It shocked her that it stung to be one of ten, twenty, fifty, one hundred women he’d called “lover.” She’d had affairs before, but she’d never become so emotionally involved that she struggled with the inevitable end.
Liam paused behind her. “What’s with the long face?”
She forced herself to smile. “My face is oval, thank you. Not long.”
“Talk to me, Ella.” The quiet command hung there, his eyes on hers in the mirror.
“If you don’t get the tangles out before it dries, my hair turns into a giant nest that will haunt me until I shower again.”
He began brushing. “Don’t hide from me.”
“I’m sitting right here. Naked, in fact.” She smiled brighter but couldn’t maintain eye contact, instead leaning forward to reach her moisturizer. Removing the lid, she scooped out a dollop and slapped it on her face, rubbing in the expensive cream with brisk, sweeping strokes.
“Ella,” he said in that warning tone of his.
As if she were a child to be admonished.
She huffed out a sharp sigh. “Leave it alone, Liam. I’m fine.”
He paused. “There’s this look on your face—”
“That’s probably because I keep thinking about the metric shit ton I have yet to accomplish before this wedding.” He opened his mouth to say something else, likely to press if she knew him at all. Reaching back, she held his wrist. “Let it go, Liam. I’m stressed. That’s all.”
“Don’t regret the time we’ve spent together.” A command couched as a request.
“I don’t,” she said, fighting for a normal tone and nearly succeeding. She tried not to focus on the words he hadn’t spoken—that their time was limited, that they had best make the most of what was left—over what he’d said.
“Neither do I.” He stared at her for what felt like an eon before handing her the brush. “I need to answer a few emails from the London office. Shouldn’t take more than an hour. Join me for dinner when I’ve finished?”
She considered, thinking how nice it would be to have a quiet dinner with him, to get to know him better, to discover who he was beneath the polish and responsibilities. And she realized she’d only be setting herself up to fall harder.
“I shouldn’t,” she said around the bitter regret lodged in her throat. “I have so much to do before Jenna and Mike get here.”
“You...we...have another full day. Dinner, Ella.” He rested his hands along her jaw, gently turned her face toward the mirror and waited until she had no choice but to look at him. “Please.”
She might not know Liam well, but she knew enough to be sure he didn’t use that word often.
“Say yes.” Again with that half smile.
She debated with herself, going back and forth as she rapidly created a mental list of pros and cons. But then Liam leaned in and sealed his mouth over hers in a persuasive kiss.
He broke the kiss but his lips still caressed hers when he spoke. “Dinner, Ella. One meal where we’re just a couple of people on holiday. No talk of the wedding or my work or anything remotely related.”
She looked into eyes fringed with dark lashes—eyes she’d seen amused, angry, aroused—and she answered the way she’d known she would from the beginning.
“Okay.”
A quick buss of the lips and he was walking out of the bathroom, calling over his shoulder, “I’ll meet you back here in an hour.”
“Make it two,” she called after him.
If she was going to do this—go on a date with this man—she was going to make sure he remembered everything about her. From what she wore to what she didn’t, she would etch herself into his memory.
It was only fair seeing as he’d already done the same to her.
Liam had sent word via a runner asking Ella to meet him at the head of the beach path nearest the main pavilion. The runner had returned with the message she’d be there. But she was late. Fifteen minutes, to be exact. Every second felt like ten. Every soft footfall against the boardwalk had him searching the evening shadows for her. And then she was there, rounding the bend with the resort lights behind her creating a nimbus around her lithe form.
She wore a short, sleeveless dress in a green silk that was so dark it appeared black in the shadows. Around her throat was a black choker with a single diamond-encrusted emerald in the center. Matching earrings hung from her ears. The sides of her hair had been pulled up to a loose knot at the crown of her head, leaving waves hanging down her back. The style emphasized her natural beauty. Whatever makeup she wore was understated and enhanced her elegant features. Her tan legs were bare. Dark stilettos with heels so high she moved in a hip-swinging strut made him want to forgo dinner and have her for dessert. His cock was ready to place that order.