It’s only a few blocks.”
“Then I’ll walk you to your door.”
“No.” She bit her lip. She hadn’t intended to shout.
His lips flattened. “Either I walk you to your door or you take a cab. It’s better to risk exposure than have you get mugged or worse.”
Once again, his thoughtfulness surprised her. Liam Elliott was truly a prize. A prize she couldn’t keep.
“You can walk me to the street corner in view of the well-lit entrance to my building, but not to my door.” If she wanted to protect her heart, then she had to keep the boundaries of this affair firmly in sight.
Liam’s week had been a tug-of-war between family duty, his friendship with Cade and his desire for Aubrey. There had been moments where it seemed like he—the rope—would snap.
He’d spent his days at work, dodging Cade’s knowing smirk and probing questions, trying to pacify antsy advertisers and attempting to alleviate the tension between the EPH staff members. Each evening he came home to Aubrey. She made the headaches disappear. He cooked dinner with her and had the hottest sex of his life. And they talked. About anything, about nothing. It didn’t matter. Just being with her was enough.
He couldn’t leave town without saying goodbye. Again. They’d said goodbye last night very satisfactorily. If he was a little worried that he was becoming too dependent on her, then he shrugged it off as a temporary hurdle. All too soon this sensual interval would end.
Hoping Aubrey wouldn’t mind being awakened so early in the morning, he snatched up his cell phone and punched in her number. He’d programmed her as number one on his speed dial list. He tucked the unit beneath his ear and resumed shoving clothing and his toiletry bag into his suitcase.
“Hello,” Aubrey answered in a sleep-roughened voice.
One word, that was all it took to reignite the sparks of hunger deep in his belly. “I called to say goodbye before I take off for the airport.”
“It’s only five-thirty. You’re getting an early start.”
He didn’t want to go. The realization surprised him. He’d always wanted to travel, but he’d stayed close to EPH, fearing that if he left he’d give the impression that he didn’t care about his job. In other circumstances he’d love to see Colorado and spend time with his family away from the stress of work, but the timing of Cade’s engagement party reeked. Liam loved Cade like a brother and he was happy his friend had found Jessie, but watching the lovers cuddle and kiss would rub salt in an open wound. Liam and Aubrey could never have what Cade and Jessie had—an open relationship and a family celebration.
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