Page 94 of Best Kind of Trouble
He huffs a laugh as he reaches down to run his palm over Karma’s soft back. “I told you cats like me.”
When Liam rises, his eyes are fixed on me. I know he’s about to leave, and suddenly my throat feels thick. I don’t want him to go.
So I blurt, “Will you…you said you didn’t want me to go home for Christmas. Did you want to spend it together?”
I know what I’m asking. Hannah said it was his ex-girlfriend’s birthday, and he always gets drunk.
If he spends it with me, then maybe it will mean…
I’m not even sure what Iwantit to mean.
He works for me, and he’s my best friend’s brother. Trying to date him would be another fatal mistake. It would prove that I don’t have what it takes to succeed.
Worse, I don’t think I could bear to be around him if we tried dating and the relationship failed. I’d have to watch other women flirting with him and know he might choose to go home with one of them.
My tender heart couldn’t take that, so it would be better for him to say no. I’m almost entirely sure I want him to say no.
But when he finally shakes his head, I feel my cheeks burn.
“No, Briar,” he says. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. But I meant what I said. I’ll take care of it for you.”
“I wasn’t suggesting we dothisagain. I meant we could hang out as friends.”
“It’s still not a good idea.”
So am I nothing to him now that we’ve slept together? Has everything we’ve been building burned to soot?
I want to ask, but I’ve already bared too much of myself tonight.
“What do you intend to do?” I ask. “Hire me a fake family?” I could make him feel better by telling him about Nora’s invitation, but I don’twanthim to feel better. I want him to want me more than he wants to be alone.
He lifts my chin so our eyes meet. “Let me handle this.”
“It’s not necessary. I won’t go to my parents’ place for Christmas. You’re right—it would be terrible. But it’ll only be a temporary escape. I can’t avoid my father forever.”
“Why not?” he asks, his eyes flat. “He makes you feel bad. Seems to delight in it.”
I barely hold back from saying that Liam’s making me feel pretty shitty right now, too, after making me feel really, really good. The whiplash hurts so much more than expecting nothing and getting less.
I break eye contact and admit, “I need to have a family dinner with them every week. It’s in the agreement I signed to take over Silver Star. If I start not showing up, he’ll probably sue me for breach of contract.” I force myself to meet his gaze again. “He’d really do it, Liam. I know he would.”
He nods, a hot, angry look on his face. “Okay. I’ll go with you.”
“What?” I stammer.
“The next time you go, I’m coming with you. Every time you have to go, so will I.”
“But you said…”
“I’ll text you about your Christmas plans,” he says, then runs his fingers in a rough caress over my jaw.
I back away. “You don’t need to treat me like I’m a child. I told you I don’t need your help.”
“I’m not being condescending.” His brow furrows. “You deserve to have other people stand up for you, whether you need it or not. That’s all. You’re someone worth fighting for.”
I almost laugh, even though I’ve never been lessamused in my life. “Let me get this straight. I’m worth fighting for, but not for you?”
His expression turns agonized, and he fists and then flexes his hands. “Oh, Briar, no. I’m not good for anyone. I don’t know how to care about someone like that anymore. It’s better if we’re just…friends.”
