But nothing she said would change his past, and she had the distinct feeling that showing pity would force him, by conditioning, to defend his heritage. More specifically, his father.
Instead, she asked the only question she could think of. “Are you happy?”
He looked at her, really looked at her, and a slow smile carved its way across a face that had been bordering on solemn. “Right now? Very.”
Her heart tumbled, and not because she rolled onto him and straddled his lap.
Not because his hands slipped up her bare thighs, his thumbs discovering that she, too, could pull off the commando routine with aplomb.
Not because he said, “Gladly,” when she whispered, “Take me to bed, Liam.”
No, her heart tumbled because he’d given her more than a glimpse of who he was, where he came from and what had shaped him into the man he had become. Her heart longed for him in a way that was personal.
Intimate.
Profound.
And what she wanted from him was more than a love affair. She craved the thing she’d never wanted from another man. Not an affair of bodies but of hearts. The free-fall sensation she’d heard about, read about and listened to in songs her whole life. She wanted to feel her stomach wobble, her heart quake and her sense of reason dissolve. She wanted to fall in love.
As she took her own measure, checking off symptom after symptom, feeling after feeling, she realized she was already out of control—well and truly falling.
She could only hope Liam would catch her.
Linen sheets slid over Liam’s body as he stretched, slowly coming awake. A glance at the clock surprised him with the late hour. Breakfast would be over. He’d have to make arrangements to have lunch brought in for Ella.
Ella.
He glanced over at the woman sprawled out beside him, the sun pulling rich highlights from her hair where it fanned out over her pillow. Last night seemed like a dream now, and if it weren’t for the fact she was here he might wonder if he’d imagined the whole thing.
Conversation had flowed so easily. Hell, he’d even talked about his childhood—something he didn’t do with anyone, even Jenna.
After hearing about how Ella had been raised—in a loving, happy home—Liam couldn’t help but think she’d make an excellent mother. The kind who made a house into a home. Someone who’d bake cookies and have pillow fights but wasn’t a pushover. A woman who would be able to act as parent and friend to her children.
He respected her even more than he had before, and that respect drove him out of bed, albeit silently, and had him pulling on his shorts before, shirt and shoes in hand, he tiptoed to the front door.
The pile of paperwork she’d left next to her computer caught his eye. Given what he was about to do, he thought it wise to lift the list he’d given her. Maybe he could amend a couple of items before giving it back to her. Nothing major, just...
Without trying to rationalize his actions, he slipped the stapled list free and stepped out the front door, closing it as quietly as possible. He shoved the papers in his back pocket and then finished dressing on the porch before heading toward the resort’s main building. The one benefit to having slept in was that Arvin and his staff should be at work. Arvin would be Liam’s best—only—chance of undoing what he’d done yesterday. And the lead guilt weighing on his shoulders meant he had to try.
Scanning the massive lobby, he didn’t see Arvin anywhere. The event planner’s area, right beside the concierge, was vacant. So he opted for the concierge instead.
“Good morning.” The chipper young woman behind the desk smiled at him. “How has your stay been so far?”
“Excellent, thank you,” Liam answered absently, scrubbing his hands through his hair. “Do you know where I might find Arvin?”
The woman affected a concerned look. “I’m sorry. Arvin is off island this morning retrieving some materials for a private event. He should be back by midafternoon, late afternoon at worst. May I leave a message for him?”
“Right. The event he’s out for is actually mine.”
“Congratulations,” she said, beaming up at him.
“It’s not...” He shook his head. “Never mind. Does he have any other staff on hand, anyone who might help me resolve an issue with a change I made to the event?”
“His staff is out this morning, running errands related to your event. However, I’ll certainly have someone call you as soon as they’re back.”
“I really do need to—”
“Liam!”