Page 86 of Masquerade

“What?”

“You reading my mood. Being there.” Liam downed another large mouthful.

“No problem.” Niall added water to his own shot and took a small sip. “Want food?”

“Oblivion,” Liam muttered, pouring another slug, knowing it would take him over the limit he placed on himself.

“Guess you’re staying tonight.” Niall leaned back.

Liam slopped some whiskey onto his hand. “Guess.”

“What happened?”

Liam stared into the amber liquid. “I was on TV. They even asked me if I’d impersonated you up the North Coast. I got the partnership. I let Kate walk out of my life.”

“You feckin eejit!”

“Here’s to the feckin eejit then!” Liam raised the cheap jar in a toast to himself. “I’ve been one for a long time. I’d lost my job. Trashed my reputation. Then Dad lost everything. Mum looked like she’d have to move. I couldn’t bear the thought you’d walk away from carpentry.” He met Niall’s hot gaze. “You would’ve.”

“Why are you beating yourself up about that again?” Niall took the glass from Liam. “Take off your shoes. I’ll get a blanket.” When he returned, he threw it at Liam. “Is that what this is about? Have you got some daft idea walking away from Kate is good for her?”

“I saw her walk into the Futureproof Mining building in a blonde wig, skin-tight jeans and stilettos a mile high.” He kissed his fingers. “She looked like every wet dream I ever had.”

“Odd outfit to wear if she was going to see a mining company.” Niall’s simple deduction underlined the illogic of Liam’s reaction. “That’s what you accused her of, isn’t it?”

“I was blindsided.” Liam shrugged out of his jacket and stood. “Trust is harder for me since Selina. Since Dad was conned.”

“Are you planning to make that a permanent state?” His brother was curious, not judgemental.

Liam unbuckled his belt and started pushing down his trousers.

“Not fair to attack me.” He stumbled backwards.

“Try taking your boots off first.” Niall threw him a cushion. “At this stage, I’m still trying to work out what you’ve done.”

“What else could she have been doing? Hell, I sound like I’m whining.” He was asking for his brother to help him make sense of the situation.

“What was she doing?”

“Meeting her publisher.” Liam shook his head and gave a goofy grin. “She writes the sort of romances our mother loves.”

“Lots of sex and sass? Like the outfit she was wearing?” Niall gave a wolf whistle. “Sounds like my kind of woman.” When Liam lunged towards him, his brother pushed him back on the sofa. “That answers that question.”

“What question?” Liam growled.

“What you’d do if I asked her out.” Niall settled back in his chair.

“I thought she might be your girlfriend when I first saw the billboard. I was jealous you got to share pillow talk.”

“You’re a sick puppy. I don’t need to talk to my pillow.” Niall grinned.

Liam pulled off an Oxford and let it drop. “I’m older than you, so you don’t get to call me a sick puppy.”

“Twenty-five minutes over thirty-two years does not give you any rights to seniority.” His brother tossed the old taunt at him.

“Dad called me his first born.” He wrestled with the other shoe.

“Do you want to be like him or the suckers who think that ivory tower you spend your days in is the real world?” Niall hauled Liam upright and helped him step out of his suit pants.

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