Page 13 of Our Lips Are Sealed
Especially when it came to Evie.
Their attempt at hiding what they meant to each other became more laughable with each passing day of Liam’s stay. He understood Samuel and Evie’s reasoning for wanting to keep their relationship a secret from everyone, namely Ben and Jamison, but they wouldn’t be able to hide it much longer.
And that may or may not be entirely Liam’s fault.
Anger over his behavior last night remained at the forefront of his thoughts as he got out of bed. He should never have let her in. When Jamison showed up with dinner, looking good enough to be the main course, Liam should have turned her away.
But he hadn’t, allowing her to dig under his skin. The discovery of the lies Jamison and her family had told him sent Liam spiraling, and he’d yelled at her, divulging the truth about her brother and sister.
She claimed not to believe him, but he could see the doubt in her eyes when she left.
And thank God she did leave, because if she hadn’t… Liam shook his head, not wanting to acknowledge how badly he would have compromised this investigation just to have a taste of her.
Rubbing his eyes, he went onto the balcony and stood in the fog blanketing the gulf and beach. Seagulls screamed at the dawn as they flew through the misty air that oddly smelled of burning wood, reminding Liam of his dream’s dancing women and his responsibility to them.
He had a meeting with Samuel Fairweather in a few hours, and with one last look at the flat emerald waters, he went downstairs to prepare.
Chapter 4
Thebaresthintoflight crept through the balcony windows as Evie watched Samuel dress.
“Are you sure I can’t come with you?”
He paused in buttoning his shirt to pull her closer. “This shouldn’t take long. I’ll text you when the interview is over, and we can talk to Jamison when I get back.”
The thought of telling Jamison today made her lightheaded. “I don’t know about this. Ben wants to be here when we tell her.”
“No, she needs to hear it from us without his interference. He means well, but I think it’s better this way.”
Rising on her toes, she tried to get at his eye level. “We’ll see.”
“It will be,” he promised, laying a succession of kisses on her mouth. “And if not, then it will be one day. She can’t hate us forever.”
Evie dropped back down to earth. “What time is the interview with Cohen?”
“Eight,” he replied, turning serious again. “And I want to give this my undivided attention, so my phone will be off. Dad is at the office if you need anything, and Abe is staying here.”
“Abe doesn’t have to stay.” She buttoned his shirt up the rest of the way. “I’ll be good.”
“Knowing you, that’s highly unlikely.”
Moving around her, he sat on the bed to put on his shoes, and Evie stood in front of him, running a hand through his mused hair. The muscles in his broad shoulders were wound tight, and she thought he might be more nervous about this interview than he was letting on.
“Is everything okay?”
He kept his eyes lowered. “Fine.”
“Why meet Cohen at the house when you can be all big and badass at the office?” she asked. “Even I was super freaking impressed yesterday.”
Finishing with his shoes, Samuel stood. “Because you’re here, and if I go into the office, I’ll never leave,” he said. “And I would rather spend the day with my girlfriend.”
Their faces scrunched in unison at his use of the wordgirlfriend. “That doesn’t sound right,” she said.
“Yeah, we’re going to have to work on our terminology.” He glanced over his shoulder at the window. The light outside was getting brighter by the second. “I have to go.”
Bending down, he gave her a hasty kiss and tried to leave, but she held on. “Are you sure everything is okay?”
He kissed her again, thoroughly this time, leaving her dazed. “I’ll be back soon,” he whispered with one last press of his lips. “Everything is going to be alright.”
