy. I’ll be fine. Thank you though.”

  When we get to my building, he helps me into the house and to my room. He places me at the foot of my bed. “Would you like me to get you anything before I take off? I can bring you some more comfortable clothes, something to eat, drink, whatever you want.”

  I smile. “I’m fine, thank you.”

  “You’re sure?” He cocks his head to the side and studies me.

  I nod with my smile in place. “You’ve done more than enough.”

  He crosses his arms over his chest and looks down at me. “I’m not leaving until you call someone to come sit with you. I don’t want you passing out and hurting yourself.”

  I let out a short laugh, but the look on his face tells me he’s serious, so I grab my phone and call Amy.

  “Aims, I had bit of an accident. Would you mind coming to sit with me? Helping me out a bit?”

  “Of course. I’ll be right there.” She hangs up the phone and I drop mine to my bed, looking up at him.

  “Happy now?”

  He nods once. “I am.” He turns around and sits on the chair in the corner.

  “What are you doing?” I ask, a little confused. I did what he asked.

  “I told you I’m not leaving until someone is here to sit with you.”

  “She lives five minutes away.”

  “Then I won’t be here long,” he retorts.

  I stand up and he rushes up to my side. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to get some clothes, so I can lay down.”

  “Sit. I’ll get them.” He urges me back down to the bed.

  I direct him to my dresser where he grabs a pair of shorts and a tank top. He drops both on the bed beside me, then drops to his knees. “Arms up,” he orders.

  I laugh and feel the embarrassment stain my cheeks. “I think I can do it.”

  He squints his shimmering blue eyes at me. “I don’t want you to do anything but rest. Now, lift your arms.”

  I take a deep breath and lift my arms above my head. I feel his fingers latch onto the hem of my shirt, softly skimming across my skin as he pulls the shirt gently upward. When it’s off, he pulls the tank top on just as smoothly.

  I reach up the back of the shirt and remove my bra, tossing it to the side. His eyes grow dark as they lock on my body that’s slowly shedding clothing for him.

  He places his hands on my hips, unbuttoning my dress pants that I wore to work yesterday. “Lift your hips,” he tells me, and I do as I’m told.

  He gently pulls them down my legs and off my feet. His eyes quickly meet mine and they are growing darker by the second. He holds the shorts on the floor and I slip my feet into them. His fingers softly skim up my legs and he pulls them up to my thighs. I place my palms flat on the bed and lift myself up, as he pulls them up over my ass and hips.

  I look into his darkening eyes and he wets his lips. Tension is growing thick between us and my heart pounds. He leans in. As do I. My eyes flutter close and his warm breath blows across my lips. Just as his nose touches my cheek, the door slams.

  “I’m here!” Amy yells making her way through my tiny apartment.

  Liam quickly pulls away, our lips never meeting, as he gets himself onto his feet.

  “Hey, Ves, what happened to you?” Amy asks, rushing into my room and coming to an abrupt stop when she sees Liam.

  He clears his throat and holds out his hand. “I’m Liam O’Connor. You must be Amy.” She nods and takes a step closer, placing her hand in his for a handshake.

  “Ves had a little accident at the ranch yesterday. I think she has a concussion. I just wanted to make sure someone would be here to help her. I know she’s stubborn and will try doing things alone. I didn’t want her passing out and hurting herself further.”

  Amy smiles wide. “No worries. I’ll keep her in bed for a few days.”

  He nods. “I should be getting back. I’m sure Tyler is outside waiting for me. Take care, Ves.” He steps toward the door then turns back to look at me one last time. “I’ll check in with you in a few days and see how you’re feeling.” Without another word, he steps through the doorway, leaving me wanting that kiss we were so close to, and Amy to stare at me, wanting information.

  13

  “Okay, Ace is fed and watered, your laundry is done, and I made you a grilled cheese and some tomato soup. Sit up and eat,” Amy directs, walking into my room with a tray. I wiggle myself into a halfway sitting position, and she places it over my legs.

