Page 16 of All the Gossip from Paris (Royal Fashion #2)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

After handing her car keys to the valet, along with her family name, Sophie headed for the nearest bank of elevators. As the door of the elevator car closed, she let out the breath she’d been holding.

She was being ridiculous. One night. Liam had spent one night in her bed. They’d parted as friends. What had happened between them had to stay in New York.

If it doesn’t, I’m going to explode.

The mere thought of meeting Liam again had set her heart racing this morning.

It still hadn’t calmed down. She’d been thinking about Liam Collins nonstop.

His gorgeous tattoos. His piercing. The way he’d fucked her.

She was a hot lustful mess, and seriously regretting her foolish offer to come into Paris and show Liam a good time.

A good time. Talk about a double entendre. You idiot.

Her only consolation was that it was winter. She could hide the evidence of her desire under a blazer, a long woolen coat, and a pair of straight leg jeans. Pulling her makeup mirror out of her tote, Sophie checked her face.

Lipstick a deep shade of winter red. Perfect. Eyes, smoky gray. Magnificent. Her skin? Flawless, apart from the tell-tale glow of her cheeks.

“Merde,” muttered Sophie.

There was nothing she could do about that blush except blame it on the cold air outside. Not that she’d actually been outside in the past hour. But Liam wasn’t to know.

When the elevator stopped at the Royal Suite level, she sucked in a deep breath. She was still letting it out slowly as she stepped into the small foyer, and headed toward the door.

Hello, and welcome to Paris. I hope you had a pleasant flight.

The well-rehearsed words were ready on her lips as she pressed the buzzer for the suite. Relief shot through her when it was Ryan who answered the door.

“Hey you. Thanks for taking time out of your busy day to come and play host to my family. I know Liam is keen to see the other side of Paris,” said a cheery Ryan.

Forcing a smile to her lips Sophie replied. “I hope he enjoys the day. It’s not been planned out all that much but I’m sure we will find things to do.”

But we won’t be having hot sex in a hotel suite. Definitely not doing that.

Gazing past her future brother in law, she asked. “Are your parents also here?”

Ryan took a step back and ushered Sophie into the suite.

“Mom and Dad are still in the hotel, but they went down to the lobby to do something about their travel adapter. I tried to explain to them that the private butler who comes with the suite could handle it for them, but they wanted to do it themselves.”

Ryan had a reputation for being someone who was big on getting things done, so she could well imagine that his parents were also the sort of people who didn’t wait for others to assist them.

A nearby door opened, and Liam appeared.

The sight of the man who’d been the focus of her thoughts for the past couple of hours had Sophie gripping the strap of her tote bag tightly.

If this was the sort of effect he had on her the second she laid eyes on him, how was she meant to stay all cool and smooth with him for an entire afternoon?

Their gazes met and for a moment it was only the two of them in the room. Them and the shared memories of that night. Liam slowly blinked. Sophie bit down on her bottom lip.

This was a really stupid idea.

“Ah Liam. You remember Camille’s sister Sophie,” said Ryan. Thank god someone knew how to break an uncomfortable silence.

Liam gave her a friendly wave. “Yeah, hey Sophie. How are you?”

His words might have been casual, but she sensed the tension which radiated from him. And then it occurred to her. Liam was just as worried as she was about them spending time together.

This wasn’t going to be crushingly awkward no, not in the least.

You promised Cami. So suck it up, and do your family proud.

“I’m well thanks Liam. How was your flight from New York?”

There was safety in small talk. Travel. Weather. TV shows.

Then recalling what had happened last time she’d Netflix and chilled, Sophie decided to leave that subject well alone.

It was bad enough holding back the memories of that amazing night. And now her body was gently pulsing with need at the mere sight of Liam.

He came and stood alongside his brother, and Sophie noted the strong family resemblance.

The Collins brothers were virtually the same height and build.

But where Ryan’s hair was light brown, Liam was blessed with a gorgeous chocolate brown mop.

The dark almost black streaks that ran through it had her licking her lips.

Why do I have a sudden craving for coffee flavored chocolate?

“My flight was amazing, thank you Sophie. I’ve never travelled First Class before. It sure beats sitting in the middle seat in row seventy eight,” replied Liam. He was addressing her, but his gaze was locked firmly on her lips.

Ryan cleared his throat. “Well, I might just leave the two of you to plan out your day. I’ll go see what mischief our parents have gotten up to at the front desk. I’ll catch you both later for dinner.”

If he’d sensed the tension which simmered between his brother and her, Ryan wasn’t giving anything away. Instead he merely picked up his coat and scarf, and headed out the door. “Have fun you, guys. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. Which doesn’t leave a lot.”

And then he was gone.

