Sinful Rapture (The Rapture #2)(14)

“Taking you to breakfast,” he told her.

A strange emotion twisted her heart.

It wasn’t the anger she should be feeling at his assumption that she would meekly accept his plans. Or even the embarrassment that he’d witnessed yet another shameful reminder that she’d been so publically revealed as unworthy.

It was fear.

Fear that she wanted to go with him.

That she was secretly thrilled at the thought that the night of mad pleasure didn’t have to end.

“And it didn’t occur to you that you might actually ask me if I want to go to breakfast with you?” she snapped as they exited the apartment building into the sun that was already warming the crisp morning air.

Liam came to a sudden halt, grabbing her shoulders so he could turn her to meet his scorching emerald gaze.

“Do you really want to go in that apartment right now?” he demanded.

She grimaced at the blunt question. “No.”

“Do you want me to take you to your family?”

And endure Luc’s outraged opinion of her former fiancé? Or worse, her father’s icy disapproval?

She shuddered. “No.”

“Friends?”

“No.”

“Then it’s me,” he ground out, tugging her toward the Mercedes.

She silently crossed the parking lot and allowed herself to be seated in the car. Liam was swiftly behind the wheel and driving them west of town.

Eventually Holly gave a slow shake of her head.

Just twenty-four hours ago she would have claimed that she was an efficient, highly independent woman who had a clear understanding of what she wanted from her life.

Now she had no idea what she wanted from her future, while the emotions she’d so proudly kept leashed were swinging from one extreme to another.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she mumbled.

“There’s nothing wrong with you,” he growled, shooting her a fierce glare.

She blinked, distantly puzzled by his smoldering anger. It didn’t seem directed at her. Still…it was odd.

“I feel like…” She struggled to find the words.

“Tell me.”

“Like I’m in limbo,” she at last said. “I can’t seem to get my shit together.” She shook her head in frustration. “It’s stupid.”

“Holly.” He grimaced, turning his attention back to the road.

“What?”

“You’ve been through a traumatic experience,” he reminded her. “Give yourself time to heal.”

There was a slight hesitation that made her sense that hadn’t been what he was going to say, but before she could press him, he turned into an upscale subdivision on the edge of town.

She frowned in confusion. “I thought we were going to breakfast?”

“We are.”

He pulled to a halt in front of a brick, ranch-style home with a low, gabled roof and pretty marble fountain in the middle of the circular drive.

“Here?” she demanded in surprise.

Sliding from behind the steering wheel, he rounded the hood and helped her out of the car.

“Mary makes the best pancakes in town,” he assured her.

“Mary?”

“My sister. Mary Magdalen Conner Black.” He offered a rueful smile. “But don’t tell her that I spilled the beans on her middle name. She’ll break my nose.” He lifted a hand to touch his slender nose. “Again.”

Holly took an instinctive step away from his looming form, pressing her back against the expensive automobile.

His sister? Was he out of his mind?

Not only did she look like she’d just crawled out of bed after spending the night making mad, passionate love to this man, but you didn’t take a woman to meet your sister.

Not unless…

Her brain couldn’t even form the thought.

“I can’t intrude on your family,” she breathed.

He arched a brow at her obvious horror. “I’ll warn you now that my family doesn’t understand the word ‘intrude.’ We wander in and out of each other’s lives without regard for privacy.”

His words did nothing to comfort her.

“How many of your siblings live in Vegas?”

He shrugged. “All of them.”

Holy shit. “Oh.”

“Yeah.” His lips twisted. “I know.”

Before she could insist that they leave, the door to the house was slammed open and a tiny bundle of energy came hurtling in their direction.

“Liam.” The female who looked to be in her late twenties had Liam’s russet hair, although hers was pulled into a long ponytail, and the same strong features. Her eyes, however, were more hazel than green, and her mouth easily curved into a warm smile. With obvious affection she tossed herself into Liam’s waiting arms, giving him a loving hug before she pulled away to study Holly with a searching gaze. “And Holly.” She sent her brother a teasing smile. “It’s about time you brought her around.”

He rolled his eyes. “Behave yourself, imp.”

Holly frowned in confusion. “I’m sorry, have we met?”

Mary chuckled. “Not officially, but I’ve seen your picture in the papers, and Liam speaks about you so often we all feel as if you’re a part of the family.”