Escaping Reality (The Secret Life of Amy Bensen #1)(69)

My only other accessory is the white bandage by my hairline that, despite my efforts to sweep my long blonde hair over it and seal it there with hairspray, still shows.

I’m barely in the car when my cell phone rings, and it’s Meg. I frown.

She’s avoided me for almost a week and she chooses now to call? “Hello.”

“I just ran into Jared. He told me you had some sort of a head injury?

He said he’d stopped by the hotel several times and left you messages you won’t reply to.”

Jared stopped by the hotel? “I’ve been in bed. I had a concussion.”

“Was it—”

My defenses prickle. “No, it was not Liam. Jared knows that. Is Luke back in town?”

“Oh, yes. I emailed you a new property list. Did you see it?”

“No. No, I didn’t.”

“Luke inadvertently sent you the wrong one and he apologizes. He let your boss know. I guess you were supposed to do some reports you haven’t done? Dermit was asking why, so you better get on it.”

I’m confused. Completely confused. Who do I work for? Do I work for anyone? Is

Dermit real or not? “Can you please get me a number for my boss?”

“You’ll have to talk to Luke about that.”

“Can I make an appointment?”

“I’ll get with him and call you.”

My phone beeps. “I need to take that. I’ll check in tomorrow.” I click over to Liam.

“Where are you?” he asks.

“I’m almost there, I think. I’m in the car.”

“I’ll be at the door waiting on you.”

“Okay. Yes.” We end the call and I immediately pull up my email. The only email is from Meg with the property listing. I really have no idea what is a cover story and what is a problem anymore. The idea of telling Liam everything and no longer being on my own with this sounds better every second.

“Your destination, ma’am,” the driver says, and the door opens almost immediately. Liam leans in and tosses a large bill at the driver.

“Keep the change.”

He offers me his hand and pulls me to my feet, giving me a hot head-to-toe inspection before leaning in near my ear. “You look good enough to eat. I think I will.”

“Liam,” I gasp softly, instantly warm all over, my nipples tightening.

That is how easily this man gets to me.

Deep, sexy laughter rumbles in his chest and he shuts the door behind me. “Come with me.” He laces my fingers with his and pulls me toward the building, and the way he has said the words “come with me”

has me quaking with the certainty he is up to something naughty.

We enter the high-rise building and my heels click on the fine white ceramic tile that blends with my dress and contrasts with my shoes. I glance upward at spiraling rows of offices that remind me of a corkscrew and seem to climb forever. “Wait,” I say, and tug on Liam’s hand.

He stops and turns to me, glancing up as I am, and then back down at me. “You like it?”

“This is the building you designed, isn’t it?”

“Yes. This is it. You like it?”

“It’s…” I struggle for a word that suits it, and settle on, “sexy. Like you.”

He pulls me against him. “Sexy, huh?”

“Yes. Very.” My fingers curl on his cheek. “And brilliant, also like you.”

His eyes darken and heat. “Come with me,” he orders again, and sets us in motion.

We step onto the elevator and though I know the building is tall I gape at the panel that reads 107 floors. “107 floors?”

Liam punches in a code and then directs us to the top floor. “Yes, 107.”

“That’s an intimidating elevator ride.”

He molds me close. “I’ll protect you,” he vows, and I’m not sure he’s talking about the elevator ride. I’m not sure anything is what it seems ever in my world.

“Why 107?”

“105 had been done and seven is lucky.”

“You believe in luck?”

“You don’t?”

“Not really.”

“We ended up seated together on a plane. I’d say that’s pretty lucky.”

I soften inside, and more of that warmth he stirs in me pools low in my belly and slides hotly between my thighs. “I think my luck is changing.”

The car jumps a little and I jump with it.

“Or not. What was that?”

“The car stops at floor one hundred and shifts to the right slightly.”

“I don’t think I want to know why.”

“It’s part of the sway built into the top of the tower.” The elevator stops. “And just that quick, we’re here.” The doors slide open and I’m more than a little glad to get the heck off the car after that jump, planned or not.

We exit into a hallway and Liam indicates another elevator. “The last two floors require another ride up, but I want to show you something first.”

“Aren’t we going to be late to dinner?”

“I told you 7:00 and them 7:30.”

We travel a narrow hallway with glass windows from floor to ceiling and I feel a bit dizzy and unsteady. Liam opens a huge wooden door and motions me inside. I step into an oval-shaped room that is nothing but windows and random pairs of leather chairs split by small tables.