if she hadn’t.
And still didn’t.
But neither did she relish the idea of telling Liam of a reporter’s interest in the novel he was ambiguous about—to say the least!
However, as there was no one else who could tell him, she had little choice in the matter!
Not that that made her feel any better as she waited in the lounge of his hotel for Liam to come down from his suite and join her.
She’d had Paul drive her here on her way home. She’d arrived a few minutes ago, ordering a pot of coffee for two to steady her nerves before asking the receptionist to call Liam’s suite and tell him she was waiting downstairs to see him. She had no doubt that it would be far from a pleasant meeting.
If any meeting with Liam could be called pleasant nowadays!
‘Well, this is a surprise!’ Liam drawled as he appeared in front of her.
Laura hadn’t even bothered to look at the lift or the stairs as she waited for him this time; this man’s appearances were just mysterious!
She swallowed hard as she looked up at him. ‘Would you like to join me for coffee?’ She indicated the second cup on the tray.
Dark brows rose over those mocking blue eyes. ‘An even nicer surprise,’ Liam murmured as he sat down in the chair next to hers, not having bothered to put on a jacket, today wearing black denims and a black shirt.
Appropriate colours? Laura grimaced inwardly.
‘You remembered,’ he said appreciatively. ‘How I like my coffee,’ he explained at her questioning glance, taking the cup of coffee she had just poured for him.
Black, with no sugar. Not such a big thing for her to have remembered. And yet she was irritated with herself for having done so; she had tried so hard the last eight years to forget everything about him!
She shrugged. ‘I thought you could add your own cream and sugar if you wanted them.’
Amusement darkened his eyes now. ‘Did you?’ he said, sipping the black unsweetened brew. ‘It’s good to see you, Laura, but I had the distinct impression, when we parted yesterday, that you had no wish to ever see me again,’ he remarked conversationally.
Laura felt her stomach perform a distinct somersault and wished herself far away from here. And Liam!
She moistened dry lips. ‘Circumstances change.’
‘They certainly do.’ He nodded with a grin, obviously enjoying himself.
At her expense! Oh, how she wished she could wipe that self-satisfied smile off his face. Well…she could. But the method of achieving it wasn’t guaranteed to let her escape without feeling the razor-edge of Liam’s anger.
‘There’s something I need to discuss with you, Liam,’ she began determinedly.
He relaxed back in his chair, feet crossed at his ankles. ‘Discuss away,’ he invited.
‘I—it’s a little difficult to know where to start,’ she said awkwardly, not relishing the anger that she knew was to come.
‘The beginning is always a good place,’ he observed.
Her eyes flashed with sparkling colour as she glared at him. ‘Very funny,’ she snapped. ‘In this case I have no idea where the beginning is. You see—’
‘Did you have a good time last night?’ Liam cut in abruptly, eyes suddenly narrowed with speculation.
‘A good—? Liam, I didn’t come here to discuss my private life,’ she stated irritatedly, all the more impatient because she felt at a disadvantage in this particular situation.
‘A few of the social niceties between us might not come amiss.’ He shrugged broad shoulders.
‘I don’t have the time for social niceties—’
‘In a hurry again, are you?’ he asked speculatively, blue gaze narrowed. ‘Your relationship might benefit from keeping him waiting once in a while.’
So they were back to that imaginary man in her life. ‘Liam, I’ve come here to discuss business—’
‘I thought you had decided not to publish my book?’ He raised dark brows.
‘I have never said that,’ she replied tersely. ‘Only that your choice of editor is unacceptable.’
‘Still feel the same way?’
After she had finished telling him about the reporter’s interest in his novel Laura didn’t think it would matter much to Liam how she felt!
‘I’m sure we could work something out…’ she began cautiously.
‘You have changed your mind,’ he pounced triumphantly. ‘I—’
‘Liam, you’re going way too fast,’ Laura interrupted him. ‘I said we could have worked something out, not that we are! You see…’ She moistened dry lips, not quite able to meet his eyes now. ‘There’s been a development—and I want you to be aware from the onset that I do not hold any employee of Shipley Publishing responsible—’
‘Liam! What luck! Sorry for interrupting.’ The young woman who had arrived unexpectedly beside them turned to give Laura an apologetic smile. ‘I just need a few words with Liam, and then I’ll leave the two of you in peace.’ She turned back to Liam. ‘I thought you would like to know that—’
‘Would you excuse us for a few minutes, Laura?’ Liam stood up, his expression grim as he took a firm hold of the other woman’s arm. ‘This is private, I’m afraid.’
It always had been when a pretty woman was involved. And the newcomer was definitely that: tall and long-legged, in denims and a sweatshirt, a mane of curling blonde hair cascading down her back, beautiful face bare of make-up. Liam obviously hadn’t lost his touch where beautiful women were concerned!
‘Please, go ahead,’ Laura invited, turning her interest to pouring herself another cup of coffee.
But that didn’t mean she wasn’t completely aware of Liam and the beautiful blonde as they moved out into the reception area, their conversation quietly intense. Although the other woman—probably aged in her late twenties, like Laura—didn’t look particularly concerned at having found Liam drinking coffee with another woman.
Probably because she knew she didn’t have anything to fear from her, Laura acknowledged heavily. If things had been different, if she hadn’t so much to lose by letting Liam too close to her now, she might possibly have allowed herself the indulgence of the brief relationship with him that he seemed to want—if only to finally rid herself of the ghost of the past!
But, as it was, there were too many things about her that Liam didn’t know—must never know. So, even to a complete stranger, like the beautiful blonde Liam was talking to, it must be obvious that Laura’s body language was all wrong for there to be any intimacy between herself and Liam.
Laura
