Escaping Reality (The Secret Life of Amy Bensen #1)(37)

“If it makes you stop being afraid to speak your mind to me, then it was a good choice.”

I don’t play dumb. I probably have the champagne to thank for that, too. “You’re intimidating.”

“No. Not to you.”

“So you agree you’re intimidating.”

“To some people but not to you. I’m not your Godzilla, baby, and we both know it.”

“No. No, you aren’t. Far from it.” I pause and wait, testing him. Will he push me for the answers he swears he can wait for? He doesn’t ask.

Instead, he arches his brow again, the look in his eyes clearly saying “did I pass the test?”

“You really aren’t going to ask, are you?”

“I told you—”

“Tell you when I’m ready.”

“Exactly.” He fills my glass and hands it to me.

“Are you trying to get me drunk?”

“Yes. Then maybe you’ll feel ready.”

I laugh. “You’re very…honest.”

His thumb strokes my cheek, tender and sensual. “Raw and honest, baby. Remember?”

This is a repeating theme with him, and while I’ve let guilt make the words about me, I wonder if they are really more about him. “Who made you hate lies?”

“Doesn’t everyone?”

“That’s a deflection.” I know because I’m so damn good at it.

Surprises flickers in his eyes and he sets his glass down. “Money breeds lies, baby. They swim like sharks all around me.”

More deflection, but it tells me more about him than perhaps he realizes. About us.

Outwardly we are night and day, but I now know why we share what has felt like an instant bond. We sense what is beneath the surface of each other, and it is the same. Everyone in his world he once loved is gone.

Everyone who still lives wants something from him.

I reach up and touch his cheek. “I don’t want your money.”

His hand covers mine. “I know.”

“The phone—”

“Was a gift to me. It gives me piece of mind that you’re safe.” His lips curve. “And maybe you’ll even feel a little obligated to answer my calls, though I’m not gambling on that.”

I barely register the joke, but rather the concern beneath it. No one shows concern for me and I do not take it for granted. Regretting the buzz in my head, I set my glass down, done with the bubbles. “I’m serious, Liam.

You spent a lot of money on me. I need you to know that I’m not one of those people—”

He leans in and kisses me. “I do know.”

“You didn’t let me finish.”

“You don’t have to. I know you aren’t one of those people. I don’t let those people in.”

His voice lowers, roughens. “You’re in, Amy.”

I am stunned by his absolute statement. “You barely know me.”

His lips curve. “I can think of all kinds of ways we can remedy that, with and without clothing.”

My lips curve. “You are a very bad billionaire.”

“I think you like that.”

“I don’t think I know enough to be sure.”

“Then we’d better find out.”

I shock myself by saying, “Tonight?”

His eyes gleam with approval. “Oh yeah, baby. Tonight.”

Tonight. The word lingers in the air and there is a silent understanding between us in a way I have never shared with anyone. We both know that I’ve just erased the question of where this night will end, and it will not be with me alone, regretting a goodbye we both know I never wanted to say. I’ll convincingly feed him what my file says I should and then he won’t look into my background. Lies to protect him that handle the here and now. I’ll figure out the later, when I have some time alone.

A woman delicately clears her throat and Liam and I reluctantly break apart, our eyes lingering on each other’s a moment before our salads are placed in front of us. Beneath the table, Liam’s hand settles back on my leg, his thumb stroking my knee, and I feel every caress in my sex. I do not want food. I want Liam.

“Need anything else right now?” the waitress asks.

Liam glances my direction, giving me a look at that says “you’re my dinner”, as he replies, “Not right now.”

The instant she’s gone I scold him. “Liam.”

He leans in and kisses me. “Liam, what?”

My mouth goes dry. “You have to behave.”

“Always or just right now?”

“Just right now.”

A low laugh rumbles from his chest and he hands me my silverware.

“I’ll behave so you can eat. I’ve been here a few times in the past and never been disappointed.”

“When you designed the building you mentioned downtown?” I ask, and I am not afraid of my questions sparking his questions anymore. I believe Liam. He will let me answer what I want to answer. I’ll figure out what that means later. Not tonight. Tonight has been decided. I am with him and the rest of the world does not exist.

“Yes. I was here a couple of months and stayed in this area.”

A couple of months. My vow to focus on just tonight evaporates and I make a pretense of picking up my fork and picking at my salad to hide how crazy my mind is going. Will he be here that long this time? And what if I get attached to him and he goes back to New York? He will go back to New York and I can’t even visit him there. That will be when the file isn’t enough anymore. Raw and honest, he keeps saying . Why can’t I not just have that with one person in my life?