A shocked Sophie turned to Liam. “What on earth did you say to your brother? I thought we were keeping New York a secret between us.”

Her breath caught as Liam moved closer. “Relax, it’s just a figure of speech. I haven’t said anything to anyone.”

He touched a fingertip briefly to the back of her hand. It sent a jolt coursing through her body. “I’d never do that to you Sophie. What you and I shared that night might have been a mistake. But it was a magical one.”

Sophie nodded. “Ok. Thanks.”

She wasn’t about to explain to him the depth of trust issues she had with men. How her ex had torn her reputation apart among their friends. The look on Liam’s face told her he was genuine. That he had kept his word about the night they’d shared.

“I mean it Sophie. You can trust me.”

She let out a sigh of relief. “I believe you.”

* * *

Talk about a cat on a hot tin roof. Sophie was positively bristling with nervous energy.

Here he’d been worried about making a fool of himself in front of her, but it was clear she’d also been dreading their first post New York encounter.

If they hadn’t already agreed to let that night stay in the past, he’d have taken her into his arms and held her.

Liam would do anything to show Sophie he didn’t pose a threat.

Oh god. She really does regret that night.

It hit him like a sledgehammer. While he’d been thinking all manner of sexy thoughts about her, and jerking off in the shower, Sophie had been stressing about him. About what he might have said to other people.

His track record in keeping his mouth shut wasn’t exactly a great one. Camille had to have told her sister the things he’d said and done. Any wonder she didn’t trust him.

Sophie raised a hand to her head, tucking one stray curl of her stunning brown hair behind her ear. From the time’s when he’d taken close-up shots of models, Liam could tell it was a nervous trait.

“Look if you want to give showing me around Paris a rain check I’ll understand,” he said. He’d rather give her an out than spend the day with Sophie knowing that her nerves were on edge.

A shy grin appeared on her face. “You clearly don’t know my family. When we say we are going to do something, we do it. And I promised both Cami and Mama that I would play host to you.”

Great. Now she feels obliged to spend the day with me.

He was on the verge of faking a headache when Sophie’s cell phone rang. She rummaged in her bag and pulled it out.

“All??”

Her whole posture changed before his eyes. The stiffness was gone.

“Oui, je voulais venir avec un ami aujourd'hui.”

Apart from oui, which he knew meant yes, Liam didn’t understand the rest of the conversation. But there was a lot of nodding, and smiling from Sophie. Something good was happening.

She hung up the phone. “That was the head curator of the Musée Yves Saint Laurent. He has agreed to let us have a private tour.”

“Oh ok, that’s good,” replied Liam.

“No, not good. More like what you Americans would call a ‘fucking miracle’. They never allow private tours at such short notice.”

* * *

She could sense that Liam didn’t have a clue as to how big a deal being granted access to the YSL museum and its archives was for them.

“Yves Saint Laurent revolutionized the fashion industry in the 1960’s, and became one of the world’s greatest fashion designers. The museum is located in his original atelier,” she explained.

He blinked slowly at her. Liam was a guy from New York, or somewhere close to that city. He probably didn’t know much about haute couture or the legacy of fashion legends.

“Cami said you were still interested in getting photographic work during Haute Couture Week. If you are serious about it, you’re going to have to learn a few things.”

“Yes, you’re right. I apologize, I was too busy thinking about us, and not about work. A tour would be amazing, Sophie,” he replied.

Her own relief matched that of Liam’s. If there was one thing guaranteed to keep her nerves at bay, it was being able to talk to other people about her life’s passion. About designing the most beautiful garments on the planet. Then bringing them to life.

Holding her hands together Sophie calmly announced. “We’re going to go to a few other places as well.”

He moved closer, and she was powerless not to inhale his divine manly scent. Not to crave Liam’s touch.

“The Yves Saint Laurent museum sounds great. I was going to ask if we could visit some fashion places today. My agent has made a few calls about getting me some work in Paris. But nobody in the fashion world really knows me, so my phone hasn’t exactly been running hot,” he said.

“Well then, a day spent exploring some of the sacred places that are at the heart of fashion in this city would be a great way to expand your knowledge. You never know—it might lead to something more,” she replied.

The moment she’d said those last words Sophie regretted them. When it came to resisting the lure of Liam, and something more, she really was her own worst enemy.

“Let me go get my camera,” said Liam.

He was gone in a flash, leaving Sophie standing just inside the doorway of the hotel suite. How was she going to get through the day? The months and many miles which had stood between them had done nothing to dull her desire for this man.

Playing with fire would only get her burned. The thought of Liam setting her flesh ablaze with his scorching touch was enough for Sophie to know, given half a chance, she’d gladly walk with him into the flames.