to book her. Same deal?”
“Yes. I’ll look forward to hearing from you once you’ve worked the details out.”
Her phone pinged with a text message.
“I just sent you the two weekends that are most ideal for this event.”
Teresa strained the panic from her voice. Both options were only a few weeks away. “I’ll get right on it.”
“Anything else?” he asked.
Teresa gripped the receiver tightly and nibbled her lower lip. She wanted desperately to ask Matt how his best friend was holding up under the glare of the rumors and innuendo about them. But this was business. Besides, she didn’t want to drag Matt into this.
“No, but I wanted to say thank you for not giving up on my company or me despite everything that’s happened. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome, Teresa,” Matt said after a long pause. “Call me when you’ve got a venue and Jessie has confirmed.”
Teresa hung up, grateful she still had Matt Richmond’s confidence. She was more determined than ever to reward it.
“You can’t just walk in there.” She could hear Corinne’s voice through the closed door.
Suddenly the door opened. Liam stood glaring at her.
“It’s all right, Corinne.” Teresa held up a hand. “I’ll take it from here.”
Corinne narrowed her eyes at him, then walked off in a huff.
“Have a seat.” She gestured toward the chair when he closed the door behind him.
“I won’t be staying long. I just came to remind you that, according to my father’s will, your presence is required at Christopher Corporation’s board meeting.” He folded his arms.
His icy glare chilled her. He regarded her as if she were an untrustworthy stranger.
Had he forgotten that he’d shared his deepest vulnerabilities with her just a week ago? Brought her incredible pleasure on several occasions before that? Rescued her when she’d needed him desperately? They should be working together to clear their names, currently being dragged through the mud.
But the hardened look that distorted Liam’s handsome face indicated that it would be a wasted argument. He was back to treating her as his enemy.
“In light of the rumors swirling about us, I didn’t think you’d want me there.” She raked her manicured fingernails through her shoulder-length blond hair.
“Pity my father’s will didn’t make allowances for bad press,” he said dryly.
She folded her arms on the desk in front of her rather than raising the single digit that would best convey how she felt. “My assistant has access to my calendar. On your way out, stop by her desk and make an appointment.”
Liam’s face and ears burned with heat in response to Teresa’s brush-off. She’d summarily dismissed him and had returned her attention to the sheet of paper on her desk.
He clenched his jaw as he surveyed her. She was beautiful in a royal-blue silk blouse and white linen pantsuit. Teresa looked hurt and angry. She obviously just wanted him to be gone.
Liam couldn’t blame her.
He’d blown into her office, behaving like an ass. But he was furious with her for putting his family and business in this position. Again. And he was furious with himself because he still wanted her...desperately. Despite everything that had happened. Despite the rumors swirling around about them. Despite the fact that he wasn’t sure he could trust her.
Shit.
He must seriously be out of his mind because he wanted to trust her. And he cared for her. But he wouldn’t allow anyone to make a fool of him. And there was still a strong possibility that was Teresa’s endgame.
So why did he feel such a strong pull toward her? And why did he want her more than he’d ever wanted any woman?
Teresa insisted that her relationship with his late father had been strictly that of a mentor and his mentee. But the man he’d known his entire life would never have given a quarter of his company to anyone out of the mere goodness of his heart. Hell, he’d often wondered if Linus Christopher had possessed even an ounce of selflessness.
Was he really supposed to believe that the man who couldn’t be bothered to show his own son warmth and compassion would’ve left this woman 25 percent of the company’s shares unless there’d been something more to their relationship than either one of them had been willing to admit?
Teresa leaned back in her chair, narrowing her blue eyes at him. “Are you going to stand there all day brooding? This is my place of business. I have work to do.”
Liam sighed. “Look, I know I came off like a complete ass just now. I’m sorry. But you need to face the fact that if you want to liquidate that stock, you’ll need to comply with the stipulations of my father’s will. That means we have to work together, and you need to be at the meeting this afternoon.”
Teresa checked her calendar begrudgingly. “Fine. What time should I be there?”
“Actually, my car service is waiting. I thought we could ride over together so I could bring you up to speed on the meeting.” Liam gestured toward the door.
“The sooner we leave, the sooner I can get back here.” She pursed her lips in a sensual pout that made him want to take her in his arms and kiss her.
His hands balled into fists at his side.
She’s the enemy. Why can’t you remember that?
“It’s best if we aren’t seen leaving the building together,” he mused aloud, more to himself than her.
“Then why are you here in my place of business? Or didn’t you notice the stalkerazzi parked across the street?”
Liam straightened his tie. “I came in through the back entrance.”
“Well, you can leave the same way you came in.”
The hurt in her eyes and the pained tone of her voice made him feel as awful as his father. The last thing he wanted was to mimic Linus Christopher’s cruelty. After his talk with Teresa, he’d thought a lot about his relationship with his father. And his relationship with her.
“If you need to bring me up to speed on the meeting, call me from your car. In fact, you could’ve done that in the first place rather than showing up here and demanding that I drop everything and come with you.”
Liam squeezed the bridge of his nose. The situation was snowballing and he was the one to blame. “I’d like to go over a few documents in the car. It’ll be much easier if we ride together in the limousine.”
He
