Overtime(49)

Turning to do damage control, she could not only to see that his face was twisted in confusion but also that he had brought her a bouquet of wild flowers.

Ugh, she didn’t want any more flowers.

Shit, that made her a bitch.

Fuck, she was trying to stop cussing.

Shit!

Shaking away her thoughts, she placed a smile on her face. “Oh! My fave,” she said, coming toward him and taking the flowers. Smelling them, she grinned up at him and then kissed his lips softly. “Thank you.”

She turned, taking them to her desk, where four other bouquets were there to brighten her day. But when her eyes fell to the Snickers that looked out of place, it was what brightened her day. Jordie knew that she loved food. That it was the way to her heart. She actually hated flowers, not that she had told Liam that.

Turning back, she threw him a grin and said, “So I think you’ve filled the quota for flowers this week.”

His brows were together as he crossed his arms over his chest. “I asked you a question,” he said sharply for the very first time.

Her brow rose. “And I’m choosing to ignore it.”

“Why?” he demanded.

“Because I don’t want to talk about it.”

“But I do.”

“Well, I’m sorry, but I don’t.”

He gave her a deadpan look and then asked, “So I’m just supposed to ignore the fact that my teammate told me to f*ck off for no reason at all, while you stood there almost in tears?”

Kacey nodded. “Exactly. If you want to chase after him and ask him why he said that to you, be my guest, but my issues with Jordie are off-limits.”

“Why?” he asked again. “Do you two have history?”

Letting her head fall back, she sucked in a deep breath and then let it out. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Well, I think you need to start talking because I’m upset. I feel like you’re hiding something from me, and I don’t like that,” he said impatiently. But didn’t he know that that sentence would have meant so much more if he’d added a few curse words?

She snapped her head back up and glared. “I don’t have to talk about anything I don’t want to talk about.”

He held her gaze, his beautifully sharp, angled face in such twisted confusion. This was the first time she had seen him upset. He was kind of cute. Like a mad little puppy.

“That’s unfair,” he said, his voice calming a bit. “I just want to know the truth. I don’t need details, but when I ask a question, I expect it to be answered. I’d do the same for you. Out of respect.”

She shoved her hands in her pockets and looked away, annoyed. She didn’t want to do this. She knew she was being a bitch because of what Jordie said. But also, if she didn’t want to share about her and Jordie, why did she have to? Liam wasn’t her daddy, but the way he was looking at her, like she did owe him a damn answer, made her realize that this was the way he operated. That if she wanted this to work, she’d have to bend a bit. He was the guy she was hoping would be her forever. The more she looked at him though, the more she knew Jordie was right.

But she wouldn’t let him win. This would work. Liam was her forever.

Ugh, that didn’t even sound right.

Rolling her eyes, she said, “Yes.”

He held her gaze. “You and Jordie?”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

“What happened?”

“That’s details,” she snapped. “And I’m not sharing.”

His eyes went to slits, but then he looked away, sucking in a breath. “Why?”

“Because I’m not ready to.”

“Is he the last guy? The one who broke your heart?”

Her lip trembled as she looked down at the floor, her breathing labored. She had forgotten she had told him that. “Yes.”

When Liam closed the distance between them, she was surprised when he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly. Tilting her head back with his forefinger, he looked deep into her eyes as he pressed his forehead to hers.

“I would never break your heart,” he whispered, his breath hot against her lips.

Gazing into his eyes, she knew that he spoke the truth. There wasn’t a heartbreaking bone in his body. He was a good guy. Sweet. Perfect. Everything she needed but nothing she wanted. But what she wanted would always break her heart, and she couldn’t be his victim anymore. Not when Liam was begging for her love. She’d be an idiot to let him go.

“I know,” she whispered back, her eyes falling shut, waiting for his wanton kiss, but it never came.

“I’m sorry I pressed for information. I just don’t want you to be sad.”

“It’s fine, kiss me,” she demanded, but instead of his lips, his thumb traced her bottom lip.

“Kacey, do you know how much you mean to me?”

She opened her eyes and said, “No, but kiss me and show me.”

He smiled. “A lot, and I’m glad you trust me not to hurt you, because I won’t.”

She looked at him expectantly, but he just kept brushing his thumb along her lips, not kissing her, and it felt so forced. Jordie wouldn’t even talk this much, he’d kiss her stupid, letting his body and hands do the talking. Instantly, she was disgusted with herself. She had this good man wanting to talk and be sweet, and she was thinking of a foulmouthed * who broke her heart.