Page 57 of Hired By the Enemy
When we’re at the airport checking in for our chartered flight, I receive an email that makes me flinch.
It’s from Elite, with an invoice attached.
That’s right. Liam was only here this week because I paid him to be.
It’s the slap of reality I need.
Henrietta leans across the aisle to talk to Liam on the flight home, and I’m grateful. I lie with my headphones on, my eyes closed. But despite my peaceful setup, my mind continues to race. Every time my thoughts flit to last night, my emotions feel raw, flayed. The look in Liam’s eyes as I moved inside him… Shit, I don’t think I’m ever forgetting that.
I bite the inside of my cheek so hard I taste blood.
Our plane lands, and it’s a flurry of disembarking with our luggage and making our way to the FBO.
“You okay to get back into the city?” I ask Liam. My voice sounds high-pitched, strangulated.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
My colleagues have already gone to line up for the valet service, so I take the opportunity to step away from them so I can say goodbye to Liam without their scrutiny.
“I guess this is it,” I say.
Liam stuffs his hands in his pockets. “Yeah,this is it.”
I bite my lip. “So the week turned out slightly differently than I expected.”
“Yeah, it did,” he says. His hazel eyes meet mine, and I try desperately to read what’s in them.
“I’m going home for Christmas in just over a week,” I say.
“I might be going home too,” he says.
You want to hook up again then?
I leave the words unspoken.
Because how would we achieve that? In my parents’ house? His dad’s house?
Clandestine hookups in a town where everyone knows we’re lifelong enemies?
Besides, continuing to hook up with Liam when I know I have feelings for him is the definition of masochism.
The silence between us grows, and I gnaw on the inside of my cheek.
“I better get going,” he says finally.
He leans forward and sweeps a kiss over my lips. It’s a gentle kiss, sweet and tender.
Oh, holy hell. My knees melt.
This is the sweetest kiss I’ve ever been part of.
He pulls away, looking down at me with dark eyes.
“I’ve given you a generous tip,” I blurt.
His face closes over. “Is that for the extra benefits you received?”
“Liam—”