  She flops down on my bed, causing my soup to spill over the edge of the bowl. “Now, spill it.”

  I pick up my spoon and stir the soup. “Spill what?” I don’t make eye contact. I know if I do, she’ll be able to read me as easy as any book.

  Her eyebrows skyrocket and eyes go wide. “Everything! What happened to you at the ranch? What exactly was going on when I walked in here a little while ago with you and that sexy billionaire?”

  A puff of air leaves my mouth. “I got knocked in the head by a horse. It’s not as bad as it sounds. I was already falling backward because when it went up on its back legs, it scared me. I jumped and fell backward. Its hooves clipped me coming down. Liam found me.”

  “And?”

  I roll my eyes. “And he stripped me down, cleaned me up, and bandaged all my cuts. I stayed there last night.” Finally, I chance looking at her.

  “Did you two?” She wags her eyebrows at me with a big grin.

  “No way. My head is still pounding. We ended up talking most of the night though. When I woke up, he was holding my hand.” A smile spreads across my face.

  “It looked like you two were about to rip each other’s clothes off when I walked in here.”

  “Yeah, you have awesome timing,” I joke, ripping off a piece of my grilled cheese.

  “Didn’t you say he had a girlfriend who is a supermodel or something?”

  I shrug. “That’s what Tyler told me, but who knows if it’s true. Liam hasn’t mentioned her.”

  “You think Tyler made it up, so you’d pick him instead of Liam?” She cocks her head to the side while studying me.

  “Who knows? All I know is that he isn’t too happy with me right now.” I eat a spoonful of my soup. “I never wanted to hurt him. I told him from the beginning I wasn’t looking for a relationship. It’s not like I’ve been leading him on.”

  “You’ve kind of, though.”

  I jerk my head in her direction. “How? Friends. That’s what we are.”

  “I told you that he was using that friendship card as a way to get to you. He’s been hoping it would turn into more.”

  “Well, it’s not my fault. I never led him believe I wanted more. If he’s hurt, it’s his own fault for not listening to me.” With each word, my voice gets higher and higher.

  “Okay
, jeez. Concussions make you cranky. How about we just watch a movie?” She rolls over and grabs the remote off my bedside table.

  I spend the rest of the day in bed, but I think Amy got more sleep than I did. I can’t stop thinking about Liam and that almost-kiss. I close my eyes and imagine how it would have gone. His soft lips touching mine, my tongue sliding against his, our hands feeling their way around one another’s bodies. It makes me clench every muscle to keep the tingles of anticipation away.

  I drift in and out of sleep for most of the night. When six a.m. rolls around, I get up and take a long, hot shower. When I step out, Amy is standing in the hall, arms crossed over her chest and tapping her foot, giving me a nasty look.

  “I feel better,” I tell her, forcing a wide smile on my face and stepping past her to enter my room.

  “What if you passed out in there? You could have drowned,” she bitches, following me.

  I step into my walk-in closet for some privacy to get dressed. “I’m fine, Amy. Don’t be such a worrywart.” I tug on a pair of jean shorts and a t-shirt.

  When I step back out, she’s standing at the center of the floor with her hand on her hip. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  I shrug. “I don’t know. I’m just tired of being cooped up. I figured I’d run by the clinic, check messages and emails. Pay some bills, maybe run by the store and get some groceries.”

  She points at her chest. “Let me get a shower, and I’ll drive you. I’m not leaving you alone.”

  I roll my eyes and scoff. “Fine. Hurry up.”

  I sit down at my vanity to blow-dry my hair and to change the bandage on my forehead. The cut isn’t big, but there is a small bruise starting to form around it. The butterfly stitches hold it closed nicely, and I pray that there isn’t too big of a scare left when it heals.

  Amy and I spend the day running around. She helps me put away my groceries, then leaves to go home. For the first time in two days, I’m finally alone.

  I order a pizza and cuddle up on the couch with Ace to watch some tv until my pizza arrives. At the knock on the door, I push myself up to open the door, expecting to find the pizza man, but to my surprise, it’s Liam.