Page 78 of Claiming Her Cougar
Me: Okay.Safe travels.
Liam: Thanks.
I sit back in my chair and stare out the window.Was my dream a premonition?Was Liam just using me for sex while he was home, and now that he’s back to traveling, he can get some wherever he goes?He obviously has sex on these trips.That’s how we met in Vegas.I am so stupid.I can’t believe I risked my career and my family’s respect for someone who doesn’t even care about me.I knew better.
31
LIAM
I can’t believeI flew hours across the country for a meeting that’s probably going to be an hour long, only to jump back on a plane and fly back to where I was.But it’s worth it to be in the same room as Mallory.Even if I can’t kiss her or love her publicly like I long to, just breathing the same air is enough.For now.Soon we won’t have to keep our love a secret.Everything I’ve been working toward will come to fruition, and there will be nothing in the way of having the future I want for us—and I know this love is mutual, even if she isn’t ready to say or hear the words yet.
I park my truck in the lot for Morgan Development, pull out my phone, and hit Mallory’s contact.There’s no holding back the smile that spreads across my face when she answers.
“Hey, Mallory.Are you free to meet me?”I ask.
“Hi!When did you get back?I thought you were out of town until next weekend.What a wonderful surprise.”I can hear the smile in her voice, and it makes my heart light.
“This morning, it’s a one-day thing.In and out.”
Her low, throaty chuckle makes it obvious her mind is in the same place mine is.Our time at Devil’s Den and all the in and out we did.
“I’m not going to be your nooner,” she teases.
Suddenly, she gasps and hangs up on me.That’s okay, I’ll see her in a few minutes.
There’s definitely a pep in my step as I walk into the building, which is amazing considering I got up at the butt crack of dawn to fly back here.Coffee is in order.Maybe two.I wonder if I should pour one for Mallory and have it waiting for her in the conference room or if that will be weird.
I hear Janet before I see her.Ugh.She’s so unpleasant.She’s talking to one of her minions.Whatever.I’m just here for the coffee.
“Of course Mallory’s going to be on the pier project,” Janet says, venom dripping from her voice.
My blood runs cold.How does Janet know about the project and Mallory’s part in it?
“Of course,” her minion echoes.
“Mallory’s the type of woman that will do anything to get ahead.Or anyone.”
They cackle, and my stomach turns.This is what Mallory has feared, and it turns out she was right to.
“You’ve seen the way she bats her lashes and flirts with Will and Mike.And they’re flattered enough a girl young enough to be their daughter—their daughter!—comes on to them.I swear I don’t know how their wives stand for that sort of thing.She’s a tramp.”
The other bitch laughs.“Well, that’s what women who don’t have brains or respect for themselves do to get jobs they aren’t qualified for.Like Daphne getting the marketing gig once she hooked up with Mike’s son.”
“Maybe she’s fucking Liam too.Keep it all in the family,” Janet says.
Her voice gets further away—they must have gone out the other door.Thank goodness.If I came face-to-face with her, I don’t know if I could hold my temper.Or my breakfast.My stomach is churning—coffee isn’t going to sit in it.
Damn it.Mallory was right to worry.I can’t expose her to this kind of venom.This was her worst nightmare, what her mother warned her about.And it’s my fault.I have to protect her.
“Hey, Liam,” Dad calls from down the hallway.“Mike’s gone up to get Mallory.Let’s get this meeting going.”
I grab a bottle of water from the break room and take a seat in the conference room.How am I going to be able to be so close to Mallory and act like there’s nothing between us?I’m going to hurt her.I know this is going to hurt me more than any car crash ever did.
32
MALLORY
I hate January.I know it’s supposed to be the season of fresh starts and resolutions, but to me it’s the season of crappy weather, monotony, and loneliness.Daphne is doing marketing work with her video tours of centers, so she’s not in the office every day.The collection work is almost done, so I’ve started working on some leasing.Steve worked on some commercial transactions, so I have experience with retail leases, but not the volume that Morgan deals with.Thankfully, it’s a bit like riding a bike.You don’t forget how to do it.
