LiamI shook my head, already feeling my blood pressure spike the moment I saw him."What are you doing here? And how the hell do you know where I work?"Joel just smirked, dragging his feet lazily as he stepped further into the office space. Hands tucked deep in his pockets like he owned the damn place."Do you really work here? Under your father?"I rolled my eyes. "I don't need to answer that. What are you doing here, Joel? Why did you come here?"He tilted his head like I had asked a stupid question. "Wow. Still under daddy's wing, huh? Just like before. Why don't you ever go off him, Liam?"That was it. I snapped.In one fast move, I grabbed the collar of his shirt and shoved him back against the nearest wall. My breath was shaking, my fists trembling with restraint."Say that shit again," I growled.Joel’s lips twisted into something unreadable. And then he said it. Low and raw."He was the one that made us even separate in the first place!"My grip faltered. My chest heaved. "W
LiamWendy leaned in, grinning as if she held the whole world in her palm, and whispered into my ear, “My boyfriend is taking me on a date today. A luxurious one. On a yacht.”For a moment, I blinked, caught off guard. Boyfriend? Damn. I forgot she even had one. She rarely talked about him. I’d always just seen her as this bright, overly cheerful girl who smiled through the worst shifts. The only time I heard about him was through Fred. He had mentioned that was the reason Wendy had rejected his advances.But hearing her say that, watching the excitement bursting in her steps as she practically bounced down the hallway like she was floating on air… it did something to me.I just stood there, watching her walk off in that cute little skirt and high ponytail, laughing to herself like the world was finally perfect. I should be happy for her. I was, actually. But beneath that was something else—something I hated admitting to.Jealousy.I sighed. Not the dramatic kind. Just that soft, tire
LiamI lay on the bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling as if it held the answers to all the messed-up thoughts spinning in my head.He kissed me.Hard. Rough. Deep.My lips still felt the echo of it, the bruised tenderness he left behind. I could still taste him—bitter alcohol and something else. Something darker. Something I shouldn’t want.And maybe it was the alcohol on his breath… or maybe the kiss itself, but damn it, I started to feel lightheaded after. Dizzy. Off balance. His kiss was intoxicating in every sense.Why the hell was I getting tipsy from a kiss?I groaned, rolling onto my side, pulling the sheets up as if hiding under them would stop me from thinking about him. About Ronan. About his hand gripping my waist. About his mouth crashing into mine like he had every right to claim me.I hated him.I hated how much I wanted him.Eventually, the storm in my mind settled, and sleep dragged me under.When I opened my eyes, it was morning. Day two of being stuck in this ridiculous h
RonanI had barely made it halfway down the stairs when the urge to turn back hit me hard. Something didn’t sit right. I told myself I just wanted to make sure Liam was fine, maybe apologize for earlier... even though I wasn’t exactly sure what I was apologizing for. Why the hell do I feel so bad and want to apologize? It isn't me! I guess people were right when they said they saw this stupid soft spot inside of me.But when I got back to the guest room? Empty.What the hell?He wasn’t in the hallway. Not in the kitchen. Not even in the damn garden where he sometimes stared at nothing like he was trying to quiet the noise in his head. I checked the cameras on my phone and saw him leave the house. Yes, I managed to attach the security cameras to my darn phone.Anyway, What the fuck?I didn’t like the twist in my gut, but I grabbed my keys anyway and headed for the car. If he wanted to play hide and seek, I was in the mood to win.I didn’t know where I was going—until I saw him.Liam.S
LiamI sat on the edge of the bed in the guest room, fingers curled around the hem of my shirt, twisting it slowly as if it could drain out the anxiety simmering in my chest.Dinner had been awkward as hell. Ronan didn’t say a word to me. He didn’t even look my way, like I wasn’t sitting just two chairs away from him. Like I hadn’t touched him, kissed him, begged for him like a fool in that elevator.Now he was acting like I was invisible. Or worse… disposable.And I hated how much that hurt.I heard footsteps overhead—his room. I wasn’t trying to listen, but the damn ceiling creaked and groaned like it wanted me to suffer through every step he made.Then came the sound of water running. The shower.Great. Chloe’s probably in there with him. Just great.I clenched my jaw and flopped back on the bed, staring at the ceiling like it might cave in and put me out of my misery. I hated this feeling. This twisted, gnawing ache in my chest. I shouldn’t feel like this over a man who clearly di
RonanI hadn’t said a word since dinner started.Chloe had made something fancy—steamed vegetables, grilled chicken, some expensive wine I didn’t touch. Liam sat across from me, quiet too, like he knew not to open his mouth. Good. He should know. After what happened, it was better this way. He wasn’t anything. Just a fuck. A release. That’s all I wanted him to be.And yet, his presence still grated on me.Then Chloe spoke. “Ronan, are you mad at me?”I paused, fork halfway to my mouth. Her voice dragged me out of the fog I’d been buried in. I glanced at her. Blank. Cold. Like always. That poker face I’d perfected long before I ever met her.She tried again, sounding a little smaller. “Are you mad that I brought my brother over?”I let out a breath—long, controlled. Then shrugged. “He’s your brother, and my brother-in-law. Why would I be mad?”That wasn’t a lie. Not completely. It was just easier to let her think that than deal with the storm behind my ribs.“But please,” I added, tone